(The Center Square) — At an Alachua County School Board meeting in Gainesville, Florida, this week, Crystal Marull, a mother of two students, claimed school officials targeted her sons for their conservative views.
According to Marull, her high school son was mocked in class for his interest in history and participation in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
During a class activity, her son’s history teacher reportedly tried to give the student a fake certificate and nominated him “Most Likely to Become a Dictator.”
The teacher also “let students label him a ‘Naziphile,’” Marull added.
Her other son, who is 6 years old, was allegedly prevented from sitting next to his friend on the school bus because the friend’s parent did not like the mother’s conservative views.
“I do apologize that [your son] was offended by the Class Superlative … To my knowledge, he did not ask to be removed when he was nominated or when the class voted. When I passed them out today, I reiterated that they were just for fun. These were not meant to be offensive. I do apologize,” was the teacher’s response to Marull about the incident in the high school history class.
The apology didn’t ease Marull’s concerns.
“This is just one incident emblematic of the litany of abuses and offenses that conservative families face in this district,” Marull said in a statement. “Not only was it wholly inappropriate, the apology was hollow, and although I reported this to a school board member at the time, the board failed to follow up with any consequences.”
Marull has always been an advocate for strong conservative values, especially gender ideology and banning woke books within school libraries.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Republican, sent a letter Thursday to the School Board of Alachua County, asking for an investigation into the incident.
“Florida law prohibits bullying and harassment … This teacher violated Florida law, the School Board’s policy, and no less than six ethical principles. Her teacher’s certificate must be revoked,” Uthmeier wrote. “Teachers who bully and harass their own students are unworthy of the public trust. Despite this teacher’s nasty immaturity, we commend this young man for his strength in the face of rank political discrimination. Remove this teacher from the classroom. Parents and students in Alachua deserve better.”
Because of Marull’s story, many posted on social media, outraged, calling for accountability.
“It’s not enough for the teacher to be fired, though that’s a start. The teacher and Alachua School District should be sued for the intentional emotional distress of both boys,” one user commented.
The Center Square reached out to the Alachua School District but has yet to receive a response.
