WTVM News reports that in Columbus, Georgia, a Muscogee County teacher allegedly used a racial slur during a conversation with a nine-year-old black girl named Harmonie Frazier.

Harmonie told her parents that her teacher used the slur after a classmate told Harmonie that she was glad she is white and not black like Harmonie.

The use of the word allegedly came as the teacher was trying to console Harmonie and another black girl.

“The thing that really really shocked me was when the teacher leans into the girls, and she kind of caressed my daughter’s face and says, ‘Oh you’re a beautiful girl, but at least she didn’t call you a dumb black and the ‘n’ word… When my daughter told me that, I was completely shocked," Nathan Frazier, Harmonie's father said.

Photo: Chandler Morgan

Like any parents would, the Fraziers wanted to get to the bottom of all of this, and met with Harmonie's principal.

Nathan Frazier said that the principal told he and his wife that the teacher admitted to using the word. The Fraziers appreciated the principal's candor and the teacher's honesty, but want something to be done.

“She hurt my daughter and the other young lady while enabling the other little girl to continue doing it. To our knowledge they haven't really done much of anything about it," Nathan Frazier said.

The superintendent of Muscogee County School District, Dr. David Lewis, released a statement following the incident:

"We are aware of the allegation, but as you know we cannot comment on personnel matters. As with any allegation regarding school personnel, our principal, region and Human Resource Department conducted a thorough investigation and followed up as appropriate."

Not long after releasing that statement, Lewis followed up with another statement:

“Muscogee County School District does not tolerate racial slurs or discriminatory behavior by anyone in our organization. In instances where such behavior is determined to have occurred, disciplinary action is taken. As an employer, and in accordance with Board Policy GAE, the district investigates any such allegations and takes appropriate disciplinary and corrective action but does not disclose the specifics regarding personnel matters…appropriate personnel action was taken regarding the situation.”

It is not clear what "appropriate personnel action" was taken.

Harmonie's parents, worried that the school is perhaps not the best environment for their daughter, have placed her in a different school.

Harmonie Fraizer

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