A teacher in Florida has been dismissed after a student filmed her wrapping a charger cord around the neck of a black baby doll and suspending it in her classroom. Karen Whitmire Savage, 63, an art teacher at Barrington Middle School in Hillsborough County, took the doll from one of her students, according to the 14-year-old boy who recorded the incident.
Incident Details
The student, Noah, told WTSP-TV that he decided to film the event on Monday. In the footage, Savage is seen hanging the black baby doll from a TV monitor using a charger cord. Noah said most students initially laughed nervously, but when Savage hung the doll, the room fell completely silent. He recounted, 'After she took the doll...she took the charger cord and wrapped it around the baby's neck, and tied it. Everybody started telling her it was wrong and racist to do that. And then she said it was just a joke, and then she took down the doll.'
School District Response
Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Van Ayres condemned the action the following day, confirming Savage had been removed from campus pending an investigation. By Wednesday, the school district announced Savage had been sacked and her conduct referred to the Florida Department of Education's Office of Professional Practice Services. A spokesperson stated, 'We want to reiterate that we do not tolerate conduct of this nature. We took immediate action and responded swiftly to ensure the situation was handled appropriately.' Counsellors would be made available to affected students.
Family Reaction and Legal Considerations
Noah shared the footage with his family group chat, and his mother Nina Williams posted it on Instagram, where it gained nearly 450,000 likes. She wrote, 'Her excuse to our kids was that she did it "to get their attention." This is NOT a classroom management tool. This is straight up hate and trauma being weaponized in front of our children in a place where they are supposed to be safe.' Williams said the act evoked images of racial violence and lynchings. She has been approached by civil rights lawyers and is considering legal action against the school district, though she commended the district for acting swiftly. 'I do appreciate that. And I am praying that she never gets to return to another school in any county in any state,' she said.
Student Impact
Noah reported the incident to the student affairs office after class, with Savage following him and talking over him as he explained. He said, 'It was really disturbing. I hope that she's not allowed to teach again. Because she shouldn't be allowed to teach if she does things like that.'
