A schoolteacher in Hawaii has said he will refuse to teach any students who have not come to the United States legally,
Social studies teacher John Sullivan sent an email to fellow teachers at Campbell High School in Oahu, Hawaii. The email was obtained by Hawaii News Now, with part of it reading “this is another attack on the President over deportation. Their parents need to apply for immigration like everyone else. If they are here in the US illegally, I won’t teach them”.
Sullivan’s message was sent in response to an email from a fellow teacher about students being kept home because of deportation fears. Sullivan claims it was a misunderstanding, however. “My comment in the email refers to (the email’s title) if students is (sic) kept home, teachers cannot teach them,” he told local news.
“I just reminded him again that we don’t discriminate against any individuals,” said principal Jon Henry Lee. “We’re going to service all students that are registered in our school. Lee also said Sullivan violated school policy of sharing political opinions over the school’s email system. No punishment has been announced for Sullivan yet, or if he will receive one at all. Department officials say that is solely up to Lee.
Corey Rosenlee, president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, would not comment on the case specifically. He did say, however, that the “HSTA strongly believes that every child has the right to an education, regardless of their immigration status.”