NAPLES, Fla. – A teacher at a Collier County school is facing backlash from parents after they showed a video celebrating “Confederate History Month” to the entire school.
The video aired as part of the morning announcements on Tuesday at Manatee Middle School, according to a district spokesperson.
“If you didn’t know, April is an officially celebrated month here in the State of Florida named Confederate History Month,” the teacher said in the video.
The school district wouldn’t identify who the teacher is but said they are investigating.
“Every year our state celebrates and memorializes that valiant, brave fight and the countless sacrifices by our men and women during that known as the Civil War,” said the teacher in the video.
The teacher bills the video as a look into the state’s recognition of Confederate History Month.
However, parents call this pro-Confederate propaganda.
“It was very biased seeming,” said Casey Smith. “The confederacy, as far as I’m concerned, has always been a stain on American history.”
“To me, it looks like straight out of a Confederate sympathizer playbook,” said Annie O’Donnell.
At one point in the video, the teacher suggests a different name for the Civil War.
“[The] Civil War, but may be more correctly titled the War To Prevent Southern Independence,” he said.
“No. It is the Civil War,” responded Casey Smith. “It has always been called the Civil War.”
Parents tell NBC2 they have no problem talking about slavery, the Civil War, or our nation’s darkest days.
“Some of this actually sounds very accurate,” Smith said.
The issue they have is with what the teacher made up and put in the video and in front of their child’s faces.
“They spoke about celebrating the confederacy in the State of Florida,” Smith said.
O’Donnell, whose kids don’t go to Manatee Middle School, said it’s important for kids to learn about our nation’s history, but not in a way like this.
“Doing it accurately, holistically, fully,” she said. “I would find it difficult to imagine that the students here are going to be able to trust this particular teacher again.”
The State of Florida does recognize April as Confederate History Month. Several movements in recent years have failed. In Florida, the birthdays of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis, along with Confederate Memorial Day are all considered state-legal holidays.
Collier County Public Schools said the instruction of Confederate History Month is not a part of the district’s curriculum.
The district wouldn’t identify who the teacher is, but a spokesperson did say they are still employed while the school investigates.