A Spanish teacher in Washington state got fired for reading a classic book in class. Matthew Mastronardi read the N-word from “To Kill a Mockingbird” to his students at West Valley High School. Now he’s fighting to get his job back after the school district decided not to renew his contract.
The trouble started when Mastronardi heard students talking about how their English teacher wouldn’t say the N-word when reading the book aloud. Mastronardi told them he would say it to stay true to the author’s words. One student handed him the book and dared him to read it, which he did while another student secretly recorded him.
School bosses say Mastronardi showed poor judgment by saying the racial slur in class. They’re using his provisional teacher status to fire him without giving a detailed reason. This lets them avoid arguing about whether he actually broke any specific school rules.
Mastronardi says he was teaching an important lesson about literature and history. He wanted students to understand the word’s impact in its original context. The teacher believes we shouldn’t censor classic books just because they make us uncomfortable.
Over fifty supporters showed up at a rally for Mastronardi, including students who witnessed the incident. These students say the teacher wasn’t being racist but was trying to teach honestly about America’s past. They feel he’s being punished for telling the truth.
This firing shows how cancel culture runs wild in our schools. Teachers now live in fear that one mistake could end their careers. The woke mob wants to erase history instead of learning from it. They’re putting political correctness above real education.
Parents should be outraged that good teachers get fired while failing students get passed along. Mastronardi cared enough to teach hard lessons that students need to hear. Now the system tosses him aside to please a handful of complainers.
This fight isn’t just about one teacher – it’s about saving honest education. If we let them cancel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” no book is safe. We must stand up against this censorship before our schools become indoctrination centers instead of places of learning.
