A head football coach and psychology teacher in Alabama has been suspended for ten days and must attend sensitivity training after a student recorded him ranting about “fat butt Michelle Obama” (“big fat gorilla,” someone else chimed in). “Look at her. She looks like she weighs 185 or 190. She’s overweight,” said the adult in charge, Bob Grisham, who claims he misspoke during a debate exercise. He went on to add, “I don’t believe in queers, I don’t like queers … I don’t like being around queers.” But some school-board members say the punishment is too harsh.
Here is the full rant, for reference:
Despite the unequivocal racism, sexism, and homophobia therein, Grisham has his defenders — on the school board. “I thought five days without pay was all he should get,” said one member. Others in the community believe the real problem here is the children: “Bob Grisham is a good Christian man,” one man said*. “If we had more teachers like him, we wouldn’t have a lot of the problems that exist today.” Imagine that utopia.
“I don’t agree with kids getting to take cell phones in class,” another adult added, really getting to the heart of the issue. “This should never have happened.” In a way, yes.
*Correction: This post has been updated to reflect that the “good Christian man” and “cell phone” comments did not come from the school board, but from members of the public who attended the meeting.
