PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – A Broward County teacher was fired after a video of her interrupting Muslim students while in prayer went viral, according to News 6 partner WPLG-TV.
The teacher, who has not yet been identified, worked at Franklin Academy, a charter school in Pembroke Pines.
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The video starts with tranquil music and a couple boys reciting an Islamic prayer in Arabic.
Shortly after, you can hear the teacher saying, “Hold on, this in my office and y’all doing this magic?”
A woman identified as another teacher barges in and starts blowing a whistle.
The teacher is then heard saying, “I believe in Jesus so I’m interrupting the floor.”
The same teacher appeared to step or kick the boys’ hands as she walked over their mats.
The video was posted on TikTok Wednesday and has already racked up over 3 million views on social media.
Wilfredo Ruiz, of the Council on American and Islamic Relations, told Local 10 News’ Cody Weddle that the video is “repulsive” and that the teacher’s actions were a clear case of bullying.
“To see a teacher expressing so much hate and bullying students when teachers are supposed to be the ones that protect the students and protect their good doings, such as this one,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz questions the future of students that want to pray in school and enrich their environment.
“What we expect to happen in schools is for our students to have full support in their activities,” he said. “Not only their academic activities, but any activities that enrich their academic environment.”
While the Supreme Court has ruled that public schools may not hold official prayers, student-led prayer that does not interrupt instructional time is protected under the First Amendment.
Franklin Academy released the following statement to Local 10 News Thursday:
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