Nebraska Theatre Teacher Fired Over Use of Racial Slur Towards Student

Last week a theatre teacher in Lincoln, NE was officially fired after admitting to using a racial slur in an exchange with a student during a rehearsal. While school officials are citing neglect and unprofessionalism as grounds for the firing, the teacher’s attorney is arguing that context must be considered in this situation.

The Lincoln Public Schools administration announced the termination of high school theatre teacher, Justin Holbein. The issue stems from an incident that happened in November during a rehearsal for the play, “Second Samuel”. Written by Pamela Parker, the play tells the story of a 1940’s Georgia town turned upside-down after the town’s beloved elderly piano teacher, Miss Gertrude, gets posthumously outed as transgender by her mortician and cosmetologist. It does touch on racial issues and has become a more and more popular text for high school and college productions.

According to reports, during the rehearsal in November, there was an exchange with a student in the show who is African-American.

At one point the student said ‘So I’m going to be the only (n-word) on the stage' and Holbein responded ‘Yes, you’re the only (n-word) on the stage”.

The events that occurred after the exchange differs depending on which party you talk to. According to school board attorney Justin Knight, Holbein didn’t immediately apologize to the student and told the student to go home and think about what he wanted Holbein to do, putting the decision in the hands of the student.

Holbein’s attorney contends that his client didn’t have time to apologize between rehearsals but did so as soon as he could.

Either way, Holbein reported the incident to school officials and it was decided that he should be let go. Last week’s decision was based on an appeal to Holbein to get his job back.

Holbein seems to be arguing that while uttering the slur is reprehensible, the context in which he used it matters. For the school board, they’re drawing a line where context doesn’t matter, simply muttering the word is cause for termination.

Holbein’s departure marks the end of a seemingly successful run at Lincoln High School. The school won the district-wide theatre competition in 2017.