DUMONT, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A New Jersey high school suspended four teachers after a student caught them having a homophobic conversation via Zoom’s chat function, according to a report.
The Dumont High School student was in a virtual class on Nov. 25 when a science teacher wrote, “Why is that kid with the gay gym teacher?” in the Zoom chat, NorthJersey.com reported.
“Is that her adopted kid?” another science teacher reportedly responded. “Who is gonna be all [expletive] up growing up watching 2 chicks kissing and calling them both mom.”
The student took a screenshot of the chat, which the teachers presumably believed was a private chat, the outlet reported.
A former student at the high school, Matthew DeMarco, shared the screenshot publicly, alongside an online petition that called on the teachers to resign, according to the outlet.
“My first impression on seeing this was I was appalled,” he told the outlet. “I had [the gym teacher] when I was a student, and she was a safety net for many students.”
“She showed compassion for her students and she showed she cared for her students,” he added.
The four science teachers who took part in the chat have been suspended and could face disciplinary action pending the results of an investigation, the outlet reported.