Posted on May 24, 2019

Controversy over Escondido Teachers Wearing Sombreros, Fake Mustaches in Yearbook Photos

Steve Price, KFMB-TV, May 21, 2019

Photos in the San Pasqual High School yearbook are being called racially insensitive by some. Six world language faculty members are featured in the pictures wearing sombreros and thick, fake mustaches. While the pictures were taken to be funny, a lot of people say they aren’t laughing.

“I didn’t find it funny at all,” said Cal State San Marcos sociology professor Marisol Clark-Ibanez.

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Clark-Ibanez is a faculty director of The National Latino Research Center and says she doesn’t believe the teachers intentionally set out to be offensive but says their actions show a lack of cultural intelligence.

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San Pasqual High School is in the Escondido Union High School District. A spokesperson for the district sent News 8 a statement that called the photos “culturally insensitive” and “in poor judgment.” They quoted the principal as saying, “It is our intent to use this situation as a tool to remind students, as well as staff, to remember the impacts of their words and actions.”

News 8 has also been told that staff members have been talked to and steps are being taken to ensure a similar situation does not happen again.

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Clark-Ibanez says there’s really no outfit these teachers could have worn that would have been OK in this situation. {snip}

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