Fort Smith Northside teacher gets 90-day suspension for racial slur in test question
According to his attorney, Joey McCutchen, Robert Duff Taylor, an American Literature teacher at Northside High School, has worked at the school for years.
Tuesday, McCutchen shared his thoughts on the board's decision in an interview with KNWA/FOX24.
'When you're teaching history, you can't sanitize it because that's the way we learn, and if we don't learn from our history, we're doomed to repeat it,' McCutchen said. 'We want our students being taught real true history.'
The decision came after Taylor instructed a lesson on civil rights, reading through a book called 'Warriors Don't Cry,' written by Melba Pattillo Beals, a member of the Little Rock Nine.
The book contains sensitive language, including racial slurs, that Beals says she endured at Little Rock's Central High School.
'To not use her words, to sanitize Melba Beal's words, is wrong. These literary works contain the N-word and the library at Northside High School has at least five different literary works that use the N-word. The 11th grade literature textbook uses the word, and Mr. Taylor taught a powerful lesson to his students,' McCutchen said.
Fort Smith student earns perfect score on ACT
However, according to McCutchen, the allegations of racism surfaced when Taylor quoted part of the text that contained a racial slur on a test. Taylor says the test was AI-generated through an approved program, yet it still resulted in being placed on administrative leave.
Monday night, Fort Smith Public Schools held a hearing on the situation, where it stood its ground, choosing to suspend Taylor for 90 days without pay.
McCutchen believes this was an overreaction.
'They threw Mr. Taylor under the bus and without even talking to him, without even giving his version of what had happened. If you're calling someone the N-word, obviously that's unacceptable,' McCutchen said.
He also says Taylor is receiving support from the very person who experienced that racism and wrote that book.
'Dr. Beals supported Duff Taylor 100%, said that he had given the students a gift. We thought that's what she would say because she wrote those words, because words have power to them, and you can't sanitize history. It's what she lived, and it's what she experienced,' McCutchen said.
KNWA/FOX24 did reach out to FSPS for a statement on the decision, to which it declined.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Los Angeles Times
16-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
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USA Today
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- USA Today
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John MacArthur, the 86-year-old pastor of a Los Angeles megachurch, was hospitalized with pneumonia last week, a pastor at his church announced. MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969 and founder of the media ministry Grace to You, contracted pneumonia last week, associate Pastor Tom Patton told the congregation at a service on Sunday, July 13. "He was admitted into the hospital and may be in the presence of the Lord soon," Patton said. "We place our dear pastor at the feet of the glorious savior, whom he has served so faithfully for so many years and now awaits his final command to be in his presence forever." Patton asked for prayers for MacArthur, his wife Patricia, their children, 15 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. McArthur, like some other preachers across the U.S., catapulted into the public spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic when he hosted large gatherings despite city policies to limit congregations to small numbers outside. USA TODAY has reached out to Grace Community Church. Jimmy Swaggart dead at 90: Televangelist dies weeks after going into cardiac arrest Pastor John McArthur's illness draws reaction The announcement drew comments from those who knew MacArthur well. "We all love, John MacArthur, and we thank Almighty God for him and his incredible ministry and his steadfastness and loyalty to preaching God's Word verse-by-verse through books of the Bible," one Facebook user posted. Another user wrote, "May God reward you richly for your faithful service and wrap his comforting arms around you and your family. Thank you for unapologetically preaching the Word." Pastor McArthur's diagnosis comes days after televangelist Jimmy Swaggart died The news comes the same weekend loved ones laid the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, to rest in Louisiana. A global televangelist in the 1980s before an adultery scandal diminished his influence, died on July 8 in a Baton Rouge hospital. Swaggart, who was 90, never regained consciousness following a heart attack in his home June 15. His publicist told USA TODAY he died surrounded by family and loved ones. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
