Athletic Trainer Suspended After "Racial" Postings On Lamesa I.S.D Blog
By: Katiera Winfrey
Updated: January 22, 2013
It's all in name, that's the title given to Lamesa High School's athletic trainer Ray "Doc" McCall's post on the district blog.
"It's not the place for any of our employees to post their personal thoughts," said district interim superintendent Cliffton Stephens.
However that's exactly what McCall did.
Stephens said, "His point to the student was we need to be proud of who we are regardless of what color your skin is."
That student's mother Vickie Williams said, "Everybody seems to be protecting him. I'm protecting my son.
Upset at a black student's response to getting called the "n-word" by an opposing team member, McCall who officials say has an unblemished record with the district wrote:
"He wasn't the only one of our black kids that was called that. This one kid was the only one who reacted to being called an effing n-word and he was thrown out of the game along with the kid who said it."
Williams said, McCall didn't mention that it was wrong for the other athlete to call her son the "n-word in the first place.
"That's racism to me," said Williams.
That Lamesa High football player was scorned and kicked out of the game and just a day later the athletic trainer scolded him again by posting on the district blog. School officials said the athletic trainer has been punished appropriately however, Williams said that teacher needs a more severe punishment.
Big 2's Katiera Winfrey asked, "Termination would have made you feel better? Williams responded with "It would have send out a message to the kids you know we don't condone this. We won't put up with this."
McCall didn't get terminated. His initial punishment was a verbal reprimand; however Williams said that wouldn't be enough. So Williams took her case further taking it all the way to the school board for evaluation.
"Our school board is trying to use their abilities the best they can and be fair to everyone and that's a hard thing to do," said Stephens.
The board ultimately decided to suspend McCall with pay.
"Anytime you have a position any job and you're off with pay, that's a vacation," said Williams.
Although the fate of McCall's job is safe, Williams said her son has been negatively affected by this.
"The first thing out of his mouth was I felt belittled I felt humiliated," said Williams.
