A substitute teacher in Flint, Michigan has been dismissed after angry parents complained their elementary school students were exposed to the use of a Ouija board during class.
Concerned parent, Billie DeVille spoke out about the incident at a Flint Community Schools Board of Education meeting Wednesday Nov. 20, mLive reported.
Superintendent Kevelin Jones replied to the complaint, emphasizing that Ouija boards are in no way part of the curriculum or condoned by the school.
"It's not in our curriculum. It's not something we condone as it pertains to speaking about those types of things in a way that would instill fear or speak away from the curriculum," Jones said.
"We have rectified that situation and we have determined that we would not have that particular third-party staff member in the district," Jones assured the community.
Ouija boards, or "talking boards" were originally manufactured as tools for "spiritual communication," leading some to associate the product with the occult. While others consider it a game or dismiss its use as silly, the Ouija board was denounced by the school district as out of line with the school's educational standards.
DeVille praised the district's swift action in a Facebook post, thanking the superintendent and school board for prioritizing students' well-being. "Flint really should be proud of how we came together and advocated for our kids!" she wrote.
On Friday a letter was sent out by the school district confirming its disapproval of the incident and the decision to terminate the substitute teacher's employment.
Originally published by Latin Times.
