Alaska Teacher Suspended After ‘Racially Insensitive’ George Floyd Remarks in Zoom Class

An Alaska high school teacher was placed on administrative leave after she was caught on camera telling her students over Zoom that George Floyd would still be alive if he complied with police orders.

Daily Mail Online reported that one of the students' parents uploaded the 15-minute video on YouTube. In the video, the Alaska teacher referred to as "Ms. Gardner" was seen with a face mask while talking to her students about police killing Black people, including George Floyd's death.

Alaska Teacher Commenting on George Floyd's Death Over Zoom

New York Post reported that the teacher, who was employed at Lathrop High School in Fairbanks, also argued that complying with the authorities would have saved George Floyd's life.

In the video, the teacher said that former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin "abused his authority" and "was complicit" in Floyd's death.

Then she noted that if George Floyd had "just sidled into the car" in the beginning and "slid it in there, and let them put his legs in," he would have been alive today.

"You know that's true," the Alaska teacher added.

The teacher also instructed her students that if ever they get arrested, they have to place their hands on the back and get inside the police car, then call their parents once they were allowed to make a phone call.

Miami Herald noted that the Alaska teacher said in the Zoom class that she would do the same thing if she would be arrested, adding that she is an "old white lady."

The Fairbanks North Star Brough School District has issued a letter this week, notifying the parents that the teacher in the video had been put on administrative leave. But officials declined to name the Alaska teacher.

Carly Sween, the principal of Lathrop High School, said that she and her assistant principal met with the students via Zoom call to talk about the incident.

Citing a local newspaper, Miami Herald reported that the school officials told the students to reflect on the situation.

It is unclear what prompted the conversation between Gardner and her students. But the Zoom video began with the Alaska teacher talking about the number of shootings that involved people of color.

Other Issues Tackled in the Zoom Video

Apart from the teacher's comment on George Floyd's death, Gardner also tackled how to dress appropriately to avoid getting the attention of the cops.

"You guys are dressed nicely. You don't look like thugs," said the teacher. She added that students should not wear their pants down around their knees.

Meanwhile, a tutor who identified herself as Liz retaliated on Gardner's comments about clothing.

Liz said that it made her a little uncomfortable when the teacher's insinuated that the way someone dresses will garner attention from law enforcement authorities.

Liz noted that the police officers "should be trained not to judge people based on those factors." She added that having pants around the knees does not imply that they are a criminal.

Lathrop High Principal Carly Sween said the incident is now under investigation. Sween has labeled the comments of the Alaska teacher on Zoom as "racially insensitive."

President Sandra Ryan of Fairbanks Education Association said that a union advocate would represent Gardner as the investigation continues.

WATCH: Fairbanks Teacher - Racist Comments and Interactions With Students, Staff, and Family Member - From Joshua Rose