A teacher on TikTok was overcome with emotion after being terminated for a viral video in which he had his female students unbraid his hair before an appointment.
Despite the abundance of teachers who use TikTok to showcase their classroom antics, one middle school educator is facing consequences for their decision.
On May 5, a teacher named JaQ Lee shared a video where he live-streamed students helping him take out his braids. Although his intention was innocent, some users in the comments questioned the appropriateness of the video.
He explained that he had a hair appointment right after school and required his hair to be taken out beforehand. However, he couldn’t do it the night before. So, he reached out to four or five of his closest friends out of a group of over 100, and asked for their help.
I can see why they fired JaQ Lee they are so many videos that as a teacher he shouldn’t have been posting…. Probably went against the policy.Idk what y’all think? Do you think them taking his hair down is okay even when posting content like this? pic.twitter.com/ZYPSffW6Tb
— Shalena Ward (@ShalenaCWard) May 10, 2024
Despite JaQ’s well-intentioned actions, they were met with differing opinions and a heated discussion erupted on social media. The TikToker’s video also gained traction on other platforms, amassing over 50 million views on X.
One user criticized him, saying, “Instead of spending time with his younger siblings/cousins, he’s at work. It’s not only inappropriate that he’s doing this during work hours, but young girls can be easily influenced and this type of behavior is too intimate and overly personal.”
Another person expressed their outrage, stating, “If I were a mother, I would have been livid!”
According to Distractify, the teacher was terminated after facing backlash, although many believe that the braiding incident was not the sole reason for his dismissal.
I can see why they fired JaQ Lee they are so many videos that as a teacher he shouldn’t have been posting…. Probably went against the policy.Idk what y’all think? Do you think them taking his hair down is okay even when posting content like this? pic.twitter.com/ZYPSffW6Tb
— Shalena Ward (@ShalenaCWard) May 10, 2024
After viewing some of his previous videos, users pointed out what they considered to be ‘inappropriate’ actions. In one particular video, JaQ was seen looking out the window of his classroom with the caption, “When you spot a student’s mother looking like a snack during carpool.”
After being fired, the teacher uploaded a video in which he shared messages allegedly sent by his students and became emotional while reading them. However, certain statements made by the students sparked further controversy.
@thilluminatin1
As he read the message, tears welled up in his eyes. “Hey bestie, I just wanted to reach out and make sure you’re doing alright,”the message read. “We all miss you so much in our class and we want you to know that we care about you and are thinking of you. And just so you know, the class and others are here to support you.”
Numerous viewers were perplexed by the students’ use of terms such as “bestie”and “love”to refer to their teacher, while some were moved to tears and empathized with the teacher.
One viewer rhetorically asked, “As a parent, would you be comfortable with your child dating someone under the age of 18?”
“It is rare to find educators like you who truly prioritize the well-being of their students. This is truly disheartening,”another expressed in contrast.
“Another person added, “It’s clear that he is adored by the school and has a deep affection for the students.”
Instances of teachers facing disciplinary action for their conduct towards students are not uncommon. In May, a teacher posted on TikTok, proudly sharing that she had secured a new job after being dismissed for sending 28,000 texts to one of her students.
The 2022 dismissal of a science teacher occurred after she confessed to recording inappropriate material on her students’ desks while at school.
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