A New Jersey teacher has been removed from the classroom after telling her Facebook followers that the kidnapping of a 5-year-old girl in the area happened because of “Mexican culture.”
According to an Amber Alert issued by authorities, Dulce Alavez was taken by a man from the Bridgeton City Park on Sept. 16 as her mother sat in a car nearby.
An in-class resource teacher in the Vineland School District, Jennifer Hewitt Bishop, made a comment on Facebook about the situation.
Joe Rossi, the district’s executive director of personnel, said multiple people reported the comment to the district.
“Everything is being evaluated. We’ll have an outcome shortly,” he said, confirming the teacher has been removed from the classroom but declining to say whether she was suspended or on leave.
“Central administration began an immediate investigation and confirmed the post was made by a district teacher,” Rossi said. “Appropriate action was taken.”
Lou Russo, the Vineland Education Association president, said he could not comment on “an individual personnel matter still under dispute” but added to the Daily Journal: “However, I will say that social media is a dangerous place,” Russo said. “Comments are often misunderstood and taken out of context by a virtual crowd that rarely takes time to think and reflect or seek clarification before they react with verbal attacks of their own.”
“On social media it seems that some people do not believe public employees have a right to freedom of speech, or even a dissenting viewpoint from the crowd,” Russo said.
The search for Dulce, meanwhile, is ongoing.
Dulce’s mother, Noema Alavez, told local outlets that Dulce’s younger brother saw a man “waving his hand” beckoning Dulce.
Authorities said Dulce was seen leaving the playground with the man and being placed in the back seat of a red van before the man drove away in the van.
