POLK COUNTY, Florida — A Polk County mother is demanding an apology after she said her son’s elementary school teacher made a birthday gesture that was offensive — rather than celebratory.
Legend Whitaker just turned 6 years old. He attends Floral Avenue Elementary in Bartow, where his class and teacher sang a song. His mother, Desarae Prather, said the lyrics stirred up hurt feelings and anger.
In a video provided to 10 Tampa Bay News, the teacher can be heard singing, “Happy Birthday to you. You live in the zoo, you look like a monkey, and you smell like one too.”
“I don’t like stuff like that,” Whitaker said, adding that the song hurt his feelings.
Prather said the teacher sent her the video, and she went straight to the school’s main office.
“I automatically said, ‘There’s nothing funny about it, and I don’t think that the kids thought that was funny,’” Prather said.
Prather said there’s a history of Black people being described that way, making it extremely upsetting.
“My skin is boiling. I don’t even like racism, and to know where we come from, and our ancestors and for us to be labeled like that, because when they call us, ‘Monkey,’ they’re saying we’re ugly; we act like monkeys. Those are remarks I don’t like it at all,” Prather said.
Polk County Public Schools’ district staff and the HR department are reviewing the incident. 10 Tampa Bay News followed up with additional questions, including: “Is this the first time the teacher has sung this song to students?”
We also asked, “While this is being reviewed, will the teacher still be in the classrooms?” 10 Tampa Bay News has yet to hear back.
“I don’t play games about my child,” Prather said.
In a letter to the school board, Prather asked for an apology, immediate disciplinary action and counseling for her son. After receiving no response, she decided to show up in person.
“They kept saying it’s an active investigation. They can’t answer any questions,” Prather said.
Prather said her son was moved to a different classroom after the incident, but he hasn’t returned to school since. She now plans to transfer him to another school.
