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Well it is a word that evokes many emotions in people.

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It is a derogatory racial remark that has divided people for many years.

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And a Jefferson County High School teacher has now received the longest suspension on record

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for calling a student the "n" word. WHAS 11's Defender, Renee Murphy, investigates

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what happened and why in this story you'll only see on 11.

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Valley Traditional High School is in the middle of a racial controversy right now. A teacher used the

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"n" word towards a student. The word is only 6 letters long but the impact is far-reaching.

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And we do want to warn you that some of the language in this story is strong

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and it may offend you, it may offend some other people.

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But since this story is not just about the "n" word, it's also about the teacher's intent

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and definition of the word, we have decided to leave it in the story for you to decide.

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>> And what did he say specifically to you?

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>> Sit down, nigger.

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Keysean Chavers is a freshman at Valley High School, a Boy Scout, a football player,

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a member of the ROTC, an honor roll student.

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He was hanging around his teacher’s classroom door in December. The teacher, told him to sit down.

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And the teacher says that Keysean used the "n" word first.

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>> And I, just kind of was stunned a second, well, well, well then get away from the door - nigga!

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And I was just, I repeated the same insult because that's sort of what I've been trained to do!

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The school district says that is not what they trained English teacher, Paul Dawson, to do.

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>> He tried to say I said it and for some, and I didn't say it and no one else

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in the class knows that I said it, 'cuz I didn't.

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Documents from the school investigation show that several of the students interviewed

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from Valley, did not hear Keysean say the "n" word first. Dawson says that students use

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the slang version of the "n" word at Valley High School all the time.

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He says "n-i-g-g-e-r" is a racial slur but says that students use "n-i-g-g-a" as often as they'd say "dude"

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or "hey man". And Dawson says as much as he does not like the word, he still used the slang version

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to feel more comfortable with black students.

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>> Why is this word used so frequently, so - I just, I just don't understand it and I'm trying

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to understand it. I need help. Yes, I use nigga, I, I've used it. I admit it. I put the "h" on it

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to emphasize "nigg-ahhh". You know, nigga, nigga this, nigga, nigga please! Nigga!

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Ya'know, can you lend a nigga a pencil?

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>> What kind of example are you setting for your students if you use a word

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that you don't want them to use?

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>> Upon reflection, that's not good.

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>> Dawson was suspended for 10 days without pay from January 9 to January 23,

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and he has to go to Diversity Training. He says that he's learned from this experience

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and hopes that others think twice before using the "n" word.

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>> I am cured! I will never say any form of nigga. Ya'know, I am cured of that.

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>> Paul Dawson says that he is sorry for the way things were handled but Keysean says

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that he is not looking for any apologies.

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>> Apologizing isn't going to change the fact that it happened and he's not been punished.

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>> And punishment in your mind is?

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>> Him not having his job anymore.

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Paul Dawson says that he wants there to be a steadfast policy

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in Jefferson County Public Schools against people using the "n" word.

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Right now when it is brought up, it is dealt with on a case by case basis with the district.

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And we should mention that Keysean is still in Paul Dawson's classroom. Dawson has been

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with the district for 20 years and Keysean is still in that classroom because Dawson

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is an Honors English teacher, there are very few Honors English classes, so he is still with him.

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Well, now he was suspended for awhile but is he back teaching?

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He is back teaching now, and he still does have his job but this is not the first time that Paul Dawson

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has been suspended from Jefferson County Public Schools. Coming up at 5:30 we'll tell you

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what happened before, we'll tell you about his plan to appeal the suspension, and why the district

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says that he should keep his job.

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Thank you very much. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this.

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Oh no, lots more to come.

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Thank you.