A California school district is facing backlash after outlining what critics have described as a “slap on the wrist” response to a group of students who used T-shirts to spell out a homophobic slur.
The incident involved pupils at Redwood High School in the state’s Central Valley. According to multiple reports, around 10 students rearranged letters and numbers printed on T-shirts — originally worn for a senior class photograph — to form the offensive word “F******”.
The shirts had initially spelled out “Class of 2026 Always Legit”. After the official photo was taken, the group reportedly shifted the letters and substituted numbers to create the derogatory message.
Some reports suggested the act was aimed at two eighth-grade boys who were holding hands, although others have disputed that claim, stating the display was unrelated.
The behaviour was swiftly labelled “unacceptable” by school officials. Natali Garza, executive director of student services, said: “We want the whole community to know that this is not representative of our values or the values of any of our school campuses. We also want families to know that there will be consequences for this very serious behaviour.”
Superintendent’s Letter to Parents
On Wednesday (18 February), the Visalia Unified School District released a letter to families from superintendent Kirk Shrum, condemning what he called “unacceptable behaviour” that “does not reflect who we are or the values we strive to uphold”.
“While specific details cannot be made public, please know that as we continue our investigation, we are taking appropriate action in accordance with district board policy and applicable law,” Shrum wrote.
“Our commitment is to a fair, comprehensive investigation grounded in facts. We will apply our board policy and the law to the evidence, and we will address this matter appropriately with the goal of accountability, fostering growth and restoration.”
Shrum said the incident presented “an opportunity for us to come together and model the kind of respectful discourse that leads to healing and understanding”, adding that administrators were meeting with students to discuss “hate speech, civility, and the responsibility that comes with being a member of our Visalia schools and community”.
He continued: “This week, student leaders are being provided opportunities to engage in healthy and productive dialogue with their peers and staff about belonging and respect.
“As a district, we will convene a roundtable with community leaders who support students in modelling civility and engaging in positive discourse. Together, we will meet this moment with steadfast resolve to restore and strengthen our community.
“While we may hold differing views, we can all agree that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Shrum emphasised the district’s commitment to “providing a safe learning environment where you feel valued, respected, and able to focus fully on your education”, and said the actions of a small group of pupils “do not define our entire student body, our staff, or our school community.”
“We know VUSD students are caring, thoughtful individuals who strive to make our community and world a better place,” he concluded.
“Hate speech will not be tolerated in VUSD. We will enforce this expectation, and we will lead, model, and teach constructive and restorative dialogue rooted in belonging and shared humanity.”
Community Backlash
Despite the strong language in the letter, the district’s approach was criticised by some members of the public, who argued that the response lacked meaningful consequences.
Under a copy of the superintendent’s letter shared on Facebook, one commenter wrote: “Oh, yeah! A round table, that’ll show ‘em.”
“Sounds like a slap on the wrist to me…,” another added.
A third person commented, “So nothing was done. Got it,” while someone else dismissed the statement as a “nothing burger”.
The incident has reignited debate about how schools respond to hate speech and whether restorative approaches are sufficient when addressing anti-LGBTQ+ behaviour in educational settings.
