Educators and a top CaliforniaLawmakers are calling for an inquiry into an elementary school teacher who posted an image in a work group chat depicting a Black toddler with an ankle monitor.
John Solomon, a fifth-grade teacher at MacArthur Elementary School in Lakewood and a well-known figure within the Long Beach Teachers Association, is facing criticism after a fellow educator revealed an offensive message he sent regarding their young students in May.
In a message shared with an 11-member group chat, Solomon included an image of a cartoon black child smiling while wearing an ankle monitor on one foot, as reported in the message obtained byThe Long Beach Post.
The picture was designed to look like a 'Little Tikes' product box, featuring a fake toy called 'My First Ankle Monitor.'
"We require this for our runners!" Solomon wrote along with the screenshot.
A team member immediately voiced opposition to the unsettling post, replying, "that picture is concerning in various ways."
Instead of going back, Solomon responded from his phone with a brief, "Yeah, I see that."
As per multiple educators, his use of the word "runners" was a deliberate, sarcastic allusion to their special education pupils, who tend to stray more than other students, according to the source.
Not long after the group chat became public, state Sen. Lena Gonzalez released a statement calling on the union to completely remove him.
"Racist and derogatory remarks regarding any student in our Long Beach schools must never be accepted," Gonzalez stated in a public announcement.
"But discovering the racist text and image shared by an LBUSD teacher, who is expected to earn the trust of peers, students, and families, is shocking," she remarked.
Solomon has refuted sending the message, claiming his phone must have been compromised - a theory the district is not accepting.
"I wish Mr. Solomon were here, as I wanted to wait and meet him face to face and speak with him," said Bola Oduwole, a math teacher at Poly High, during a board meeting on Thursday, according to the report.
My question for him is: Every time you look at an African American child or an Asian child or a child with brown skin, is that all you notice?" he added. "I wonder what other stereotypes are in your mind.
The disclosure of Solomon's text increased pressure on the Teachers Association of Long Beach (TALB), which has been attempting to expel him from the union while simultaneously working on a new contract.
In the midst of the continuing debate, the union formed a three-member inquiry panel to carry out an internal examination.
Authorities eventually concluded that Solomon's message not only ridiculed students with disabilities, but also promoted damaging racial stereotypes regarding Black children.
They also considered Solomon's assertion that his phone had been compromised as "simply not believable," pointing out that multiple educators in the group chat had saved his message, which was sent from the number he kept using.
In the meantime, the fifth-grade instructor has labeled the claims as harmful and states he intends to take legal steps against the union and other parties he believes are disseminating inaccurate details regarding the matter.
However, his strong support has not significantly relieved worries among teachers and the public.
Solomon has left the negotiation committee, stating 'growing duties in the classroom,' yet has declined to resign from his position as secretary of the union's executive board.
According to the LB Post, in his own words, the investigation is nothing more than a 'KANGAROO COURT.'
The board stated it lacks a process to remove him but could suggest ending the case completely if he steps down — an action that has led to a union member meeting on Thursday.
At the meeting, participants urged the initiation of a recall effort – a petition needing signatures from at least a quarter of the union's 3,700 members to prompt a special election aimed at removing a board official, as reported.The Long Beach Post.
Manar Totonji, a science educator at Poly High School, shared that upon discovering Solomon's text in July, he was "completely shocked."
He described it as astonishing that something "so disgusting and racist" had been sent by "a person we all voted for, who is supposed to represent our shared interests in the district and who is actually sitting in a classroom himself."
In a message to LB Post, Gonzalez expanded on the 'anger' she experienced regarding the event.
I am furious and deeply disappointed," she stated. "As parents, we entrust schools to offer more than just academics; we expect them to create safe, supportive environments rooted in unity, fairness, and inclusivity.
She also urged schools throughout the state to bring their communities together, "avoid promoting damaging stereotypes or varied speech—especially as the federal government is advancing discriminatory deportation practices."
MacArthur Elementary School has chosen not to initiate its own investigation, stating that it "is beyond their area of responsibility," as reported by the source.
Currently, Solomon is still working as a teacher at the school.
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