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OGDEN, Utah (AP) — Utah school officials say the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is investigating a white teacher's use of a racially charged word in a junior high class.
The Ogden Standard-Examiner reported Tuesday that Weber School District spokesman Lane Findlay said federal officials contacted the district following a parent complaint about teacher Douglas Barker's use of the N-word before showing the Civil War movie "Glory"
Department of Education spokesman Michael Germano said the agency doesn't comment on open investigations.
Barker has said he was making sure his students understood why the word would be used in the film in April.
But parent Holly Frye, who is black, said her 14-year-old son didn't feel safe at school after the teacher used the word.
NAACP leaders in Ogden have also expressed concern.
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