DailyKenn.com — One teacher posed wearing shirt reading, "be kind." The other teacher's shirt seemed to call for deep-sixing President Trump. The snap shot was taken in front of the White House during a school outing.
That Indiana teacher is under investigation after a photo surfaced showing her wearing a T-shirt with the number “8647” during a school field trip to Washington, D.C. The image, taken in front of the White House, has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many interpreting the number as a coded message advocating violence against former President Donald Trump.
The teacher, identified as Tonja Luken of Middlebury Community Schools, was photographed wearing the shirt during the trip. The number “8647” is interpreted by some as a combination of “86,” slang for “eliminate,” and “47,” referencing Trump's potential position as the 47th president. The photo, originally shared on Luken’s Facebook page, quickly went viral after being reposted on social media platforms.
According to American lore the number 86 was gangster code to take someone 8 miles out of town and bury them 6 feet deep.
In response to the controversy, Middlebury Community Schools issued a statement emphasizing their policy prohibiting teachers from promoting partisan political views. The district stated:
“Our policies require teachers to refrain from using their position to promote partisan political views… This prohibition applies to all teachers, regardless of their political leanings, and to every partisan political message, regardless of its content.”
The district confirmed that an investigation is ongoing but noted that the trip had only just returned to Middlebury on June 4, which delayed the process. They added that no further comments would be made while the investigation is pending.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Luken is an English teacher based in Mishawaka, Indiana, and studied at Western Michigan University.
The incident has reignited discussions about political expression among educators and the responsibilities they hold in representing their institutions.
Sources:
* Hindustan Times: [Who is Tonja Luken, Middlebury Schools teacher under fire for alleged ‘8647’ photo at White House?]
* Facebook: [An Indiana teacher has come under fire after being photographed wearing a T-shirt with the number “8647”]
* Facebook: [Meet Tonja Luken, a teacher at @MiddleburyComm1 in Indiana]
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