Teacher Patrick Lawler Banned After Telling Students Rosa Parks “Did Not Exist” and Calling Martin Luther King Jr. a “Fraud”

Patrick Lawler, A former teacher has been barred from the profession after a disciplinary panel found that he made racist, false, and offensive statements to pupils, including denying key figures in Black history and spreading misinformation in the classroom.

The case centered on a lesson intended to cover medieval history that instead veered into comments about the U.S. civil rights movement. During the class, the teacher told year six pupils that Rosa Parks “did not really exist” and described Martin Luther King Jr. as a “fraud” who had “embezzled lots of money.” He also claimed the Montgomery bus boycott was “all staged,” and alleged that King had “illegally changed his name and fraudulently obtained his doctorate.” Investigators found these statements to be untrue and harmful, particularly given the age of the students.

In its findings, the panel noted the imbalance of authority in a classroom, stating that pupils of that age “do not have the ability to explore, test and challenge minority views which are presented in an unbalanced fashion.” The panel concluded that the teacher misused his position by presenting misinformation as fact and disparaging historical figures central to lessons on equality and justice.

The ruling found that the conduct extended beyond a single incident. Evidence showed a pattern of offensive remarks over several years, including telling students that the phrase “Black Lives Matter” stood for “Burn, Loot, Murder,” making comments about drug use, and promoting extreme views in school newsletters. In those publications, he described sex between two men as “unnatural, unhealthy, disgusting perversion” and labeled Islam as “demonic” and “satanically inspired.” He also denied established medical evidence by claiming there was no proof of COVID-19.

The matter came to light after parents complained, triggering internal reviews and warnings. Although the teacher later resigned, further allegations followed. A regulatory panel ultimately ruled that his actions amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and imposed an indefinite ban from teaching.

In its decision, the panel said the ban was necessary to protect students and uphold professional standards, concluding that classrooms must not be used as platforms for prejudice, falsehoods, or personal ideology presented as instruction.

Link: The Independent