Michigan teacher suspended for repeating N-word: 'hard to defend that'

A Michigan middle school teacher was placed on paid administrative leave for repeating a racial slur students were using, according to a report.

MacDonald Middle School teacher Dennis Petrowitz sent a letter to families apologizing for using the slur, and school administrators confirmed his leave of absence but declined additional comment, reported the Lansing State Journal.

"There were students using the 'N-word' interchangeably amongst themselves," Petrowitz said in the letter. "In my haste to redirect the behavior, I addressed the students by stating that they shouldn't use that word and in doing so, I used the actual word itself. I immediately felt terrible and regretted using it."

"I am deeply sorry for my actions," he added, "and the impact it has had on the MMS community."

East Lansing teachers union vice president Mark Pontoni said Petrowitz deserved a fair hearing.

"No one is going to defend the use of that word in any situation," Pontoni said. "It is hard to defend that. We're certainly not going to do that."