January 19, 2024
Baltimore County School Principal Accused of Using Offensive Language Toward Black and Jewish Students In Recording — But Is It AI?
This is a tricky one...
The principal at Pikesville High School is under fire after a recording was released of a man, allegedly the principal, using discriminatory language toward the school’s Black and Jewish students.
A union rep claims it was AI.
Eric Eiswert was attributed to the voice heard on a recording, talking about “ungrateful Black kids who can’t test their way out of a paper bag.” The voice in the 45-second clip also says that students aren’t meeting grade-level expectations and even threatens certain staff members by name, saying he is going to “drag his Black a** out of here “one way or another.”
“And if I have to get one more complaint from one more Jew in this community, I’m going to join the other side,” the voice can be heard saying.
As the clip gained traction on social media, Kyria Joseph, the department’s executive director, released a statement to the Pikesville High School community to say the situation was being investigated. “We immediately notified the BCPS Office of Investigations and they are investigating this matter. While this is a personnel matter, and I am limited in what I can share, I will provide an update as soon as more information is available.”
But a union representing county administrators is defending Eiswert and saying the voice on the recording isn’t his. Billy Burke, executive director of the Council of Administrative and Supervisory Employees, says the principal was a victim of artificial intelligence, pointing out that no other voice is heard on the recording. “We believe that it is AI-generated,” Burke said. “He did not say that.”
Burke claims the accused leader denounces all of the comments made in the recording and will make sure everything is handled the right way. “If I were in that position, my heart would be a little broken today,” he said.
While the investigation is pending, county and school leaders have already chimed in on the allegations, calling them “deeply disturbing.” “I understand how upsetting this recording is for many members of the Team BCPS community,” Superintendent Myriam Rogers said, according to WMAR 2 News. “We will not tolerate disparaging remarks about any member of the Team BCPS community.”
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski released a statement regarding the incident, saying comments such as the ones heard “have no place in our community — especially in our schools.”