the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Belleville NJ, a group of Belleville High School employees are under investigation by district officials after reportedly wearing t-shirts with the phrase “Gulf of America”—a name change for the Gulf of Mexico suggested by President Donald Trump.
Superintendent Addresses Incident
In a letter to parents and staff on February 4, Interim Schools Superintendent Nicholas Perrapato stated that a “small group of staff members wore coordinated clothing” that offended some students and employees. Belleville High School serves a predominantly Hispanic student body—with about 73% of its 1,500 students identifying as Hispanic, according to enrollment data from two years ago.
Perrapato noted that because the matter involves school personnel, he was unable to provide further details. However, he emphasized the importance of respectful discourse, saying:
“We recognize that political dialogue can be especially charged. We encourage thoughtful actions and respectful conversations among our students and staff.”
No Photos or Videos Have Surfaced
Despite the “controversy”, no photos or videos of staff wearing the t-shirts have surfaced on social media. The incident was first reported by NJ.com, which stated that the shirts were worn during a dress-down day on January 31.
Political Apparel in Schools: A Gray Area
Some New Jersey school districts have policies that prohibit political paraphernalia in schools except for educational purposes. Additionally, staff dress codes may be governed by union contracts, which could further complicate the investigation.
The Origin of “Gulf of America”
The phrase stems from a January 20 executive order by President Trump titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.” The order mandates that official U.S. government maps, contracts, and communications use the name “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico”.
Following the announcement, Google confirmed that it updates geographic names in accordance with federal sources, leading to the change on Google Maps. The order also sparked a wave of merchandise, with t-shirts, globes, and other products featuring the new name.
What Happens Next?
The Belleville School District has not yet announced any disciplinary action against the staff involved. The situation remains under investigation, and updates will likely follow as the district determines whether the t-shirts violated school policies.
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Is Belleville High School is America or Hispania? Shirts displaying proposed updated geographical nomenclature ARE educational in nature and encourage discussion and debate, which is the cornerstone of learning. Offensive is purely subjective and should be kept at home. Cry to your mamacitas about it. End of discussion. School is out!
It isn’t a SUGGESTED name. It’s the new name. Gulf of America. Get used to it. Why is this offensive? Disgusting. What’s truly offensive is the tone of this article trying to suggest that the teachers did anything wrong.
NJEA sucks !
Free speech!