The Joke That Isn't Funny: Are Slurs Overlooked at Manteca High?
By ALEXIS LEAL
The Tower
MANTECA – Walking around the Manteca High campus, you might hear disturbing words along with the usual noise.
Racial slurs, often dismissed as simple jokes, are a persistent issue among the student body.
“We have zero tolerance for this hate of any kind, this is not acceptable at Manteca High.”
Students express concern about the extensive use of hurtful and offensive language, which has become a normal part of their school life. Toxic culture undermines the very foundation of respect.
“We have zero tolerance for this hate of any kind,” states Manteca High School Principal Megan Peterson. “This is not acceptable at Manteca High.”
Many students report the daily normalization of racist slurs and offensive jokes. Hurtful language can contribute to an uncomfortable campus environment. The school's official stance on racism is firm, but it clashes directly with the student experience.
"Unfortunately, racism does rear its ugly head from time to time," Peterson said. "We work every day to make sure all kids feel supported and embraced here."
Students from Manteca High School join hands to showcase the diversity among them. December 11, 2025. (Alex Rizo /The Tower)
According to an informal poll conducted by The Tower on Dec. 12, 2025, the students' reality is vastly different. Sixty-seven percent of students surveyed believe the school does not educate them enough on bullying and racism. Ninety percent of students surveyed believe derogatory slurs are becoming normalized among their peers.
Students believe that offensive language is a prevalent issue within their student body. Consequently, this hurtful behavior is often unchallenged and becomes the norm for many students, as offensive language is used constantly.
The normalization of slurs can take a major toll on a student's mental health.
“Poor mental health, suicide risk, and substance use,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states “…were consistently higher among students who reported having ever experienced racism in school compared with students who reported having never experienced racism.”
When students are constantly surrounded by offensive language, it creates an atmosphere of stress and anxiety. For many, the mental energy spent just ignoring or recovering from these comments makes it harder to focus on schoolwork.
Students at Manteca High School deal with derogatory comments from their peers every day. This problem has been seen or experienced by many students around campus. According to The Tower survey, 67 percent of students have seen their peers use derogatory slurs at school.
Students of all different races are all feeling the impact of these jokes that are normalized on campus.
According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University When children’s stress response systems stay activated at high levels for extended periods, it can have a lasting impact on their developing brains and other biological systems.
Manteca High faces a cultural issue amongst the student body that many students recognize and are deeply affected by. Despite the MHS administration’s zero-tolerance policy, the reality experienced by the student body displays a significant disconnect amongst them.