BELTON, Mo. – A Missouri high school principal recently used his school’s graduation ceremony as an opportunity to pontificate about race relations in America, and his comments left parents fuming.

“I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to change the world, I wanted to make it a better place,” Belton High School principal Fred Skretta told students last week. “I’m going to be honest with you, in a lot of ways I fear that we are not there yet. If we were, we wouldn’t have conflicts between police killing young black men.”

Those comments prompted many parents to get up and walk out on the graduation ceremony, and they didn’t hold back their frustrations for Fox 4.

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“I found it very inappropriate, I am highly offended,” an unidentified parent told the news station. “You don’t use the platform of a child’s graduation to push a political agenda or push your personal opinions. Your job is supposed to inspire, educate, inform and not (indoctrinate) one way or the other.”

District officials apparently agree, and issued an apology shortly after the incident.

“Comments being made at the graduation ceremony are being addressed and district administration is looking into the unfortunate situation,” the statement read.

Deputy superintendent Steve Morgan would not discuss what, if any discipline, Skretta will face for the comments, but said they “certainly are not reflective of the district, so we sent out an apology in a statement today that went to all patrons reflecting that,” Fox 4 reports.

Skretta posted a message to Twitter apologizing for his graduation speech May 16.

“TY all at #BHS graduation! I apologize if my remarks were offensive. Our law enforcement have difficult jobs & I meant no disrespect #agape,” he tweeted.

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The controversial comments in Belton certainly wasn’t the only incident in which school officials put their foot in their mouth during graduation remarks.

In Stone Mountain, California, private TNT Academy principal Nancy Gordeuk was fired after she made a racist remark at that school’s recent graduation.

Earlier this month, Gordeuk accidentally dismissed attendees before the valedictorian’s speech, then attempted to call them back, 11 Alive reports.

“Looks whose leaving, all the black people,” Gordeuk said.

In an email to parents after the fact, Gordeuk said the devil made her do it.

“The devil was in the house and came out of my mouth,” she wrote to parents. “I deeply apologize for my racist comment and hope that forgiveness is in your hearts.”

The local NAACP chapter isn’t buying her excuse.

“Beyond the inappropriate remarks, the former principal attempted to legitimize the bizarre episode by claiming ‘the devil made her do it.’” Gerogia NAACP President Francys Johnson said in an emailed statement to Alive 11.

“This is not just about Mrs. Gordeuk’s comments. The NAACP would defend Mrs. Gordeuk’s right as a private citizen to free speech. However, those entrusted with responsibility for our children must set a high standard marked by civility. That is obviously a test the former principal failed.”

The NAACP is now working with a parent of a recent TNT graduate to challenge the school accreditation with the Georgia Accrediting Commission, according to the news site.