SOUTHFIELD, Michigan. Last year, when a Texas teen brought a
homemade clock to school, his teachers responded by claiming it was a “bomb”
and suspending him for three days. The teen’s story reached the national media
spotlight, and he was invited to MIT, Google, and even the White House. The
U.S. Justice Department opened an investigation into the incident. Since his
suspension, the teen has moved to Qatar with his family.
Yet, the family has returned to the states to pursue a
lawsuit against his school. The family explained that the teen had been the
subject of biased treatment in his Texas school. According to NBC News, the family claims that he
was singled out for discipline as a Muslim teen. Since the incident, the teen
has faced threats and explained that he and his family moved to Qatar due to
better educational opportunities and to avoid threats of violence. The school
that the teen attended has been accused of discriminating not only against
Muslim students, but also African American students.
African American students and students of color may face
civil rights violations from the very schools that are there to educate them.
For instance, according to the Atlantic, the common practice of
“tracking” students, or placing them on distinct academic paths based on their
achievement often results in black students being tracked away from advanced
placement classes and higher-level learning opportunities. In fact, “gifted and
talented” programs as well as advanced placement keeps many wealthy students in
the public school system. In fact, in some schools, one can determine the level
of the class based on the racial makeup of the students in the class. In many
cases, teachers have to provide the final recommendation to students, and
racial biases have been noted.
If you feel that your child is facing unreasonable disciplinary
action based on his or her race, or is being discriminated against by his or
her school based on race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation, you
have important rights under the law. A personal injury lawyer may be able to
review your case to see if you have a civil rights case. The Law Office of J.L. Hawkins, P.L.L.C. in Southfield MI is
a civil rights and personal injury firm that may be
able to help you.
According to Jezebel, the situation in Texas suggests
a community that was biased against Muslims, with the city’s own mayor claiming
that “sharia courts” were taking over Texas.
The reality is that in school districts across the country, minority
students face unique challenges when seeking admission to higher-level learning
opportunities and when facing disciplinary action from administrators. The ACLU
has been monitoring issues with regards to tracking, demanding that school
districts enroll proportionate minority students in their advanced and gifted
classes. However, in many cases, parents often have to advocate for their
children—and seek justice when appropriate. If you feel that your child has
been harmed due to the actions of police, school police, or his or her school
district, you have rights. Visit The Law Office of J.L. Hawkins, P.L.L.C. or
visit www.jlhawkinslaw.com
to learn more.
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