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Discipline Teacher Who Verbally Attacked Student Wearing a Mexican Jersey
  1. Signatures
    3,230 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. Principal, Big Bear Middle School (Julie Chamberlin)
  2. Created By
    Change.org
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

 

A teacher at Big Bear Middle School in California recently verbally attacked a 12-year-old student wearing a Mexican soccer jersey, casting doubt on her legal status in the country and making xenophobic comments.

The student, Coral Avilez, was reduced to tears, but while the teacher apologized to the class, no disciplinary action has been taken.

Furthermore, there are reports that other incidents of racism and xenophobia have occurred at this school, but that students are usually too intimidated to come forward with complaints.

Tell the school's principal that a half-hearted apology isn't enough and to take disciplinary action against the teacher in question, as Coral and her mother are asking, and to investigate other incidents of intolerance at the school.

Photo credit: Shine2010

 

Recent Signatures

Discipline Teacher Who Verbally Attacked Student Wearing a Mexican Jersey

Dear Principal Chamberlin,

I am shocked to hear that a teacher at Big Bear Middle School in California recently verbally attacked a 12-year-old student wearing a Mexican soccer jersey, casting doubt on her legal status in the country and making xenophobic comments.

The student, Coral Avilez, was reduced to tears, but while news reports say the teacher apologized to the class, no disciplinary action has been taken. The handling of the event, with the student questioned afterward by a group of school officials, including the offending teacher, before she was allowed to go home with her mother, also raises questions about the propriety of the response.

Furthermore, there are reports that this was not an isolated occurrence, and that other incidents of racism and xenophobia have occurred at this school, but that students are usually too intimidated to come forward with complaints.

A half-hearted apology isn't enough: to attack a student in this manner is beyond the pale for a teacher, and you should take disciplinary action against the teacher in question, as Coral and her mother are asking. In addition, I ask you to investigate the possibility of other incidents of intolerance at the school.

[Your name]

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