Whether they are in the classroom, playground, or anywhere on school grounds, all children deserve equal respect at school. Unfortunately, educators and staff members sometimes get by in their jobs for years without letting their personal prejudice be known to their co-workers, but bigots sometimes let things slip in their treatment of vulnerable children. If your child has faced the sad reality of discrimination at school, here's what you should do.
Make Notes
Listen to your child's explanation and immediately write down notes about what your child explains. Write down the date and approximate time. Get all the details you can and be as thorough as possible. Feel free to ask follow-up questions, but reassure your child that they are not in trouble. Explain that what happened to them wasn't fair and that they are not at fault in any way.
Know Your Child's Rights
It's not okay for someone to discriminate against your child, and legal protections are in place if someone discriminates against your child based on any of the following things:
- Race
- Color
- National Origin
- Sex (Male or Female)
- Disability
- Age
Federal and state laws are in place to protect your child's rights. Make sure you don't assume that the incident is not important just because your child may be handling it well. It's important to protect your child and other children who the person may target if they are not held accountable for their bad behavior.
Consult an Attorney
Before you speak to the school principal or anyone else about the incident, it's best to consult an attorney who can advise you on the next best steps to take. They may advise you to file a report at the school or make a formal complaint right away. If you cannot get in touch with a discrimination attorney within 24 hours of the incident, you may look into filing a report on your own depending on the rules of your school, but it's best to wait until you have consulted an attorney for advice on how to best proceed.
Consider a Lawsuit
A lawsuit can go a long way towards bringing an injustice to the attention of the organization, and it can see to it that your child is compensated for the pain experienced because of the discrimination. While that will not make the trauma go away, it can provide the means to get the child therapy and other care. Your lawyer will be able to give you information that is helpful for your unique situation and help you decide how to best proceed.
Finally, keep in mind that a discrimination attorney like those at the Law Office of Faye Riva Cohen, P.C. will be able to guide you and your child through this process. Seeking justice once a child has been a victim of discrimination is multifaceted, and there aren't easy answers. It is worth it to stand up for your child's rights, though, and how you handle the situation can teach them a lot about how much their rights are worth protecting.
