A California teacher has won a legal victory against his local teachers' union for allegedly violating his Title VII civil rights. The union has agreed to end a segregated executive board seat, commit to non-discriminatory practices, and pay the teacher $12,000.
A California teachers' union that blocked White teachers from applying for a position because of their race has quickly folded in federal court after three months in litigation. The plaintiff, Isaac Newman, a teacher in the Elk Grove School District, filed a federal lawsuit against his local union, The Elk Grove Education Association, for allegedly violating his Title VII civil rights. The suit, spearheaded by The Fairness Center, alleged that a "BIPOC" seat on the union's executive board did not permit White applicants, so it was in violation of law.
Newman's legal victory is a significant step forward in the fight against racial discrimination in education. The union's quick capitulation suggests that they knew their position was indefensible. Nathan McGrath, president and general counsel for the Fairness Center, said, "Isaac's win affirms that unions don't get a pass on anti-discrimination law."
California Teachers' Union Settles Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
Newman expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the lawsuit, saying, "This is a massive victory, and we have forced them to within the space a couple months to surrender and admit that they were wrong." As part of the settlement, the union has agreed to end the segregated board seat, commit to non-discriminatory practices, and pay Newman $12,000 and his attorneys' fees.
Newman plans to use his victory to continue advocating for racial equality in education. He said, "I'm going to run for their board to hold them accountable." He also said he would donate the settlement to charity. If he gets on the board, Newman will try to reverse course on the "insane" diversity, equity and inclusion training for teachers in the district.
California Teachers' Union Settles Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
Newman's experience is not unique. Many teachers across the country have spoken out against the growing trend of racial discrimination in education. In recent years, there have been numerous cases of teachers being disciplined or fired for speaking out against critical race theory or for refusing to use preferred pronouns for transgender students.
The Biden-Harris administration has been accused of fueling racial discrimination in education by promoting critical race theory and other divisive ideologies. In 2021, the Department of Education issued a memo encouraging schools to use critical race theory to teach about race and racism. The memo drew criticism from many educators and parents who argued that it was divisive and有害的.
California Teachers' Union Settles Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
The fight against racial discrimination in education is far from over. However, Newman's victory is a step in the right direction. It shows that there are people who are willing to stand up for what is right, even when it is unpopular.
