Coral Aviles, Californian Student, To Sue School District For Teacher's Racist Comments

Southern California student Coral Aviles will sue her school district for racist remarks made by her teacher, reports CBS Los Angeles.

Aviles says the incident occurred last year. She describes what happened in a statement released by MALDEF:

"Last year, during the World Cup I wore a 'Mexico' soccer jersey to school. I walked into my performing arts class, and my teacher asked me in front of the class if I was Mexican. I responded 'yes.' She then asked me in a loud voice: what was I doing in her country? She said that it was because of people like me that she had to pay high taxes and high insurance rates. I tried to speak with the principal about it. When I returned, the teacher asked me to leave the classroom because I was crying so much. I never expected to be treated so badly because of who I am."

Nancy Ramirez, the lawyer on the case, spoke to the HuffPost about the incident. She said that Aviles spent the next day picking up trash with the custodian during that period because she was too distraught to face her teacher. On the third and final day of school, the Bear Valley Middle School principal asked the teacher to apologize to the whole class. Aviles spent that period with the yearbook committee, even though she does not belong to it.

Ramirez, who has been working closely with Aviles, says, "the family has indicated that there was a lot of racism in the community, but they just never expected it to come out in the school house." In the press release, Aviles' mother claims that all of her queries to the school administration have gone unanswered.

The lawsuit (PDF), which was filed with the help of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), alleges that the teacher and the Bear Valley Unified School District violated Aviles' civil rights by discriminating against her on the basis of national origin in a place of public accommodation. The suit also alleges that the district was negligent in its handling of the incident, which caused emotional distress to Aviles.

Through the lawsuit, Aviles and MALDEF hope that the school district can take steps against this happening again, and to have a better plan in place in case it does. They are also seeking unspecified damages for Aviles.

Ramirez confirms that the teacher in question is still teaching at the school. A representative for the Bear Valley Unified School District could not be reached for comment.

Comments

[Marisa Stein]

08:10 AM on 08/15/2011

oh please, like they can prove it happened. suck it up and get over it.

[Ramon Moreno]

06:36 PM on 08/12/2011

What is this teacher's name?

[jackjmass]

12:04 AM on 08/03/2011

OH! PULEEZ!

[Ramon Moreno]

06:20 PM on 08/12/2011

Why is that jm in your name?

[Standuporshutup]

02:19 PM on 07/26/2011

First of all I live in this area. Unfortunately, this is not the first time derogatory racial comments have been made by staff at the schools in the Big Bear area and nothing much was done about it by the school district.
This is a small mountain tourist town not far from Los Angeles (2 hrs) but it has that small town isolation feeling that can contribute to "segregated" thinking.
There are people who have moved here from the larger city for various reasons and now here where minorities are in smaller numbers really do feel free to openly air their true views.
Many blame certain minorities for their perceived woes. Although the minorities are in smaller numbers here they do make up a large part of their workforce for the hotels and other service jobs. I would say that in this area they are not widely respected and in many cases looked down upon and with suspicion.
I have been in local stores here and on more than one occasion have heard open racist comments that can only happen when people feel they are free to do so safe among other people who must feel the same way. Only when I have spoken out against these comments or challenged them do they rephrase and shut up.
There is racism here not by all but certainly by many. This place would be a good study for a Sociology course.
Take a stand against the hate. You go girl!

[a10flatliner]

08:13 PM on 08/02/2011

I find it hard to believe that YOU are a Californian, Standupors/up.. If so, then perhaps you'd see what the criminal immigration has done to, and NOT for, California.
In an earlier comment I made, I bowed to the fact this girl may be a legal minor..as her mother attested to, but it has no real bearing her status in the BIG picture of Illegality..
If/when it goes to trial, the truth of that will come out. If it is disproven..then often a child must pay for the sins (used lightly) of the parent.
I don't feel the teacher was correct in her attack at all, I also lived in the BB area, too.. Sugar Loaf, to be precise. I went a step further by saying I had visited their restaurant, and recommended it..but even though good food, almost everyone working in the kitchen is borderline, questionable about their immigration status.. Check it out sometime, Ok? Personally, I believe most white shaded people in the San Bernardino Mountains moved/invested heavily there to escape what is overwhelming the rest of the state, and resent the intruders, whom they may feel are harming the quality standards of life, and real estate values.. Many moved to better their childrens educations..free of multi lingual discords. Who can blame them?
It's not all about hatred. .Maybe protectionism plays a BIG part...and I agree with the majority.

[Joseph Schmoe]

08:04 AM on 07/26/2011

If the school district's administrators had done their job correctly there would be no need for such a lawsuit.
Since administrators rarely do their job correctly, I am in favor of any lawsuits which will hold them accountable.
Change, by any legal means necessary.

[colred]

07:16 PM on 07/25/2011

As a former performing arts teacher, I apologize for this woman.

[OntheBorder]

10:47 AM on 07/24/2011

If the facts as presented are correct, the teacher was wrong.

The NEA will protect him.

As far as discrimination and violation of civil rights, I do not see it. LULAC and others trying to make mountain out of a molehill for political points. Did it upset the little girl, yeah, but if that is the worst thing that has happened to her, she is lucky.

Time to just get over it.

[manntxs]

02:04 PM on 07/24/2011

"If the facts as presented are correct, the teacher was wrong."

For that sentence you get a fav. It would seem that so many in the world today want to come to instant conclusions. There are those that also have agendas and rather than wait to see if in fact an incident fits, they try to make it fit.

As for that line you wrote. I completely agree.

[OntheBorder]

02:28 PM on 07/24/2011

I did not mean to make light of the teachers actions, and would not in any way shape or form support belittling a kid in class over her heritage. The kid is an American, we should all support her.
The teacher should be fired, but the NEA will protect him/her.

[Ramon Moreno]

06:22 PM on 08/12/2011

You should have gotten over it after your first sentence.

[Marisa Stein]

08:09 AM on 08/15/2011

that applys to you too

[simsum]

09:44 AM on 07/24/2011

Racism and other forms of prejudice must be confronted at all times. Zero tolerance for it everywhere, and especially in schools.

[manntxs]

09:28 AM on 07/24/2011

To help cut down on the posts about illegal immigration and this girl not being a citizen etc. here is a link to an Alan Combes article that gives some more info.

http://www.alan.com/2010/06/30/teacher-to-12-year-old-girl-wearing-mexican-shirt-what-are-you-doing-in-my-country/

[sajc05]

09:01 AM on 07/24/2011

beside the disrespectful remarks by the teacher this highlights another point

There is no assimilation going on. the only thing this girl has assimilated to is using our courts.

Other then that she clearly sees herself as mexican fist even though it the US taxpayer dollars thats giving her the FREE education.

time to put on a USA jersey. especially if you're living off the US taxpayer dollar.

[simsum]

09:43 AM on 07/24/2011

Your attitude does not represent the USA that I know.

[sajc05]

10:48 AM on 07/24/2011

it represents the majority of the US taxpayers who have been footing the bill for mexico for decades and all we get in return is criticism and anti americanism from our neighbor.

But in no way did that girl deserve that comment from her teacher. I was shifting the subject.

[cmfrtblebbw]

10:32 AM on 07/24/2011

Where I live, ppl are allowed to fly all sorts of flags, bumper stickers, and yes, Tshirts. Where I live, it's considered good to be diverse, international, to see a global perspective of our earth. Where I live, education is part of that mission. Where I live, we call it Freedom.

I live in the USA.

[sajc05]

10:54 AM on 07/24/2011

everything you just said has nothing to do with what I said.

You know we have laws when immigrating to the US right? and some form of assimilation is expected.

We have a situation here where it's a lot more then merely waving a flag of another country or wearing its jersey. It's a complete lack of respect for the country in which you enjoy the money of its taxpayers. (not specifically this girl, she did not deserve this comment which was wrong)
There is anti americanism, anti white sentiment amongst hispanic groups in this country. Groups that call for being hispanic/mexican first and maybe american next. but never shy away from taking everything they can from the system they speak poorly about.

[simsum]

12:22 AM on 07/24/2011

I'm very happy that the family filed this lawsuit, I hope they win in court, and more power to all people of all ethnic backgrounds who stand against racism and prejudice.

The human race is one family.

[hell in a bucket]

04:35 PM on 07/23/2011

It's remarkable the Gloria Allred was not on this one before MALDEF. Why did it take a year? Why won't they say how much money they want from the taxpayers?

[jagrmeister721]

11:01 PM on 07/23/2011

The teacher should be compelled to pay it back in prison labor, not the taxpayers.

[manntxs]

09:35 AM on 07/24/2011

Having been around for a long time one of the questions I had was where was LULAC in this. Read this and you will find out a little more including the 'issue' of citizenship.

http://www.alan.com/2010/06/30/teacher-to-12-year-old-girl-wearing-mexican-shirt-what-are-you-doing-in-my-country/

As to the lawsuit, they asked for recourse under the law that had nothing to do with any renumeration. As for the money, the lawsuit appeals to the court for whatever the court deems to be fair so no amount was specified by the plaintiffs.

BTW...if people shared more links to additional info instead of attacking with nasty remarks it would make this a more civil and informative forum.

[Beachside Cali]

01:59 PM on 07/23/2011

Mexicans take note. we will rise above all this racism. We are strong, remember that in the census we are the fastest growing race in the USA. So continue building our race and make us a strong force to be reckon with. As we know the Caucasian race is slowly but surely declining in number so we will once again rule our land. So take note of all what is happening to us and we will soon do the same in return.

[cavekarst]

02:24 PM on 07/23/2011

Go cry me a river.

[hell in a bucket]

04:42 PM on 07/23/2011

You state "we will rise above all this racism" and then go on a racist rant. Nice

[Ramon Moreno]

06:30 PM on 08/12/2011

Sounds a lot different when you're not the one saying it, right?

[Tammie Taylor Phelps]

01:25 PM on 07/23/2011

this is whats wrong with our country today.i work int he judicial system and deal with gays blacks and hispanics all the time.they talk about us in spanish wear there pants down and just act stupid but we cant say any thing about it because of a buch of bleeding hearts i served 21 years in the u.s. military and have seen other countrys and how they deal with crime and and others social problems.study history people were heading in the same direction as the romans and the greeks our nation will fall soon because of homsexuality foreign influences and just plain stupidity.

[jagrmeister721]

11:02 PM on 07/23/2011

The romans were not brought down by homosexuality; that is one of the far-right's biggest whoppers.  Read Thuicides and actual history and you'll find the true causes owing to rebellion from germanic tribes and inability to control a large, diverse empire.

[FeloniousBush]

11:35 PM on 07/23/2011

One of the major problems with the country today is the inability to communicate effectively. Your rambling, poorly constructed, factually incorrect post is a prime example of that problem. We don't even need to delve into the boorishness of your biases.

[HockeyMom]

01:08 PM on 07/23/2011

Teachers have the opportunity to teach bigotry every single day in every single lesson. It needs to stop. But know that some teachers will squeal like stuck pigs about the intrusion into their fiefdom.

[manntxs]

09:44 AM on 07/24/2011

"But know that some teachers will squeal like stuck pigs about the intrusion into their fiefdom. "

I take offense to that. My kids are teachers and I know many, many others. What they deal with today is way over the top compared to what it was 30 or 40 years ago. There was a fiefdom back then. Today? Not even close to that time. They deal with so much from so many it is a wonder they continue.

Also, teachers have an opportunity to teach every day as you say and thankfully many of them are doing a great job. No profession is without those who abuse their position and there are teachers that aren't dedicated. And we hear so much about those, we hear little about the majority that are working hard and are caring mentors.

[HockeyMom]

11:40 AM on 07/25/2011

Are you defending their "right" to teach bigotry or did you just start defending without thinking.