Bronx teacher fired over slavery lesson to sue for $1 billion
GARDEN CITY, Long Island (WABC) -- A former New York City teacher who was fired for teaching a demonstrative lesson on slavery announced Thursday she intends to sue the New York City Department of Education and many others for $1 billion.
Patricia Cummings, of Farmingville, Long Island, says a school investigation found that there was no proof that she placed her knee in the back of a student while teaching the lesson.
According to Cummings, she had her students at William W Niles School/MS 118 in the Bronx sit close together on the floor last January to show them how slaves sat on slave ships.
At the time, students said Cummings singled out black students and told them to lie face-down on the floor. The allegations were that at one point during the exercise, she stepped on the back of at least one of the students and said, "How does it feel? See how it feels to be a slave."
She was later terminated due to what the school district called poor judgement.
Cummings says she believes she's being discriminated against because she's white.
"They're on the record for saying the reason I'm being terminated is because of my performance as an educator and the report," she said. "My performance as an educator, I've been rated effective by the Department of Education. I'm an effective teacher."
Cummings intends to sue for discrimination, distress and suffering.
"Ms. Cummings is a dedicated and competent teacher, who should never have been subjected to these false accusations, which have damaged her career and her reputation," attorney Thomas Liotti said. "This is a case of blatant reverse discrimination."
In a statement the Department of Education said, "Ms. Cummings was terminated based on a thorough investigation and a review of her performance as an educator. We'll review the complaint."
The New York City law department also said it will review the case once it is served.
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