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JERSEY CITY, NJ – A Dickinson High School high school student identified in court documents as TW has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Jersey City Board of Education, school officials and the teacher.
The lawsuit alleges that on April 28-29, 2021, teacher Howard Zlotkin spat ignorant, racist, and crass rants against his students and black people in general, while he was supposed to teach a course in landscape and design. Zlotkin was suspended without pay after video of the incident aired on NBC New York.
The lawsuit further alleges that Zlotkin shouted that George Floyd was “a criminal” who was killed “because he did not want to comply”; berated the high school students for, in his words, “to emulate[ing] people. . . it’s badly done, they are criminals! and asked TW and three other students to write an essay explaining why black lives should be important to everyone, to be handed in the next day.
When TW refused to complete the mission the next day, the chase continues, Zlotkin told him she was’ full of shit ‘and said,’ Can’t you defend yourself? Talk to the hand. Another student said he was kicked out of the virtual classroom after accusing Zlotkin of being a racist, the file says.
Although TW reportedly sent a video of alleged past incidents involving Zlotkin to the director of Dickinson High in December 2020, asked the director for help, and was informed that the situation would be resolved, Zlotkin was back in class the next day, ranting about the student who had “derailed” him.
Additionally, TW and her mother said they contacted several school officials and even the Board of Education after class on April 28, 2021, but no one at the school took action to protect students from Zlotkin. The next day, he was back in class, mistreating the students again.
“She is angry. We are upset. It makes no sense what happened in this classroom, and it will not be tolerated,” said Pamela Johnson, executive director of the Jersey City Anti-Violence Coalition at a student support rally just days after the incident.The longtime activist suggested that people with similar opinions should take prejudice training and that a message should be sent to teachers who may share opinions similar to Zlotkin’s.
TW federal lawsuit alleges Board of Education and school officials violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and state anti-discrimination laws by allowing Zlotkin to harass his students racially. TW is also suing Zlotkin directly for discrimination against him.
“It is scandalous that even after TW repeatedly contacted school officials about Zlotkin’s mistreatment, no one even bothered to contact her until it was too late and that she was subjected to another course filled with racist vitriol, ”TW’s said. lawyer, Ali Frick. “What is even more scandalous is that the school knew full well that Zlotkin was totally unfit for the class and yet did nothing to protect the students from him.”
David Lebowitz, another lawyer handling the case, agreed with Frick. “With all of the lessons being taught remotely, it would have been easy for any school official to observe Zlotkin’s class at all times. And yet, the school did not even manage to take that simple step.
Education Council Chairman Mussab Ali, who previously said “racism is not tolerated in the school district,” declined to comment on the dispute.
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