Michigan Teacher Fired Over Racial Comments Awarded $535K

July 18, 2011

A Michigan jury has awarded $535,000 to a white former Flint teacher who claimed he was illegally fired for a racial comment.

Lawyers for Craig Hecht (Heck) were able to show jurors that black staff members at Linden Charter Academy had made racial jokes but were never punished like him.

The 37-year-old Hecht worked at Linden Charter for more than eight years until he was fired in November 2009. The school is run by National Heritage Academies.

There is no dispute that Hecht told another staffer that “white tables are better than brown tables and brown tables should be burned.” His lawyer said he quickly apologized to a black teacher’s aide who heard him.

National Heritage Academies said it was disappointed by the verdict and might appeal.

Topics Michigan

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Latest Comments

  • July 26, 2011 at 10:27 pm
    Alma Martinez says:
    There must be more to this. I can't help but think the story is simply incomplete and unclear. Assuming that gestures or facial expressions or other comments made it clear t... read more
  • July 19, 2011 at 10:08 am
    wudchuck says:
    maybe he meant because the tables are easier seen clean if white vs black or brown? i truly don't see the racial connection....
  • July 18, 2011 at 8:36 pm
    reality says:
    Really sick of the double standard. Glad the teacher won, finally. Now all that has to happen is for the public to stop blaming teachers for failing students and look inside... read more

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