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Former Student Wins $90,000 Lawsuit After Being Discriminated On By School Staff For Sitting During Pledge Of Allegiance

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A former Klein Oak High School student won $90,000 in a settlement over getting harassed by a teacher for sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance.

On Tuesday, Benjie Arnold, the student’s 12th-grade sociology teacher, agreed to settle the case that was filed in 2017.

The lawsuit claims the student suffered years of criticism from school staff for refusing to recite the pledge. The student explained how she objected to the words “under God.”

After roughly five years of deliberation, the Texas Association of School Boards, a risk pool funded by Texas school districts, paid $90,000 in settlement. The payment was to resolve the case before it went to trial.

According to American Atheists’ lawsuit, the student faced discrimination and harassment in the classroom for following her beliefs. The student’s mother ended up withdrawing her from school to temporarily homeschool her.

When she returned, the discrimination she faced for sitting out the Pledge was even worse than before.

Her teacher, Arnold, allegedly singled her out and retaliated against her after the issue was brought up during a board meeting. Arnold also reportedly told the student that he had no option but to give her a zero for the class.

Several teachers and two principals are among those included in the lawsuit.



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