Maplewood School District Probing Whether Teacher Removed Student's Hijab (UPDATED)

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange-Maplewood School District said Thursday that it's investigating an allegation that an elementary school teacher "forcibly" removed a student's hijab during class on Wednesday. However, the teacher's lawyer said over the weekend that accusations made throughout social media are unfounded.

The controversy arose late on Thursday when Olympic fencer and Maplewood native Ibtihaj Muhammad posted on Facebook that a second grade teacher in Maplewood had "forcibly" removed a student's hijab the day before. She named the teacher in question.

[See followup story: Maplewood Teacher's Attorney: Teacher Did Not Remove Hijab]

Muhammad wrote: "Yesterday...a teacher at Seth Boyden Elementary in Maplewood, NJ forcibly removed the hijab of a second grade student. The young student resisted by trying to hold onto her hijab, but the teacher pulled the hijab off, exposing her hair to the class. [The teacher] told the student that her hair was beautiful and she did not have to wear hijab to school anymore."

Muhammad, the author of a book about wearing a hijab, added, "I wrote this book with the intention that moments like this would never happen again. When will it stop?"

The hijab is a veil worn by Muslim women.

Over the weekend, civil rights attorney Samantha Harris, who is representing long-time Maplewood teacher Tamar Herman, released a statement.

She wrote, "This is not a story about a teacher who forcibly removed a student’s hijab. This is a story about social media, misinformation, and what happens when people publicize rumors without any knowledge of or regard for the truth. Ms. Herman did not, as has been alleged, forcibly remove a student’s hijab or tell a student that she should not have to wear a hijab."

Harris added, "In accordance with school policy, Ms. Herman directed a student in her class to pull down the hood on a hooded sweatshirt because it was blocking her eyes – and immediately rescinded that request when she realized that the student was wearing the hood in place of, rather than on top of, her usual hijab."

Harris added that Herman is getting threats.

"The misinformation shared on social media has caused tremendous harm to Ms. Herman – a teacher who, after more than 30 years of devoting her heart and soul to children of all backgrounds, has now had to ask for police protection due to the threats she is receiving following the dissemination of false information on social media," Harris said.

The school district released this statement Thursday night:

District Statement Regarding Allegation of Discrimination

Today, we were made aware of an allegation of discrimination and immediately began an investigation. The District takes matters of discrimination extremely seriously.

This evening, we were alerted to social media posts related to the allegations. Social Media is not a reliable forum for due process and the staff member(s) involved are entitled to due process before any action is taken.

We must abide by our legal obligations to keep personnel and student matters confidential. We will utilize the existing District due process mechanisms to ensure fair and just outcomes based upon the results of our investigation. Any decision or outcome related to this will be reserved for after the completion of the investigation.

We remain committed to diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our schools including providing anti-bias and anti-racism training for all educators in the district on a regular basis. We put the words into action as exemplified by our adoption of an intentional integration plan, creation of an Assistant Superintendent position focused on Access & Equity and engagement with outside equity experts.

Regardless of the results of the investigation, we are committed to restorative practices to help our students, staff and families process the social-emotional harms done.

Post Shared 700 Times

Muhammad's Facebook post drew more than 200 comments and was shared on Facebook more than 700 times by Friday morning. She encouraged people to email the school district.

Watch Maplewood Patch for further developments.

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