Teacher In Maplewood Hijab Controversy Has Message For Students And Community

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Following a controversy earlier this month in which an Olympic athlete publicly accused a Maplewood second grade teacher of "forcibly" removing a student's hijab at school, the teacher — who is on leave while prosecutors investigate the matter — issued a statement to her students and the school community late last week.

Meanwhile, an attorney for the girl's family said that they had gotten confirmation from at least one other student in the class about the events of that day.

The matter became public on Oct. 7 when Olympic fencer and Maplewood native Ibtihaj Muhammad posted an accusation on Facebook and Instagram that a second grade teacher in Maplewood had "forcibly" removed a student's hijab in class the previous day. Muhammad named the teacher in question and included a photo of her in an Instagram post that received more than 69,000 "likes." (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. [The teacher] told the student that her hair was beautiful and she did not have to wear hijab to school anymore ... I wrote this [book about wearing a hijab] with the intention that moments like this would never happen again."

Both the teacher — identified by her lawyer as Tamar Herman — and the school have since gotten threats, according to Herman's lawyer and school officials.

Herman's lawyer said the incident was an example of people repeating rumors on social media before they had all the facts. For her part, Herman said she had asked the student to lower what she thought was a hoodie, and that she "gently" brushed it to get the girl's attention.

But a lawyer for the girl's family said this week that at least one other student in the classroom confirmed the events of that day, including the "forcible" removal.

Last week, Herman released this message:

Teacher's Message

This is a message to my community, Maplewood and South Orange. The community that I grew up in and chose to teach in.

I am a second grade teacher.

I have been helping kids for over 30 years.

I help kids tie their shoes. I help kids put on their jackets. I help kids put on their band-aids. I help kids learn every day.

Often, I am standing near my students to give them instruction or to review their work. Last week, I asked one of my students to raise the hood of her sweatshirt because it was covering her eyes. With her mask on too, her whole face was covered. I gently got her attention by brushing up the front of her hood. The moment I realized she was not wearing her usual hijab underneath, she kept the hood on. And the learning went on. That is what happened.

My students have missed in-person learning for half their kindergarten and most of their first grade. I love teaching my kids. I love watching them grow and blossom. I love Seth Boyden. I always have. Seth Boyden is a special school with teachers, staff, kids, and parents who go the extra mile. I miss you Seth Boyden.

I believe in Maplewood and South Orange. Our kids need us now more than ever. Let us be there for OUR kids. Let us cultivate a climate of acceptance, tolerance, compassion, and respect for all. Diversity is ourstrength. It should not divide us.

I always tell my students to try their best every day. And I do the same.

I try my best every day! And I always have and I always will.

To my second grade students and to the Seth Boyden community:

I pray we can move forward as one community. Let us find a place where all of us can be our best selves and make a better kinder world. I miss you so much.

Lawyer For Girl's Family Responds

On Wednesday, attorney Robert Tarver, who is representing the girl's family, responded to Herman's denial and to questions about the matter.

"First and foremost, the family wants their child to be restored to a safe learning environment," said Tarver. "The family would also like this matter to be thoroughly investigated by the proper authoritative bodies and to have a just decision made relative to Ms. Herman's actions."

When asked about whether the family would like the threats to stop, Tarver said, "The Wyatt family has also been receiving threats. No one from this family or their representatives has advocated or condoned violent or threatening behavior."

He said that it's been confirmed that the girl was wearing a hijab, not a "hoodie."

When asked about negative comments on Twitter about the teacher being Jewish, including a screenshot purporting to be from a family member of his clients, he said he had not seen the screenshot yet and could not comment.

Tarver said that he would soon release updates on the matter.

Further Reading

• Maplewood Hijab Investigation Turned Over To Police
• Maplewood Schools Probe Whether Teacher Removed Student's Hijab
• Attorney: Teacher Did Not Remove Student's Hijab

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