Darby Township Superintendent Brenda Wynder emailed a statement to the news outlet confirming the incident is under investigation.
Holmes said she has met with district officials earlier this month and that the teacher is not currently teaching students. The school district also recently returned to virtual learning due to Covid-19.
The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is providing legal representation to the Holmes family and has called on the school district to acknowledge the harm caused by the incident.
“These disturbing allegations are reprehensible. For a teacher to forcibly confiscate a student’s phone and then make him kneel and beg in front of the class is intolerable,” a statement from the organization reads. “The district should immediately suspend the teacher pending a full and transparent investigation and offer a public apology as it works with our office and other advocates seeking accountability.”
Reading about Black trauma can have an impact on your mental health. If you or someone you know need immediate mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. These additional resources are also available:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
The National Alliance on Mental Illness 1-800-950-6264
The Association of Black Psychologists 1-301-449-3082
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America 1-240-485-1001