Speakers: Marla Baker
How have you, your student, or your family been impacted by unfair punitive discipline practices?
Marla Baker: Hello, my name is Marla Baker.
Marla Baker: on August 19th 2023 Amara, our family, and I experienced an emotional milestone. After four long years of legal battles, countless court appearances and enduring the scrutiny of five judges and six jurors, a jury found Amara not liable for theft, a charge that had been wrongly brought against her by her school resource officer in Naperville, Illinois. The case began when Amara, as a high school junior, unknowingly identified another student's AirPods as her own while in the midst of searching for hers. Even after the dean clarified the mix up and Amara provided proof she owned a pair herself, the school resource officer still issued her a municipal ordinance violation for theft, citing his own discretion to do so, as he stated in trial. This unjust charge caused Amara immense stress and anxiety. Despite her achievements as a high honor roll student, teacher assistant, and excelling as a cheerleader, her future was clouded by the threat of legal repercussions that could jeopardize her collegiate prospects and scholarships. She developed severe anxiety, depression, and lost trust in authority. This experience revealed a systemic issue. The harsh and often discriminatory practices affecting students, particularly Black and brown children.
Marla Baker: Our children need leaders with hearts, not punitive measures that erode their trust in the system and cause them to feel demoralized.
Marla Baker: Affirm you stand against predatorial and damaging practices and your commitment to justice and support for all of our children. Be their heroes and sheroes. Thank you.
