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A math teacher at an exclusive Philadelphia prep school claims in a racial-discrimination suit that he was fired without cause after school officials alleged he sent inappropriate text messages to a female student.Attorneys for Arthur "Chuck" Matthews said the veteran teacher, who is black, was fired even though the young woman and her parents said the messages contained nothing improper.
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Attorneys for Arthur "Chuck" Matthews said the veteran teacher, who is black, was fired even though the young woman and her parents said the messages contained nothing improper.
The federal lawsuit alleges that Matthews' termination from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy was part of a pattern of discrimination at the "predominantly Caucasian" school, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
"Historically, black employees, regardless of their position, have been denied promotions and are subject to harsher discipline, unfair demotion, and unjust termination in circumstances where nonblack staff are, or have been, treated more favorably," the lawsuit said.
A spokeswoman said the private school does not comment on pending litigation.
The suit said Matthews, who has been employed by the school since 1998, had a clean record until August, when school President Priscilla Sands issued a written warning and suspended him from coaching and advising duties because he had exchanged texts with a young woman who graduated in June.
Sands sent a letter to parents that said the school had concluded the texts were of a personal, but not sexual, nature, and that Matthews had used poor judgment, according to the suit.
Source: NBC Philadelphia
