Chicago Schoolteacher Sued for Slapping a Child

A South Side mom claims her 9-year-old son was struck by a white Chicago Public Schools teacher because the child his black.

A Horace Mann Academy teacher struck the child in November 2014, and later pleaded guilty to battery charged in Cook County court, according to a federal lawsuit. The teacher “arrogantly” told the principal “sue me” after he was confronted about the slap.

Nairobi Henson, in a federal lawsuit, claims excessive force, battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of her son’s 13th and 14th amendment rights. The teacher, the Chicago Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools are named as defendants. The child — who was found crying in a hallway by another teacher, according to the lawsuit — developed anxiety, nightmares and depression.