A former Perryton High School student has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the district alleging he was forced to take orders from his classmates in a role-playing exercise that pitted Nazis against Jews.
The Perryton Independent School District violated Andrew Yara’s “bodily integrity” and “stripped him of his ability to defend himself” during the school’s May 2010 Red Ribbon Day, which was meant to teach students about the Holocaust.
Yara is now 19.
Students who wore red ribbons played Jews who had to obey physical demands from students without red ribbons, who played Nazis, the suit said.
“(The Jews) must do everything school faculty or other students tell them to, including picking up other students’ trash, being taken outside and sprayed with water hoses, bear-crawling across the hot track, carrying other students’ books, and even carrying other students,” the complaint said.
The exercise consisted of 60 percent of a major test grade in the class, “and any student who did not do everything they were told were receive a failing grade,” the suit, filed Monday, said.
On one occasion, a 170-pound student, who played a Nazi, told Yara, who weighed 100 pounds, to carry him to class on his back.
With his classmate on his back, Yara fell backward when another student jumped on Yara’s back, the suit said.
“As (Yara) was getting back up, (one student) jumped on his back again, causing a ‘shocking, burning pain’ to shoot down both of Andrew’s legs and from his pelvis,” the civil suit said. “Throughout the remainder of the day, Andrew felt a pain from his lower back down through his legs.”
In the following months, Yara suffered from a series of medical conditions outlined in the lawsuit. Yara’s doctor said he had a partially dislocated hip, he passed out from dehydration at work and had seizure-like activity while at a Pampa church, the suit alleges.
In the suit, Yara and his parents are asking the district to pay for medical expenses, mental anguish and attorneys’ fees.
Perryton ISD Superintendent Robert C. Hall was not immediately available.
You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!
Join 12160 Social Network