Latest news with #McGhee
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Carolina school district to issue apology, pay $20K to student suspended over 'illegal alien' comment
The family of a North Carolina high school student suspended for using the term "illegal alien" is slated to receive a $20,000 payment and a public apology under a proposed settlement, according to The New York Post. The outlet reported Thursday that the settlement was reached to remove all references to racial bias from now-17-year-old Christian McGhee's record, provide compensation and issue a public apology "for the mischaracterization of racial bias." "The Proposed Settlement provides C.M. with monetary compensation intended to defray the costs of his new school, which is private and charges annual tuition," according to the document. The settlement is now pending a judge's approval. North Carolina Student Sues School Board After Suspension For Using The Term 'Illegal Alien' McGhee's lawyer, Liberty Justice Center attorney Dean McGee, told the Carolina Journal that a motion had been filed on Friday, asking the court to approve a settlement to resolve the matter. Read On The Fox News App "Because Christian is a minor, a court hearing is required before the settlement can become final," he explained. "We'll have more to say after that hearing, but we're pleased to take this important step toward clearing our client's name." The teen received a three-day suspension last year after asking his teacher if a conversation in class was centered around "spaceship aliens" or "illegal aliens who need green cards" after he returned to the classroom from the restroom. A Latino student present in the class reportedly "joked" that he was going to "kick Christian's a--," leading the teacher to escalate the situation to the assistant principal. The comment was ultimately deemed racially insensitive by the school administration, which the family disputes, and prompted a year-long legal battle. Ny Mom Files Lawsuit Against School After Son Allegedly Punished For Defending 'Two Genders' McGhee and his family maintained his innocence throughout. McGhee's mother Leah, who was behind the legal push against the district, joined "Fox & Friends" last year to air some of her grievances concerning the matter. "Christian was suspended three days, out of school suspension. He missed several very important track meets, and, since that time, we have removed him from the school," McGhee told Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt. "We have asked the school to handle this privately for weeks. I have emailed the school board for four weeks. I've had no response from the school board, and since… we had no resolution, we had no other choice but to file a lawsuit and take this public." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Dean McGee, the family's attorney, argued at the time that the United States government uses the term "illegal alien," which is clearly defined in Webster's Dictionary, and has no racial specification. The lawsuit centered on McGhee's First Amendment rights. Fox News Digital reached out to the Davidson County School District for comment on the proposed settlement, but did not immediately receive a response. Fox News' Bailee Hill contributed to this article source: North Carolina school district to issue apology, pay $20K to student suspended over 'illegal alien' comment
New York Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
North Carolina student who was suspended for saying ‘illegal alien' in class to receive $20K, apology from school in settlement
The family of a North Carolina high school student suspended last year for saying 'illegal alien' in English class has dropped their lawsuit against the district in exchange for a public apology and $20,000. Christian McGhee, 17, received a three-day suspension for using the phrase while discussing word meanings during his English class at Central Davidson High School in Lexington on April 9, 2024. McGhee's mother, Leah, had filed a lawsuit in which she accused the school and the Davidson County Board of Education of violating her son's First Amendment rights. Advertisement 3 Christian McGhee, 17, received a three-day suspension for using the phrase while discussing word meanings during his English class at Central Davidson High School in Lexington on April 9, 2024. Facebook/Leah McGhee However, McGhee's family and the school board settled on Wednesday after a year-long battle in the courts, according to court documents. The board has agreed to remove all references to racial bias in McGhee's school record and issue a public apology 'for the mischaracterization of racial bias' in his record, documents show. Advertisement The board will also provide him with $20,000 in compensation to help his family with the costs of tuition at his new private school, which he was forced to transfer to after being suspended. 'On Friday, we filed a motion asking the court to approve a settlement that would resolve this matter. Because Christian is a minor, a court hearing is required before the settlement can become final,' McGee's lawyer told the Carolina Journal. 'We'll have more to say after that hearing, which is currently scheduled for July 1st. We're pleased to take this important step toward clearing our client's name.' 3 McGhee's mother, Leah, had filed a lawsuit in which she accused the school and the Davidson County Board of Education of violating her son's First Amendment rights. Facebook/Leah McGhee Advertisement When the incident occurred, a teacher gave the teen an assignment that used the word 'alien,' and he asked, 'Like space aliens or illegal aliens without green cards?' A Hispanic student in McGhee's class reportedly 'joked' that he was going to 'kick Christian's ass,' so the teacher escalated the matter to Central Davidson's Assistant Principal Eric Anderson. McGhee's words were deemed offensive and disrespectful to his classmates, prompting Anderson to suspend him. Advertisement According to the suspension documents, Anderson 'declared that his comment was racially motivated,' as stated in the suit. Anderson was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit 'in his individual capacity.' 3 A Hispanic student in McGhee's class reportedly 'joked' that he was going to 'kick Christian's ass,' so the teacher escalated the matter to Central Davidson's Assistant Principal Eric Anderson. Google Maps 'I didn't make a statement directed towards anyone — I asked a question,' McGee told the Carolina Journal last year. 'I wasn't speaking of Hispanics because everyone from other countries needs green cards, and the term 'illegal alien' is an actual term that I hear on the news and can find in the dictionary,' he added. When Leah McGhee attempted to appeal the suspension, school administrators refused to budge. She then hired an attorney from the Liberty Justice Center's Educational Freedom Attorney to help clear her son's name and record. Advertisement Leah appeared on the radio show 'The Pete Kaliner Show' on WBT following the filing of the lawsuit and argued the school wasn't justified in labeling her son as a racist. 'It is a term used as federal code, and it is a term that is heard frequently on many news broadcasts,' She said. 'I feel that if this was handled properly in the classroom, it could have easily been used as a teachable moment for everyone.' Advertisement While the school district and the teen's family have settled, all involved have agreed that the school suspension will remain on Mchee's record 'because there was a class disruption caused by the comments.' The board agreed that the settlement is 'fair, reasonable, and in the best interest of Christian.'
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
High Schooler Suspended for Saying 'Illegal Alien' in Class Wins $20,000
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A North Carolina high school student who was suspended in April 2024 for using the term "illegal alien" during class has secured a $20,000 settlement, a public apology, and the removal of references to racial bias from his school record, according to court documents first obtained by The Carolina Journal. The settlement between the Davidson County Board of Education and the student's family is pending judicial approval in federal court. Newsweek reached out to the lawyer for the student and the school district via email for comment on Wednesday. Why It Matters This case raised national questions about free speech, students' rights, and school discipline policies in the United States. The legal dispute tested the limits of First Amendment protections in educational settings, and the resulting settlement has been cited as a notable development in debates over language, race, and disciplinary practices in public schools. The story has garnered widespread media attention and sparked discussion about the balance between promoting inclusive school environments and safeguarding constitutionally protected speech. What To Know The Davidson County Board of Education agreed to issue a public apology, pay $20,000 in compensation, and expunge all references to racial bias from the student's school records as part of a lawsuit settlement, according to filings with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The $20,000 award is to help defray the cost of the new private school he transferred to following the incident and ongoing litigation, the outlet said. McGhee, then a sophomore at Central Davidson High School in Lexington, North Carolina, was disciplined after using the phrase "illegal alien" in a vocabulary lesson. School administrators cited his remark as "offensive" and "disrespectful to Hispanic classmates," resulting in a three-day suspension for what was classified as a "racially insensitive remark" that disrupted the class, according to the outlet. His family, represented by the Liberty Justice Center, filed a lawsuit against the Davidson County Board of Education and former Assistant Principal Eric Anderson, alleging the suspension violated McGhee's rights to free speech, due process, and access to education. File photo of a blackboard in a schoolhouse at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio. File photo of a blackboard in a schoolhouse at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio. Getty While the school board maintained the disciplinary action was warranted due to classroom disruption, it agreed in the settlement to acknowledge that its characterization of the incident as racially biased was an error. The board committed to issuing a formal apology and amending the student's record to remove any mention of racial bias, according to the court records. During the yearlong legal dispute, Ashley Carroll, a member of the school board, resigned. Reports indicate this resignation was due to personal reasons unrelated to the case, The Carolina Journal reported. The Liberty Justice Center described the resolution as a step toward clearing McGhee's name and protecting students' constitutional rights. What People Are Saying Dean McGee, senior counsel for educational freedom at the Liberty Justice Center, said in a statement to The Carolina Journal: "On Friday, we filed a motion asking the court to approve a settlement that would resolve this matter. Because Christian is a minor, a court hearing is required before the settlement can become final. We'll have more to say after that hearing, but we're pleased to take this important step toward clearing our client's name." What Happens Next The proposed settlement is pending approval by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Once approved, the Davidson County Board of Education will issue a public apology and clear the student's record of any reference to racial bias, finalizing the terms of the agreement.
Scotsman
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Former Hearts star completes Premiership transfer as he joins ex Jambo at league rival
The latest transfer news from across the Premiership as a former Hearts star joins Motherwell on a two-year deal. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A former Hearts defender has penned a a two-year deal with one of the club's Premiership rivals. Dormer Scotland Under-21 international Jordan McGhee broke through the youth ranks at Tynecastle before going on to make almost 60 first-team appearances for Hearts. After making his senior debut as a substitute in a 3-0 win against St Mirren in May 2013, McGhee remained with the club until 2017 when he joined Championship side Falkirk for an undisclosed fee. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A two-year spell with The Bairns was brought to an end when McGhee joined Dundee during the summer of 2019 and he went on to help the Dark Blues secure promotion back into the Premiership during his second season at Dens Park. After suffering relegation back into the second tier after a one-season spell in the top flight, McGhee played a pivotal role in helping Tony Docherty's side bounce back at the first attempt with a Championship title win. Former Hearts star in Motherwell transfer After making almost 200 appearances for the Dark Blues, there was speculation McGhee has signed a pre-contract agreement with Motherwell - and the Steelmen have now confirmed the 28-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal that the club can extend by an additional 12 months. He joins former Hearts man Andy Halliday in Lanarkshire. A statement on Motherwell's website read: 'Defender Jordan McGhee is our latest summer recruit. The former Dundee defender joins the club on a two-year deal, with the club holding the option of a further year. McGhee joined the youth setup at Hearts in 2011 and worked his way through the ranks at the club. In 2013, he made his first-team debut against St Mirren at Tynecastle. It didn't take him long to get off the mark at first-team level, as McGhee scored in just his second appearance against Aberdeen in August 2013. 'Interest in the defender was high, with McGhee receiving offers to move to England; however, he penned a new deal with the Jambos. He moved on loan to Middlesbrough in July 2016. After making 74 appearances for Hearts, he moved to Falkirk in the Championship in the summer of 2017. Over the next two seasons, he would accumulate over 70 appearances for the Bairns and would be named club captain. Following Falkirk's relegation in 2019, McGhee made the switch to Dundee. In his first season, he was voted Players' Player of the Year, and at the end of the campaign, he would be named Club Captain for the second time in his career. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jordan McGhee career in focus 'He scored three goals in Dundee's Premiership playoff matches that played a huge part in the Dee's return to the top flight. Over the course of the next four seasons, McGhee would be used as a utility player across the pitch. Despite Dundee being relegated again, he remained with the club and helped them back to the Premiership. In his final season, he scored a brace against rivals Dundee United at Tannadice to help secure Dundee's first win at Tannadice in over 20 years. In six seasons, he reached just shy of 200 appearances for Dundee, and now he joins the club for the 2025/26 season.' McGhee is Motherwell's second summer signing after they agreed to sign Austrian midfielder Lukas Fadinger on a free transfer from Bundesliga club SCR Altach.
The Courier
02-06-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Jordan McGhee unveiled as Motherwell player after Dundee exit
Jordan McGhee has completed his move to Motherwell after his six years at Dundee came to an end. Popular at Dens Park, McGhee played a key role in two promotions including the Championship title-winning season in 2023. However, family reasons have seen him make the switch to Premiership rivals Motherwell where he has signed a two-year deal. The Steelmen also have the option of a further year extension. The player posted a short message on social media with the simple emojis of an orange heart and home. McGhee's final season at Dens Park saw him score the club's Goal of the Season, one of two strikes in a memorable 4-2 win at rivals Dundee United. He was also the Dee Player's Player of the Year in 2019/20 and scored 21 goals in 197 appearances for the Dark Blues.
