Homework Assignment Lawsuit

Thursday, April 19th 2007, 9:35 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A woman has filed a lawsuit over a homework assignment given to her granddaughter. Webster Middle School history teacher Judith Miracle was trying to teach her students about words historically used to stereotype immigrants.

Taletha Walker, who filed the lawsuit, says the assignment, which was given about a year ago, was offensive and caused her granddaughter emotional stress, embarrassment and the need for medical treatment.

Walker previously said the words were "filthy" and went well beyond ethnic slurs to include slang for genitalia and curse words.

Miracle used an overhead projector to display the words to the class.

After receiving complaints, Oklahoma City School District officials told Miracle to stop teaching the unit that included the lesson, which was to have covered discrimination. Miracle has taught in the district for more than 13 years and is still at Webster.

District spokesman Mark Beutler said the district was aware of the lawsuit but does not comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit does not ask for a specific monetary amount.