In a distressing event that raises serious questions about how children, particularly black children, are treated in schools, a 7-year-old boy was handcuffed for crying. In 2014, Alex Taylor, a second grader in Kansas City, faced relentless bullying due to a hearing impairment. After being teased by a classmate, Alex became visibly upset, crying and screaming in class. In response, the teacher summoned the school resource officer, Mike Johnson, who removed him from the classroom.
When Alex struggled to calm down and comply with Johnson’s requests, the officer resorted to placing the young boy in handcuffs. For 15 minutes, Alex remained restrained in the principal’s office, awaiting his mother’s arrival. At the time, he was under four feet tall and weighed only 50 pounds.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has since filed a lawsuit against the school district, arguing that this action constituted excessive force that infringed upon the child’s Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. “This child did not commit a crime, pose a threat, or endanger anyone,” stated ACLU of Missouri’s Legal Director, Sarah Collins. “Handcuffing a child in this manner is not only cowardly but also unconstitutional.” The ACLU highlighted that this incident violated state policy, which stipulates that physical restraints should be applied only in extreme cases.
Following this traumatic episode, Alex’s mother, Lisa Taylor, felt that her son was no longer safe at school. Out of concern for his well-being, she chose to homeschool him for two years. It’s understandable—how can a parent feel secure knowing their child is treated as a threat? Alex was crying because of the bullying, and he was just a child.
In defense of the officer’s actions, a school district spokesperson, Rebecca Smith, claimed that the officer had followed established protocols, suggesting that using handcuffs was an appropriate measure in this situation. This justification is alarming, especially given research indicating that black children are often perceived as older and less innocent than their white peers. As noted by Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff in a study published in the APA’s Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, black boys are held responsible for their actions at a much younger age compared to their white counterparts.
Data from the Department of Education reveals alarming statistics: although black students represent only 18% of those enrolled in sampled schools, they accounted for 35% of suspensions and 39% of expulsions. This clear discrepancy points to a systemic bias that disproportionately affects black children.
Acknowledging these issues is critical for progress. As Jesse Williams stated, “The existence of your neighbor’s pain is not dependent upon your belief in it.” Change requires recognition of biases that persist within our systems. If lawsuits are necessary to prompt school districts to confront their prejudices, then they are warranted.
Lisa Taylor has voiced her desire for such practices to end: “No school should be handcuffing little kids. I want it to stop,” she told reporters. “We need to raise awareness about this issue and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
In summary, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address how young black children are treated in educational settings, emphasizing the importance of viewing all children through the lens of innocence rather than fear.
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