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Bronx Teacher Blames Stillbirth On Job Conditions, Sues DOE
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 28, 2011
Modified Jun 28, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 28, 2011
Modified Jun 28, 2011
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A Bronx teacher is suing the city's Department of Education, claiming that the principal of her school forced her to perform tasks that caused the stillbirth of her baby. Rachel Wolff, a tenured teacher at PS 246, believes that principal Beverly Miller "contributed to an environment where having a successful pregnancy became exceedingly difficult," her lawyer tells the Post. Because Wolff's pregnancy was considered "high risk," chores that involved "climbing flights of stairs, hauling heavy furniture, and cleaning the library" negatively affected Wolff's ability to bear a healthy child. The NIH classifies factors for high risk pregnancies as "young or old maternal age, being underweight or overweight, having problems in previous pregnancies," and having "pre-existing health conditions" like HIV, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Wolff filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the DOE, which would also file suit against the DOE if it found it to be in violation of federal law. However, applicants may file suit themselves if they receive a Notice of Right-to-Sue from the EEOC, or if they've waited 180 days for the investigation to be completed. Because Wolff's complaint was filed last Friday, it appears she has chosen to sue regardless of the EEOC's decision as to whether federal anti-discriminatory laws were violated.
Last year, another Bronx teacher who miscarried her child after breaking up fighting students in December (who were fighting over a chair) declined to press charges, saying she feared that the students would eventually end up in the criminal justice system.
Tagged
bronx
discrimination
DOE
eeoc
stillbirth
teachers
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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