THE MOTHER OF an high school student in Arkansas has taken the ground-breaking step of suing his school for dropping him from the basketball team.
Teresa Bloodman, mother of a Maumelle High School student who’s name has not been disclosed, is suing the school, district and the state of Arkansas after her son was cut following a third try-out.
Members of the school’s American Football team were allowed to take part in the final try-out and many were selected to the basketball squad.
Nine of the 11 players that had been training for three months were then dropped from the squad.
Equal rights
The lawsuit states that holding a third try-out violated her son’s equal protection right, because it’s not the same method used when girl’s teams are selected.
It also contests that the student was deprived the right of a full education because he was not allowed to take part in school athletics.
Bloodman claims the team’s coaches, Michael Shook and Grover Garrison, are not certified or qualified to coach, and therefore not competent to decide who makes the team.
The lawsuit was filed in October but only came to light after motions were heard earlier this month. A trial date has yet to be set.