In August, Eva Goodman was placed in handcuffs and a jail uniform for sleeping in a courtroom during a field trip. Goodman, 15, was visiting with a group organized by the nonprofit the Greening of Detroit. During the visit, Judge Kenneth King of the 36th District court scolded the teen for her “attitude” and behavior.

Goodman’s mother told the Free Press after the incident that their family did not have permanent housing and got in late the night before. Judge King was temporarily removed from the court docket, and his classes at Wayne State University were reassigned due to his suspension.

Since the incident, the Created Equal team has been examining through conversations how society responds to people who live in poverty.

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Dr. Rema-Vassar, a professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Wayne State University, spent 20 years working in education and studies race, gender and class implications in schools. She says King’s response to the incident in court was inappropriate.

“My adviser at UCLA used to say, ‘all behavior is functional.’ There’s a reason for all behavior. So if the baby is sleeping in the court, the human response is to figure out why,” Vassar said. “Teachers get to come in and say, ‘I haven’t had my coffee. Don’t bother me for five minutes,’ right? A judge can say, ‘I have to take a recess, I need to compose myself and come back.’ Why aren’t children allowed to do that? Why can’t children say, ‘hey, I’m tired.'”

Vassar joined the show on Tuesday to talk more about how a student’s behavior in school can be a reflection of their circumstances at home.

Guest: 

• Dr. Rema-Vassar is a professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.

A family is suing a Wayne County judge after he ordered a teenager into jail clothes and handcuffs during a field trip at the courthouse.

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On a field trip with The Greening of Detroit Aug. 13, 15-year-old Eva Goodman was singled out by 36th District Court Judge Kenneth King for falling asleep and having what he considered a bad attitude, the Associated Press reported.

King had Goodman handcuffed, changed into jail clothes and threatened in front of her peers with juvenile detention. The family is accusing the judge of humiliation, false arrest and unlawful detention in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday, which seeks more than $75,000 in damages.

The lawsuit states that King’s actions were “extreme and outrageous and calculated for the purpose of inflicting fear and severe emotional distress.”

Goodman’s mother told reporters that her daughter was probably tired because they do not have a permanent residence.

King was removed from courtroom duties last week until he completes training. 

Reporting by Ed White, Associated Press

Other headlines for Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024:

• School starts next week for many districts, and Michigan State Police is reminding parents to check on the safety history of local school buses.
• The Episcopal Church of the Messiah will be hosting its third gun destruction event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at the church, 231 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit.
• The community group Avalon Village is accepting applications for “Hood Camp,” a unique camping experience designed to teach urban survival skills to kids ages 12-18.

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.