Protests in Michigan after student jailed for not doing homework during coronavirus pandemic
- Grace, 15, who has ADHD, fell behind during online learning while on probation for fighting with mother and stealing
- Judge considered this a probation violation and sent her to juvenile detention
Hundreds of Detroit-area students turned out in protest outside their high school on Thursday calling for the release of a classmate who is in juvenile detention after not completing schoolwork during remote learning this past semester.
The 15-year-old student, called Grace in the original ProPublica report that highlighted her situation, was on probation for fighting with her mother and stealing.
ProPublica reported that Grace, who has attention deficit disorder, was easily distracted when studying at home and fell behind during remote learning. A Michigan circuit court judge sent Grace to juvenile detention in May, citing the schoolwork as a probation violation.
On Thursday afternoon, protesters assembled at Groves High School in the suburb of Beverley Hills before they drove to the Oakland County’s Circuit Court and prosecutor’s office holding up signs with calls to “Free Grace”. Students at the demonstration said Grace’s academic performance was not unique as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
“A lot of people were behind on their work this semester, no one had motivation to do anything because the teachers weren’t teaching and we were all online. I know so many people that didn’t do their homework,” said Prudence Canter, 18, a graduating senior at the school.
“It didn’t seem like the judge or the caseworker knew how grades and due dates and things were structured during the pandemic shutdown in the spring,” Geoff Wickersham, a social studies teacher at Grove, said at the protest. “I think this is a huge injustice.”