Upcoming study finds Latinos suffer from bullying in LRSD

LITTLE ROCK, AR - In a study being published by El Latino magazine Thursday, UALR sociology professor Terry Richard found there is a widespread problem of black students bullying their Spanish-speaking classmates at some Little Rock schools.

It's a study Richard started back in 2007, after meeting with teachers, Latino parents and students. Richard also talked to those affiliated with schools where the majority of Latino students attend. He told FOX16 News he addressed his concerns with former superintendent Linda Watson and current superintendent Morris Holmes, but nothing ever happened.

"Latinos often feel discriminated against or in many cases African Americans can intimidate them because they can get away with it," Richard said.

Richard said the majority race tends to always discriminate.

In the Little Rock School District, blacks are in the majority.

It sounds unusual in this case because blacks and latinos usually make up the minority.

"There has to be programs, policies that really encourage cooperation," Richard said.

Marco Martinez, a 2012 graduate of Hall High School, said he witnessed mistreatment at the school Richard mentioned in his study.

"If we talked back, we'd get in trouble and they wouldn't and our parents would say stay out of trouble, stop causing trouble," Martinez said.

An outraged superintendent Morris Holmes said this is the first time he's heard of the racial study.

"If I did not think of Dr. Richard as an honorable man, I would say that he does not have a study. Surely one will surface now," Holmes said.

He said he met with Richard last year, but this issue never came up.