The Birth of uCANcomplain and Shirley Tang, the Advocate Against Bullying and Discrimination in Public Schools

How and Why At-risk Students Face Wrongful Suspensions, Expulsions, and Arrests

All of a sudden, hell jumped us with no way out

The inception of uCANcomplain started on one wintry day in 2007. Without warning, just a few words from a teacher turned the lives of 9 people – 3 senior students and their parents – upside down in an instant. Before that, my daughter was savoring the fun of her last months of high school in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS). My husband and I were looking forward to her joyous graduation.

WCPSS is the largest school district in North Carolina. Teacher T accused our daughter and her 2 classmates of plagiarism on a simple in-class assignment: researching different countries’ ethnic conflicts. The 3 girls believed, through T’s often-ambiguous instruction, that it was a group-work assignment, which therefore allowed them to share research results. Nonetheless, T swore to school officials that he told the class it was an “individual assignment.”

Swiftly, all 3 girls received suspension for cheating. Notices of such were sent to most of the colleges they applied to. In the end, their fate was sealed. Their suspensions: upheld; their reputation: tarnished; their senior privileges: robbed away; their honor club memberships: stripped – all for doing nothing wrong.

On a sunny day in May 2007, they graduated with dark clouds in their hearts.

The hard lessons I learned as a parent fighting bullying and discrimination

Absurdity: Assistant Principal AP only listened to T. She violated the School Board policy by denying our right to appeal to the principal. That’s when I first realized: Due Process can be a laughable joke in the school system.

Injustice: Challenging absurdity, we filed a grievance with Principal P anyway. Similarly, she only listened to AP and T, refused to meet, and violated the Board policy. That’s when I first realized: Grievance can be a deceptive and factitious joke in the school system.

Oppression: Challenging injustice, I turned to Truth. With colossal effort, I secured 7 signed testimonies from the girls’ fearful but courageous classmates, testifying against T’s false claim. I thought justice would prevail until… P disregarded the evidence of innocence. That’s when I first realized: Truth can be an oppressed joke in the school system.

Bureaucracy: Challenging oppression, I tried to turn to Voice, only to painfully remain silent. “Can our daughter even graduate if we challenge further?” I worried. That’s when I realized: Having no Voice is no joke in the school system.

How an art lover became an advocate for disadvantaged students

Decades ago, coming to America from Hong Kong for college, I aspired to be an artist and a writer. To avoid possibly “starving” while being such, I picked journalism as my second major. However, my career path veered back to my love of art – until 2007.

Other parents heard of my good fight against injustice for the 3 girls and our families. They told me their similar ordeals and sought my help. Soon, I realized our 3 families’ experience with WCPSS was hardly unique. There has been a pattern not just within WCPSS, but also many school districts nationwide.

As a former educator, many family members and close friends of mine are also teachers. So, professionally and culturally, I have the highest respect for educators. But my 2007 ordeal has reminded me that there are always bad apples in an apple orchard.

After much soul-searching, I made a life-changing, full-circle decision: I got to return to journalism and education to help parents and students seek truth, fairness, equity, and redress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A reformer against bullying and discrimination was born

Since 2007, I have gradually learned the depths of the systemic discrimination and mistreatment of the Black and brown parents and students in the public school systems. Not only at the local and state levels, but also at the federal level. Their complaints of discrimination or bullying were ignored, their evidence of innocence was tossed out, their rights under the laws and policies were disregarded…

For over 10 years, I have assisted parents and community advocates in seeking the truth and fair treatment of students facing discrimination, bullying, and unjust disciplinary actions in schools. Often, my investigations unearth evidence that disprove the schools or districts’ false narratives, giving parents the facts to advance their cases further.

I hear your voice, as mine never quits

Voice never quits inside me. It only whirs louder every day as I deal with or hear the racism and unjust treatment that parents and students of color face nationwide. In 2013, I renamed my business to uCANcomplain to accentuate the need and empowerment of having our Voice to stand up against bullying and discrimination in schools.

Parents, I know what you are going through: I hear your ongoing frustration; I feel your heart’s burning agony; I see you toss and turn in bed. But you are not alone. We are here to empower you.

Check out our Resources.  You can also learn from the stories of our collective experiences – struggles and triumphs – from advocates, parents, and students. I will add or update our stories periodically. So, stay tuned to witness the shocking Truth behind the closed doors of our local, state, and federal agencies in or linked to Education.

Such as: How parents and students’ rights were violated despite having laws and policies to protect them; how at-risk students were criminalized by cooked-up false accusations; how local, state, and federal officials “worked” together to sabotage legitimate complaints... and much more.

To make across-the-board changes, we must exert a collective Voice and say no to the systemic bullying and discrimination against our children. Meanwhile, keep fighting for your child’s right to education, academic opportunities, and fair treatment. If you have inquiries, please feel free to contact me at info@uCANcomplainBlog.com.

 

Shirley Tang
Founder, uCANcomplain, Inc.
• Challenge • Empower • Reform