Harshad Desai is surrounded by family at his daughter Sejal's wedding in 2007 in Salt Lake City.
Posted on 09/03/2009 8:45:04 AM PDT by OldSpice
Harshad Desai has endured racial slurs and harassment since moving to Panguitch in 1992, so a ruling that he be allowed to substitute teach in Garfield public schools comes as long overdue vindication.
But the 58-year-old native of India, a U.S. citizen, doesn't hold a grudge. He says he just wants a shot at teaching, to see if it's something he is good at and likes.
Cheryl D. Luke, an administrative law judge for the Utah Labor Commission, determined that Garfield School District officials engaged in racial profiling and prejudice when in 2001, they rejected Desai for a substitute teaching position based on his perceived similarities to the 9/11 terrorists.
Desai "has a brilliant resume," holds master's degrees in chemistry and plastics engineering, and owns and operates two hotels in Panguitch, yet was rejected in favor of Caucasian applicants with no college education, Luke found in her ruling, issued last week.
He is the only applicant rejected in at least five years, a period in which people with criminal convictions (some involving minors) were cleared to substitute teach, the ruling states.
He thought his background in science would be welcomed, considering the statewide shortage of qualified math and science teachers. He underwent training and assumed he had been cleared to teach.
At one point, he received a letter saying he wasn't needed, but Desai figured it was sent in error since the district continued to solicit substitutes in newspaper ads.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
Harshad Desai is surrounded by family at his daughter Sejal's wedding in 2007 in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City - you have to wonder if this has more to do with religion than race.
For the most part, people from India have made very positive contributions to this country. It’s one of the areas I’d like to see more immigration from (legal at least.)
I read the replies to the article,very interesting.These
people are on our side seems to escape some morons.
Apparently the school board needs to have some basic elementary history eduction of India and Hindus to understand they also were victims of Islamic militism.
Panguitch is about 200 miles from Salt Lake City. It’s a small town (think about 2000 or so folks) and almost entirely white. Most likely anyone looking “different” would be suspect.
This doesn’t make sense. Indians and the Chinese have contributed allot to this country. Is Utah a primarily a “white” Mormon state?
Uh, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say “Yes”. But you could also poll the Osmonds and see what they think...
“Uh, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say “Yes”. But you could also poll the Osmonds and see what they think...”
Well, Marie is now sober so she might have some answers. Then again, she’s busy as a single Mom raising her brood - she might not have the time ... .
Governor Bobby Jindal comes to mind.
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