LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Professor Terry Richard from UALR says he's tried to address this problem with three separate Little Rock School administrations.
Superintendent Dr. Morris Holmes says he would like more information as to how Dr. Richard conducted the study, but either way he's willing to take necessary action to protect all students of the district.
"Particularly among Latinas, young females, we're talking fourth and fifth graders, there was a consistent response from the schools that they were being sexually harassed and there were also issues with bullying, being picked upon," says Richard.
Richard found another pattern from the study, which dates back from 2006 to 2008 and another set from 2010.
"Cases of predation or exposure or groping tended to be from African Americans at a very early age," says Richard.
Richard claims to have reached out to Little Rock Superintendent Dr. Morris Holmes with his findings last September. Holmes says otherwise.
"He and I to my knowledge never discussed that; we discussed some other issues," says Holmes.
Earlier this week Richard did send the district all his results from the focus group study. Despite confusion as to the specifics, Dr. Holmes will form a committee to look into racial bullying against Latinos.
"We are going to proceed with what we have. It's been reported to me that he has given us all that he has. Well if he's given us all that he has, we have what he has, but he said that he had a study,"
Richard has shared the results from the focus groups which included:
"About 85 students, about 75 parents, maybe 80 parents... There were probably around 70 teachers," says Richard.
Contrary to Richard's statements Dr. Holmes questions why it's taken so long for the information to come out.
"No grass will grow under our feet, it is an ethical issue it is a moral issue, now that I know. I have been a little angered, you're right a little angered because here we have a grown person that has a PHD that has not shouted out hey some children are suffering," says Holmes.
Dr. Holmes made clear he has no personal issue with Richard. He says his focus is on the kids. Richard's comments sound similar.
"The bottom line is from the type of activity that was occurring it's not normal. It's something that has to be addressed," says Richard.
Dr. Holmes says Little Rock schools are some of the best staffed in the country and he would know about specific racial bullying if it were going on.
According to Dr. Richard, because the Latino population has doubled in some areas of Little Rock, new focus groups should be done to see how the behavior patterns have changed from the time the study began.