FW FR: Jeanne Taylor, MCCPTA Special Education Committee Chair
Date: November 10, 2017
To: Montgomery County Board of Education
Dear President Durso and Members of the Board of Education,
Today I watched a video in which Dr. Docca used the term “retarded” in a public Board meeting.
Quite frankly, I was appalled by the use of such a hurtful term by a former educator who is also the current Vice President of the Board of Education.
Over the years, the “R” word, originally used as a clinical term, has become a form of derision, similar to “moron” or “idiot”. The term is so offensive that various public agencies - including those under the federal government - have stopped using it.
In the past, the Board has celebrated school-wide campaigns to “Spread the Word to End the Word”, a concerted national effort which educates people about the use of the “R” word, which is a reprehensible slur. One of the pictures on the http://www.r-word.org/ website shows a young man holding up a sticky note which says, “Practice what you preach.”
I would ask that this Board live up to that principle by publicly condemning the use of the “R” word by anyone who works for the Montgomery County Public School system, including members of the Board of Education.
By choosing not to address this issue, the Board will be going against several of its own Core Values which are listed on the Board of Education website: http://www.montgomervschoolsmd.org/boe/about/mission.aspx
In short, the entire school community needs to hear a message of inclusivity, dignity and respect from the top administrator and governing board on down. You are supposed to set the example.
I look forward to hearing about how you will address Dr. Docca’s conduct.
Sincerely,
Date: November 10, 2017
To: Montgomery County Board of Education
Dear President Durso and Members of the Board of Education,
Today I watched a video in which Dr. Docca used the term “retarded” in a public Board meeting.
Quite frankly, I was appalled by the use of such a hurtful term by a former educator who is also the current Vice President of the Board of Education.
Over the years, the “R” word, originally used as a clinical term, has become a form of derision, similar to “moron” or “idiot”. The term is so offensive that various public agencies - including those under the federal government - have stopped using it.
In the past, the Board has celebrated school-wide campaigns to “Spread the Word to End the Word”, a concerted national effort which educates people about the use of the “R” word, which is a reprehensible slur. One of the pictures on the http://www.r-word.org/ website shows a young man holding up a sticky note which says, “Practice what you preach.”
I would ask that this Board live up to that principle by publicly condemning the use of the “R” word by anyone who works for the Montgomery County Public School system, including members of the Board of Education.
By choosing not to address this issue, the Board will be going against several of its own Core Values which are listed on the Board of Education website: http://www.montgomervschoolsmd.org/boe/about/mission.aspx
In short, the entire school community needs to hear a message of inclusivity, dignity and respect from the top administrator and governing board on down. You are supposed to set the example.
I look forward to hearing about how you will address Dr. Docca’s conduct.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Taylor,
MCCPTA Special Education Committee Chair
cc: MCCPTA Board of Directors
MCCPTA Special Education Committee Chair
cc: MCCPTA Board of Directors
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