California education chief calls preschooler ‘stupid dirty girl’
Last week, California State Education Secretary, Richard Riordan, told a child her name, Isis, meant “stupid dirty girl.” A day later, after being criticized for his comments, he issued an apology and claimed he was just “teasing her,” an excuse I find not only inadequate but completely absurd!
What on earth gave him the idea that it would be acceptable under ANY circumstances to say something like that to a 6 year old girl? The fact that she approached him and immediately mentioned her name the way she did is a good indication that she is very proud of her name. It is important to her, a significant part of her identity. To respond to her obvious pride by telling her it really means “stupid dirty girl” is not only rude, it was downright degrading and abusive. It was NOT teasing! There was no witty banter going on between them. She told him something that was important to her and he responded with an insult. He hurt her feelings and something like that will stick in her memory for a long time. Kids are very impressionable and adults, because of their authority, have a lot of influence on a kids identity and self-esteem. What he did was inexcusable!
What angers me even more is the total failure of Governor Schwarzenegger to hold Riordan accountable for his actions. Riordan has received no disciplinary action whatsoever other than a brief statement from Schwarzenegger indicating that Riordan’s behavior was “unacceptable in any context.” They seem to be under the impression that since he said “oops, I’m sorry. I was just teasing,” it makes everything okay, but it doesn’t. Riordan has serious issues with irresponsible and insensitive behavior. He’s done it before and I’m sure he’ll do it again. Someone like that has no business leading the educational system for our children and he certainly shouldn’t be allowed to come in contact with them.
How many people do you know who could call a customer or client at work a “stupid dirty person,” then say “I was just teasing” and still have a job at the end of the day? If I can’t do it and you can’t do it, why should anyone in a leadership position in this country be able to do it? Should they be any less accountable than we are?
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