Board of Education Member Judy Docca Uses the "R Word" at a BOE Meeting

[Anonymous]

She apologized during BOE meeting today in her part of the Board comments. I did NOT see it, but one of the other members referenced Docca and the public apology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Here is what she said:

"made me look retarded"

She is the head of a major public school system in the USA. She sets the example for the entire system and all the students.

I remember my friend in elementary school who had a brother with Down Syndrome saying that her brother was retarded.

And the ARC was the Association for Retarded Citizens until 1992.

Does language change? Yes. Do people's brain-tongue connections always keep up with the changes? No.

Using it as a term to describe people with intellectual disabilities was, at one time acceptable. The language had changed.

Using a label for one group as an insult for another group, has never been OK.

For example, it's OK for me to describe someone as a woman. Perhaps I'd describe you that way. It wouldn't be OK for a man to stand up at a board meeting and say "You're like a woman" about another man who acted emotionally. It's OK for me to describe someone as "black", but not to tell a white person doing something I don't like to "stop acting black".

The way in which she used the term has never been OK. It wouldn't be OK if she used the term intellectually disabled in the same way.

Now, however, that the term has been removed from the law, it wouldn't be OK for her to use the R word to describe someone, but it would be OK for her to say something like "We are hoping to hire someone with expertise in intellectual disability, to advise the board on improving our special education programs."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do those in charge have to set the tone and policies for the entire system? YES

It those in charge can not keep up, it is time for them to move on.

OK, then in 2018 you can vote for a candidate for BoE District 1 who is not Judy Docca, if there is one.

The teachers will support Docca.

So what? Everybody gets to support who they want to support. Everybody gets to go out and work on behalf of whichever candidate they want to go out and work on behalf of. Or, everybody gets to sit at home and complain, if that's what they want to do -- but please don't complain about other people's efforts when you didn't lift a finger.

The teachers will pay for mailings to go to all registered voters to support Docca. That is an expense that most candidates can not afford. Teachers will pay to put her name in voters minds and voters support teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The teachers will pay for mailings to go to all registered voters to support Docca. That is an expense that most candidates can not afford. Teachers will pay to put her name in voters minds and voters support teachers.

What's your point? That the fix is in, it's hopeless, and there's nothing you can do, so you might as well not even bother?

Let me ask you this -- under which scenario below do you have a greater chance of achieving your goal of electing somebody else to the BoE?

Scenario 1: You work hard to try to get somebody else elected.
Scenario 2: You don't do anything.

[Anonymous]

It's been a pejorative term for a long time. Let's all stop pretending about this. The excuses some of you are making for this...

If it is true that she hasn't supported special ed students/teachers, she needs to be canned.

[Anonymous]

The apology I head was to "colleagues and staff". Not to children and families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The apology I head was to "colleagues and staff". Not to children and families.

I was guessing that somebody would come along to say that the apology wasn't good enough. And you did!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The apology I head was to "colleagues and staff". Not to children and families.

I was guessing that somebody would come along to say that the apology wasn't good enough. And you did!

The apology was not meant for you. You do not care and never did. Name calling is in your blood.

[Anonymous]

next time you see her make fun of her disability and let's see how she reacts.

She and the others really need to go, maybe term limits for them as well.

[Anonymous]

so if all these folks who offended or whatever Hollywood is doing apologize all is well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so if all these folks who offended or whatever Hollywood is doing apologize all is well?

You're comparing multiple instances of sexual assault to a single instance of the use of a word that is now a pejorative but didn't used to be.

[Anonymous]

I'm by no means a fan of Comrade Docca but I can't get over the fact that the delicate snowflakes on this board are so insulted that they think she should be canned for this. Go out and buy a nice coloring book and I'm sure tomorrow you will find something shiny and new to be insulted about.

How many of you were asking for Obama to step down when he said his bowling skills ware so bad "It's like — it was like Special Olympics, or something."?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm by no means a fan of Comrade Docca but I can't get over the fact that the delicate snowflakes on this board are so insulted that they think she should be canned for this. Go out and buy a nice coloring book and I'm sure tomorrow you will find something shiny and new to be insulted about.

How many of you were asking for Obama to step down when he said his bowling skills ware so bad "It's like — it was like Special Olympics, or something."?

Your comments are in the same category with Judy Docca's, more put downs of parents and students. The fact that she is a Board of Education member of a public school system is something that you can not understand.

[Anonymous]

I was very disappointed with Obama and the “special Olympics bowling” comment. Very. To his credit he apologized right away, and profusely. Not after a delay of 5 months.
Nice use of “whataboutism” tho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The apology I head was to "colleagues and staff". Not to children and families.

Did you email her and ask why she didn't apologize to families?

I finally watched it and her apology was rather minimal. If she feels so slow compared to those around her, does she think she should be re-elected?