She writes:
"While watching the evening news it was reported that a student received a warning because she was wearing an Obama tee shirt. At that moment, I decided that as Chairman of the Duval County School Board I needed to share my disappointment at how such actions depict our school district locally and nationally. I have three facts that I wish to share with all DCPS employees:
1. On November 4, 2008 the Presidential election ended. Candidate Barack Obama was elected to serve as President of the United States of America.
2. Regardless of DCPS staff members' presidential choice the facts show that the President elect can be held up as a standard for ALL students because of his educational achievements: Harvard Law grad (#1 in his class), college law professor, editor of the prestigious Harvard law review, and excellent oratory skills. Moreover, by all accounts, this election was historic.
3. It is absolutely astounding to me that in 2008 our district is having to make 'rules of engagement' because those who did not support the President elect may be upset, or violence may breakout, or hard feelings may result among students and between adults. Did these same type of rules and heightened scrutiny occur after other Presidential elections? We know that the answer is 'No'.
I refuse to believe that DCPS employees are incapable of moving forward because of the hue of Obama's skin and I refuse to believe that DCPS adult employees are incapable of moving beyond an election. Instead I choose to believe that this attitude is not representative of the majority of our DCPS employees, and that the district can relax these 'rules of engagement' because our employees will do what is right and that they understand that diversity is our greatest strength!
Our country is turning a page and all youngsters can see possibilities. As Chairman of the Duval County School Board, I trust that employees of DCPS are turning the page also. :
Thank you,
Betty Burney,
Chairman
Duval County School Board
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