Even if you have a maid that only speaks Spanish, which makes this egregious statement a personal comment, or you only watch daytime TV shows where all the Latinos acting are some type of servants, why would you, as a principle of impressionable kids, make an inappropriate comment to everyone about knowing Spanish?
The “poorly choice of words” by principle Donna Taylor of Public School Intermediate 686, which is one of the elite public schools in Brooklyn, also known as Brooklyn School of Inquiry, upset parents during the school’s open house tour. The principle’s comment, according to parents reports the New York Times, said that in New York City “if you don’t speak Spanish, you’re going to clean your own house.” WTF!!!
The comment was provoked when a parent asked if the school, a gifted and talented program in Bensonhurst, offered foreign language as a course. The principle, la inteligente, said they were hoping to higher a full-time Spanish instructor and that is when she let out that thoughtful comment that offended people.
Ms. Taylor, after the parent’s uproar of her comment, released a statement on Wednesday saying, “Yesterday at an open house, I made statements, the nature of which was misunderstood, and some attendees were offended. Diversity is an issue that is near and dear to me, and I deeply regret my poor choice of words.”
Devora Kaye, a spokeswoman for the department, said in an email that Ms. Taylor had “used very poor judgment in her choice of words and she has apologized to the school community,” reports the New York Times.
