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From: Aimfl@aol.com
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 14:28:50 EST
Subject: Re: Squaw Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 27, 2000

Contact Mark Madrid, Information Director or Sheridan Murphy, Executive
Director

(727) 826-6960  FAX (727) 550-2207

FLORIDA AIM FILES STATE AND FEDERAL COMPLAINTS AGAINST PINELLAS COUNTY
SCHOOLS OVER S WORD ISSUE

Saint Petersburg, FL-The American Indian Movement of Florida (Florida AIM)
has filed complaints against Marcia Jacobs, Tyrone Elementary School and the
Pinellas County School District with the Florida Department of Education and
the United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights over the
lack of action by Tyrone Elementary School and the Pinellas County School
District regarding Mrs. Marcia Jacobs use of a racially offensive, pejorative
and demeaning word regarding American Indian women.
 The word Squaw originates from a Mohawk Haudenosaunee word for female
genitalia. Further the word has been used for two centuries to demean and
degrade American Indian women. Initially Florida AIM sent a letter to Mrs.
Jacobs informing her of the offensive nature of the word and asking her to
halt the use of the word.  Mrs. Jacobs responded irrationally so Florida AIM
took our complaint to the Pinellas County School Superintendent.
Unfortunatley while the Superintendents words appear encouraging, their has
been no action behind the words. Had Mrs. Jacobs used racially offensive,
pejorative, and degrading references and reacted to those informing her of
the same in a similar manner; Florida AIM is certain the school district
would have reacted swiftly and decisively. Yet because the prjorative was
directed at American Indians the school district has acted lackadasical in
its response.  We therefore have filed complaints with the Florida Department
of Education citing Florida Administrative Codes governing teacher and
administrative conduct. We have also filed a complaint citing violations of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 codified within Title 42 United States Code with
the United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.
 We demand that Mrs. Jacobs be, at least, disciplined, that the word sq**w be
classified with other racial/ethnic slurs, and that American Indian authors
be used to teach regarding American Indians peoples History and culture. We
shall not accept anything less.
 

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