Two parents in New York City were removed from their school council leadership positions on Friday by Schools Chancellor David C. Banks due to their conduct in relation to political and cultural issues. The decision follows intense debates and backlash over topics such as transgender student athletes and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Maud Maron, a parent from Manhattan's District 2, faced criticism for a private text where she claimed “there is no such thing as trans kids” and for derogatory comments regarding an article on Israel published in a student newspaper. Tajh Sutton of Brooklyn’s District 14 was accused of enforcing a restrictive political speech code at meetings and promoting a student walkout for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Both parents, elected to two-year terms on their local community education councils, were warned in April about their conduct. Banks stated that their actions made them "unfit to serve in these roles," as the discipline process for investigating misconduct complaints has become more prominent since the pandemic.
Maron and Sutton each expressed discontent with their removal, arguing their actions were grounded in advocacy and free speech. The broader community is left to navigate the ramifications of this unprecedented step by the New York City Department of Education.