Dawn James: Asking Shakir to resign from all public positions

To the editor:

Since Ray Shakir left Wednesday night in the middle of the deliberative school budget meeting I’m left to address his immoral opinion on the education of our children here in the only public forum he can’t run away from. Fifty years ago misinformed and uneducated people believed all mentally, physically or neurologically handicapped people should be locked away, unworthy of family or education. Since then we have learned that many can and have made worthy contributions to society and communities around the world. One only has to look at Stephen Hawking to see the truth in this. But you Ray Shakir are still stuck back in 1950. You think that some children aren’t worthy of our time or an education. That opinion is incompatible with your position on the budget committee weighing in on the education process in our town. And to the budget committee, the time is now to denounce Ray Shakir’s statements on this subject and distance your self from this individual. Your public silence on this subject makes it appear you condone his misguided opinion.