Milton Parent Reprimanded For Recording Of Virtual Lesson

MILTON, MA — The improper taping of a June 5 remote learning lesson, which initially led to discipline of a Milton middle school teacher that was soon rescinded, has resulted in the reprimand of the parent who recorded the lesson and a public apology to the teacher.

Milton Superintendent of Schools Mary Gormley issued the public apology to Zakia Jarrett, a sixth grade teacher at Pierce Middle School, for her office's initial reaction to the video of Jarrett's lesson on social injustice.

"In response to an unauthorized video of a teacher's lesson, I made a serious error in judgement," Gormley said, "a misstep I deeply regret. We're working hard to listen, learn, improve, heal and move forward."

She included an excerpt from her statement to the Milton School Committee last week:

"From preschool through high school, our educators must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, support and academic freedom to facilitate classroom lessons and discussions about the complex issues of race and racism," she said.

In a public joint letter from Gormley and School Committee Chair Sheila Egan Varela on an investigation into the incident, the statement said: "The investigation resulted in the identification of the parent who recorded the video. Milton Public Schools has sent a letter of reprimand to the parent responsible for the violation of the district's guidelines that strictly prohibited the recording of any remote learning activities."

The statement said confidentiality laws and policies prohibit the release of the name of the parent.

The statement said the Milton School Committee is "in the process of developing a formal, more comprehensive remote learning policy to be adopted prior to the start of the 2020-21 school year."

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