Council Rock School Board President Ed Salamon apologized at the Nov. 17 full board meeting for comments he made at a previous meeting that many in the district considered misogynistic and offensive.
During the Oct. 27 meeting of the board’s Education Committee, Salamon said at one point during a long discussion of state assessment scores and ways to interest more female students in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) careers that “statistically we say that the ladies have a harder time with math.” He added a few seconds later “you don’t like math.”
The remarks sparked a lot of criticism, with board members receiving about 20 emails condemning Salamon’s comments and a change.org petition calling for an apology and his resignation drawing more than 500 signatures.
Salamon had previously not apologized, saying that his remarks were misconstrued and that they were only alluding to statistics presented at an April Education Committee meeting which stated that “girls lose interest in STEM starting in fifth grade” and that “women hold only 27 percent of STEM jobs in the U.S. and 15 percent in computer science.”
But near the end of the Nov. 17 meeting, Salamon changed course after hearing more criticism of the remarks from three Council Rock High School North female students and three others during public comment.
“It was never my intention to cause strife,” he said. “Words have meanings, and I will strive to work harder on my words while also working even harder on behalf of all Council Rock students. My apologies to anyone I’ve hurt, from the bottom of my heart. To board members who I offended, I am sorry.”
Public comment before the apology criticized Salamon for not previously showing contrition for or taking ownership of his remarks.
“This is not behavior we want our students to model,” one resident said. “An apology is long overdue.”
Others added that remarks like the kind Salamon made perpetuate sexual stereotypes and gender bias.
“These comments were sexist and degrading,” one of the Council Rock North students said. “I personally enjoy math and am inclined toward it. We will not brush off these comments that dash girls’ hopes and dreams.”
Fellow board members thanked Salamon for the apology, though some added it was late in coming.
“I accept your apology for myself,” Ed Tate said. “I think it was significant and from the heart. Ed Salamon is one of the hardest working board members I’ve ever served with. He is an honorable and ethical person and a very good school board member. I trust him explicitly.”
Tate also commended those who spoke during public comment for expressing their concerns and added that his praise for Salamon did not mean he didn’t take their comments very seriously.
“It’s important that you spoke and I don’t mean to diminish what you said at all,” Tate noted.
“Thank you for the apology,” board member Mariann McKee told Salamon. “This has been an unhappy occurrence for all of us.”
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