The Kansas State Board of Education in February unanimously rejected the resignation of commissioner Randy Watson, Kansas’ highest-ranking education official.
The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Andrew Bahl and Rafael Garcia reported instead the board opted to suspend Watson for 30 days without pay as discipline for offensive remarks he made at a conference the previous week about Native Americans.
“This particular incident was serious and needed to be addressed, but we didn’t feel like it was career ending,” Board Chair Jim Porter said. “We believe in restorative justice. We believe that it is absolutely critical that we use this as a learning and teaching opportunity. And we felt strong that we are better able to do that under his leadership.”
Keeping that in mind, we believe this was the right call to make. We’ll hold board members to their words, though.
Native American residents are right to be angered by the comments. Their history is too often ignored, misstated or undercut.
Watson has apologized, and we believe Watson is sincere in his apology. We think the punishment is appropriate.
This story shouldn’t end with a 30-day unpaid suspension. This conversation needs to continue.
We can start by listening to Native Americans. Several have already expressed their views.
The Capital-Journal reports Rep. Stephanie Byers, D-Wichita and one of three Native American legislators, called on the state board to back up its statement. A good first step would be having the education board meet with the chairs of Kansas’ four federally recognized tribes, she said.
“But if you substitute any other racial group, or any other ethnicity for Indians, should we still forget about it?” she asked. “Because that’s what it’s like for Native Americans, when you’re getting erased over and over again.”
In a statement, Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick, chairman of the Prairie Band Pottawatomi Nation, said the board’s decision “sent a clear message to Indigenous People that comments like this are completely acceptable.”
Byers and Rupnick made many good points about how not firing Watson could send a message that his comments were acceptable. This needs to be the beginning of a conversation and not the end.
It will be up to everyone, not just the board, Watson or elected officials to ensure growth comes from this ugly moment. We as Kansans need to hold each other accountable and learn from Watson’s mistake.
