Parent: Weston teacher called my son 'rag-head Taliban'

Rasa – A parent in Weston city of Florida urged the Broward School Board on Tuesday to fire a teacher he says called his son a "rag-head Taliban."

News ID: 2206

Date: 05 March 2015 - 18:21

RNA - Youssef Wardani said Maria Valdes, who teaches French at Cypress Bay High School in Florida, called his 14-year-old son a Taliban four times in class last month, inciting laughter from other students.

'And she said, "Oh, no, the Taliban is here",' Deyab-Houssein Wardani told WSVN. 'And at first I took it as a joke because I didn't really know what Taliban was.

'I raised my hand, and she said, "Yes, Taliban", and everyone just kind of laughed.'

Over the next several days, the 64-year-old teacher, who often nicknames her students, continued referring to Deyab-Houssein as 'Taliban' - even calling him 'rag-head Taliban'.

The teenager, who is an honor role student and a Boy Scout, asked his parents what the word meant, and they were shocked when they learned where he had heard it.

"I want her fired," said Wardani. "As a parent I should not be spending my time in front of [the School Board], explaining to them what should have been done on Day One … My son is not a rag-head Taliban."

According to Florida-based Sun-Sentinel daily newspaper, Tracy Clark, public information officer for Broward schools, said the district investigated the incident and will recommend a five-day unpaid suspension for Valdes as well as diversity training.

The School Board will vote on the disciplinary action on March 17.

Valdes, hired in 2004, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Broward Teachers Union declined to comment on the case. Valdes, 64 and a Weston resident, continues teaching at the school, officials said.

Superintendent Robert Runcie said the district was working to resolve the issue.

In the meantime, Deyab-Houssein, who is known to friends and family as 'DH', has been returning to the same French class but admits “it's awkward now.”

'I am extremely disappointed with her, and I guess you could say it's sad that someone would think like that to this day,' the boy said.

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