Please Follow us on Gab, Minds, Telegram, Rumble, Gettr, Truth Social, Twitter
Elaina Colarusso, a mother of a high school student in New Canaan, CT, approached her Board of Education on October 21, 2024, to complain about an inappropriate book assigned to her daughter's English class.
The book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, is one of the most frequently challenged books of all time, especially considering the racist, profane, sexually-charged and inflammatory language found in its pages.
Nonetheless, Colarusso mustered up the nerve to take the issue to the New Canaan BOE even though the BOE didn't address the issue at all during the meeting.
Since that time, New Canaan Town Councilperson Hilary Ritter Ormond has taken it upon herself to belittle and attack Colarusso on social media.
"I can't actually believe all of the praise you are getting, particularly as a presumably white woman saying the n word out loud at a public meeting," says Ormond who goes on to argue that it's important to "learn about that word, how it is used historically and in the present, the impact it has had on members of our community who are black, how it has been and is weaponized..."
One of the quotes from the book that Colarusso read was: "Did you know that Indians are living proof that n*ggers f*ck buffalo?"
It's hard to see how that particular usage of the word fits Ormond's argument.
Or why this particular author should be propped up in the 9th grade English curriculum, especially after admitting to the "harm" he's caused others when rumors of sexual harassment surfaced.
In another post Ormond argued that high schoolers should be able to handle content like that and that "book banners" shouldn't be able to stop educators from teaching about "how pernicious racism has been and still is."
Nonetheless, Ormond adds to the above post, saying, "Am I crazy or should white people never, ever utter this word aloud?"
There's a lot to unpack in Ormond's comment.
Colarusso is not the only person Ormond has gone after on social media, either.
In 2022 the New Canaan Town Council was notified about Ormond's behavior in response to a social media post from a new mom in the community who shared a survey on behalf of her child who was unhappy about the proposed earlier start time for elementary schoolers.
As soon as the mom posted the survey to Facebook, Ormond and another mom wrote they were "pulling up chairs" and getting their "popcorn to watch the carnage."
The new mom reached out to Ormond to better understand her curious reaction, at which point Ormond allegedly attacked the mom and accused her of "exploiting" her own daughter, a special needs student who valued time before school in the morning for her hobby.
Ormond further accused the mom of "weaponizing" her child's disability and making an "ableist" argument. The mom characterized Ormond's posts as aggressive, disparaging, and cruel. Next, Ormond allegedly contacted the elementary school about the girl's survey to have it stopped (it was stopped) and she asked the moderator of the Facebook group to censor and remove Ormond's posts. The mother was shocked that Ormond would go to such great lengths and apparently use her position of power in the town to behave in this manner.
Then there was the time Ormond seemed to encourage violence when she posted, "I would like all of the women in my life to stop for a second, take a long, deep breath, and burn everything to the f*cking ground."
In another social media post from 2022, when forced masking was the rule in school, Ormond apparently mocked a mother whose child suffered a terrifying asthma attack from wearing a mask.
As the Vice Chair of the New Canaan Town Council, Ormond is expected to follow the Town Council's rules.
In light of the above behavior, though, she has been accused of violating the Council's ethical obligations requiring her to "represent the entire community at all times" and "conduct herself in a respectful, collegial manner."
"Hilary has a pattern of bad behavior on social media that is unfitting for someone in the role of Town Council Vice Chair," said a New Canaan father familiar with the situation. "I wish she would learn how to conduct herself in a more respectful manner online and stop implying people are racists. If she can't do that, perhaps she should consider stepping down from the Town Council."
Wow. There could be more to this however the comments as reported here seem kind of aggressive. Is there no civil discourse or opportunity for dissenting opinions in New Canaan? Would similar comments directed by a conservative towards a liberal, person of color, or race be tolerated or immediately condemned across the board? It’s kind of shocking tbh.
Mrs Ormond's behavior is unacceptable. An elected offical who continually berates and publically attacks others who disagree and have a different opinion than her. Her comments are worthless.New Canaan Town Council Democrat Vice Chair Ormond has had a number of public outbursts at Town Council and other meetings. She has a habit of publically telling New Canaanites they have a temperment problem even though she never spoke to them or know them. Her motus operandi. She has the problem
Is this really an article based on Facebook comments? Many share feelings that micromanaging the reading of HIGH SCHOOL is manufactured and ridiculous! Are we preparing to go out into the world? They have little tiny computers in their pockets with access to the internet. Pearl clutching over classic literature is extremely sanctimonious. And now look, voila, we are talking curriculum committees (hmm)again instead of the 3 alarm fire of the kindergarten class of 25-26 having 118 additional kids
The article is based on interviews with New Canaan residents and elected officials, copies of detailed complaints that have been shared with Town officials, and yes, Facebook screenshots that confirmed the personal accounts.
What, exactly, is your definition of "classic literature"?
Also there was no survey cancelled. And no coincidence that Hilary is up for reelection. Proper journalism might want better sourcing than Facebook screenshots 🙄
The Town Council member can say whatever she wants. Her free speech is no more limited than anyone else's. If electors don't feel her behavior is becoming of the office they can vote her out at the next election. That's how government and free speech work.