Staff report
A bill that would remove antiquated and offensive language from Pennsylvania’s School Code has been unanimously approved by the House Education Committee.
The bill was introduced by state Rep. Pat Harkins, of Erie, D-1st Dist., to eliminate derogatory words that feed the stigma surrounding mental health issues and physical disabilities.
“Language shapes perception, and when official state codes use terms that stereotype or limit, this creates a destructive, long-lasting impression, Harkins said in a statement. Hopefully, with committee approval of my bill, we are one step closer to updating and modernizing official state terminology, and with it, the way students with disabilities are perceived, he said.