Balto. Co. school cancels ‘Aladdin Jr.’ over complaints

A Baltimore County school has canceled a planned production of “Aladdin Jr.” after complaints that the play stereotypes Arab culture. In a letter to parents, J. Palmer Walker, principal of Catonsville’s Westowne Elementary School, said administrators had received “pushback from parents concerned about controversial tropes and inaccurate portrayal of different characters.” One parent was Danette Zaghari-Mask, who said her 9-year- old son, an Arab-American student in fourth grade at the school, was upset by the language in the text when he auditioned for the play. In the opening lines, the play refers to the “barbaric” Arab lands. In contrast, Zaghari-Mask said, a forthcoming “Aladdin” film — out next year — was made with consultation from ArabAmericans to eliminate offensive stereotypes. Zaghari-Mask, a lawyer for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said she voiced her concerns about the play to other parents and to the school, which decided to scrap it. Instead, the school’s drama club will put on a play that focuses on fables. CAIR issued a statement that applauded the school’s decision. Though some other Westowne parents have complained online about an excess of political correctness, ZaghariMask said most people she’s spoken to have been supportive. “We’re just really glad that our school is really adamant about creating a safe space for all of the students,” she said. being interviewed by detectives Wednesday morning after his arrest. Anne Arundel County police were notified Tuesday night of a social media video showing an unidentified male with a handgun, police said. An investigation led officers to Old Mill. Police contacted school officials Wednesday morning and Benjamin was pulled out of the classroom within about three minutes, Anne Arundel County public school spokesman Bob Mosier said. No one was threatened or injured. School principal Stacey Smith pulled the student into the hallway and he was escorted to the administration office by the school resource officer, Smith wrote in a letter to parents. His jacket, where the gun was found, was retrieved by the principal after the student was removed from the classroom, Smith wrote. It’s a serious incident, but hopefully parents are “heartened” by the quick response of police and school officials, Mosier said. will be a scheduling conference sometime in the coming weeks, once the attorney knows ... whether or not he can remain on the case to represent Mr. Ramos,” Heather Amador wrote in an email. Amador is the director of victim services within the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Office. “I will continue to keep you posted regarding the status,” she wrote. Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Laura Ripken gave Ramos and his counsel an extra 60 daysTuesday to explore an insanity plea, opening the possibility that Ramos could serve the sentence in a mental health prison facility. In that same filing, she announced the delay of Monday’s hearing and granted the state’s attorney’s office the authority to retrieve Ramos’ fingerprints and handwriting. Ripken’s office did not return a request for comment Wednesday. Ramos is represented by Davis and Elizabeth Palan, public defenders in District 7. Palan is the deputy district public defender. It isn’t clear if Davis’ departure would mean Palan becomes lead attorney in the case or if new attorneys would be assigned.