Target: Dr. Dyann Mack, Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools
Goal: Repeal dismissal of bus driver whose only infraction was helping student aid hurt animal.
No good deed goes unpunished. This common saying rang painfully true for a bus driver in rural Maryland. Cynthia Morgan, a woman who had driven a bus in Harford County for over a decade, was fired from her job following an incident involving an injured kitten. The only student left on the bus spotted the small animal and wanted to assist the ailing cat. Morgan apparently let the student leave the bus long enough to retrieve the kitten. When the boy returned, Morgan dropped him off without incident and kept the kitten on the bus with her.
Letting a student off a bus for any reason other than a drop-off is prohibited, even though the student was in no apparent danger since no visible traffic was detected on cameras. For this act of kindness towards both a defenseless and hurt animal and towards a boy who desperately wanted to aid the animal, Morgan was punished and lost her livelihood. Parents, including the boy’s mother, have reacted with support for their fellow community member. A petition that has gained hundreds of signatures has circulated in the region asking for Morgan’s reinstatement.
Sign the petition below to support these calls for a reversal.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Dr. Mack,
“Over the years, Cynthia has become more than just a bus driver to our children; she is someone they look forward to seeing every morning and afternoon. Her kind and warm nature makes the pupils feel safe and comfortable. Her abrupt dismissal is a loss not just for the students who ride her bus but for our community at large.” This and other impassioned appeals made by parents advocating for Cynthia Morgan’s reinstatement should be acknowledged and heard. They are the most personally involved in this matter, and their support speaks volumes.
This woman’s demonstration of humane compassion towards a vulnerable and in-need animal should serve as the strongest demonstration of her character and her sense of responsibility toward her young charges. Please do not punish her for setting an example of caring that every child and adult should emulate.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Burak Ozkan
