Submitted by Katia Lief, May 14, 2007 16:36

I'd like to clarify, please. What became the quote "girls in burkas" was taken out of context. I feel no hatred whatsoever for any particular culture, and love that my children have had a diverse, inclusive public education in NYC. I had expressed a concern that some might see the new school as a publicly funded parochial school and if, for instance, girls arrived at school in burkas, culture could be confused with religion which seemed to complicate the question of publicly funding a school focusing on one set culture that happens to prize religion. I'm sorry that, out of context, my remark has been quoted and re-quoted. It makes me very sad.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.