Questionable cartoon draws scrutiny to Metro Schools official

A Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools official is facing scrutiny after he sent a chain email to female co-workers that included what could be perceived as a sexist comic strip.

The comic, sent by MNPS Food Services Director Jay Nelson on Dec. 14, depicts two cavemen under a heading that reads “The Original Sin.” The caption says: “I’ve decided to teach her to talk, what harm could it do?”

Added commentary above the comic includes “No matter how hard you try, absolutely no one can top this” and “And I thought it was a snake that caused man’s downfall.” It’s not clear whether or not Nelson typed the message, but the email shows him forwarding it to four female co-workers in the food services department.

The email originally appeared on a blog [1] authored by local social activist Genma Holmes.

At-large Metro Councilman Jerry Maynard, president of the council’s Minority Caucus, said the caucus is investigating the matter.

“It’s premature,” Maynard said. “I got the call. I’ve made calls. We’re trying to find out what happened. I’m trying to get copies of the emails themselves, so I can present it before the caucus.”

According to MNPS, the matter was reported to Employee Relations this morning.

The MNPS Employee Technology Acceptable Use policy strictly prohibits the dissemination of chain letters via email and the transmission of any “defamatory, abusive, obscene, pornographic, profane, sexually oriented, racially offensive, or otherwise biased, discriminatory or illegal materials.”