Philadelphia Inquirer
by Tricia L. Nadolny
Aug 29, 2014
The head of the Department of Veterans Affairs has ordered a system-wide review of its training programs after a guide comparing veterans to Oscar the Grouch was used at the Philadelphia VA benefits office.
Secretary Robert McDonald apologized for the slideshow training guide and said its use has been discontinued. Unlike Diana Rubens, the director of the Philadelphia office, McDonald did not defend the materials as comparing employees, rather than veterans, to the cranky Sesame Street character who lives in a trash can.
"We apologize for the use of Oscar the Grouch in the presentation used to train employees at the Philadelphia Regional Benefits Office," McDonald said in a statement.
He said the "comparison is clearly contrary" to the VA's mission and the "kind of open culture we want in the new VA."
The training guide, reported by The Inquirer on Wednesday, was titled "What to Say to Oscar the Grouch -- Dealing With Veterans During Town Hall Claims Clinics." About a dozen of the 18 slides include pictures of the misanthropic Muppet in the can he calls home. In one, a sign reading "CRANKY" hangs from the rim.
In another, Oscar's face is flanked by the words "100% GROUCHY, DEAL WITH IT."
read more here
VA Training for "Grouchy" Veterans Using Oscar the Grouch?
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