[alisasny]

"One mother was offended because she took that word to mean something it didn't mean," he said. "Ms. Bell apologized. That was sufficient."

Why apologize for that mother's ignorance. I hope a good lawyer picks up the teacher's cause.

[SouthernFreebird]

WTF? why is she apologizing to some ignorant who can't even look up a word in the dictionary.

[Maedhros]

IIRC there was a radio personality in DC who was fired for using "niggardly" on air a few years ago.

*absolute insanity*

[Tailgunner Joe]

It's not good enough to teach the kids ebonics, we have to make sure they don't learn english.

[giznort]

Political correctness run amuck. Grammatically challenged people offended because it SOUNDS like another word? Let's change the English language because something SOUNDS like an offensive word.

Teacher loses job because of parental stupidity. Maybe the offended mother should take an 'english as a second language' course. Dumb ditch.

[goodieD]

apparently 4th graders aren't the only ones who can't distinguish between the two words... by calling undue attention to words that even SOUND like the dreaded "N" word, you are making people think of it more. Perhaps if the blacks stopped using it amongst themselves, and let it die a natural death, it might just go away. Oh, I'm sorry, they don't WANT it to go away... we have to keep being reminded of racism in order to keep it alive.

[strela]

"... and the Fool Killer lowers his club and sadly walks away with his head bowed. For there are simply too many targets for him to choose from."

Let's eliminate the word "spigot" as well - its pretty darned close to a slur describing Hispanics. "Spade" and "donkey" simply have to go as well.

Thanks for posting this - my blood pressure wasn't high enough until I read your post. I'll continue to use "moron," "idiocy," and "nanny-state busybody" to describe these twits, however.

[badfreeper]

Seeing as how the word "niggard" evolved centuries ago in Scandinavia, it's a safe bet that whoever coined the term probably had never even seen a black person.

[Texas_Jarhead]

well dangit then let's get rid of donkey too!

[rdb3]

Again?

[mountaineer]

This has inspired me to do a little experiment. I'm a newspaper writer. My plan is to use the word "niggardly" in an upcoming story (in its proper context, of course), and see how many people complain.

[rdb3]

Although the word means stingy, Akwana Walker said it was inappropriate to use it because it sounds similar to a racial slur. She said she doesn't think fourth-graders can distinguish between the two words.

Ummm, I think that's why they go to school. To learn, or something like that.

I could be wrong.

[Gumlegs]

Parents try to fire teacher for assigning "niggardly" as a vocabulary word

Oh, brother.

[alisasny]

Even Julian Bond, the NAACP chairman, found Howard’s resignation ridiculous. Bond said, "Seems to me the mayor has been niggardly in his judgment on this issue. You hate to think you have to censor your language to meet other people’s lack of understanding."

Even Bond understands the word showing that these offended parents are even beyond ignorant.

[MissAmericanPie]

This is so rediculous, now vocabulary words must be P.C.?

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Naturally this happens all the time in schools. And yes, there's a lot of ignorant parents out there, just like this one.

[proxy_user]

Oops! There goes "fucus" and "cunctation"! Try those in the fourth grade...

[lexington minuteman 1775]

"Ungenerously small or scanty"Sounds like pretty much sums up the argument of the lady that wants the teacher fired so I guess that makes her niggardly.

[fjsva]

Shirt sounds like sh....

Better go wash my mouth out with soap.

[bankwalker]

Hey! Teacher! Leave those kids alone....

All in all you're just another brick in the wall.