[missycocopuffs]

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

You recall correctly; I remember the incident. (Was the personality ever brought back? I don't recall the fallout.)

IMHO, this teacher should be praised for trying to teach public school 4th graders fairly sophisticated (for 4th grade) words. I remember trying the same thing on college-bound 11th and 12th graders when I taught high school years ago; the kids asked me what I was smoking.

[The Person]

Yes, the Washington budget director was rehired within days of his firing when the Washington Post and NY Times criticized his "firing" as idiotic.