2 8th-graders suspended for telling a racist joke

The Worcester (MA) Telegram and Gazette (owned by New York Times) ^ | 6/1/02 | Reia

[pabianice]

SHREWSBURY (MA)-- Two Shrewsbury eighth-graders were suspended for two days yesterday for making a racist joke.

Shrewsbury Middle School Principal Maryjo Moon said she suspended the boys yesterday morning after investigating an incident that came to her attention Wednesday afternoon. She spoke with both pupils' parents, who she said were apologetic, and met with eighth-graders at the school to discuss the incident, she said.

“The motto for the Shrewsbury Middle School is 'Respect is our cornerstone,' ” she said. “They can't stand by and laugh at those kinds of things, think those kinds of things are funny... They shouldn't be bystanders... because that is not what we are about.”

She met with the eighth-graders during morning meeting, a Shrewsbury school tradition in which pupils, teachers and administrators can discuss issues. The meetings are part of the district's efforts to build a respectful community.

A teacher, who had heard about the joke being told in school, brought the matter to the attention of an assistant principal Wednesday afternoon, and a parent called Ms. Moon about the joke that afternoon. Yesterday morning, a student -- who was not one of those suspended -- came forward with more information, said Ms. Moon.

Ms. Moon said that racist incidents are rare but that she has suspended pupils in past years because of racial slurs. “It's not tolerated, period,” said Ms. Moon.

She said racist incidents did not surface as a major issue on a districtwide diversity survey. The three top diversity issues, according to the survey, were gender, socioeconomic status and special education, she said.

Superintendent of Schools Anthony J. Bent said that the incident was an example of how adolescents sometimes show bad judgment.

“Adolescent children, middle school-aged children, are developing young people, and they sometimes make bad judgments, so it may be an inappropriate racial joke one day, but in another day, it might be some other kind of thing, be it pushing another child or something like this,” he said. “In this particular case, a racial joke really cuts at our value system.”

He said that the district appreciates diversity and tries to instill that value in staff through professional development...

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[pabianice]

Another hypocrisy in The Peoples Republik of Massachusetts. Shrewsbury denies LTCs to law-abiding citizens because it doesn't like the Second Amendment. It suspends kids without a hearing because it doesn't like the First or Sixth Amendments. But it insists that all PC Rules be strictly adhered to.

[gitmo]

I wonder if the joke really was racist. They should have published the joke so people could judge for themselves. I hate it when new reports only tell part of the story and leave you wondering about many of the pertinent details.

[Malacoda]

"OK, so a Catholic priest and a Baptist minister go into a..."

Wait, that one is OK, because it makes fun of religious people. Unfrikkinbelievable.

[Terriergal]

They should have published the joke so people could judge for themselves.

That was my first thought...

[PetiteMericco]

"...adolescents sometimes show bad judgment."

That's almost as shocking news as men and women are different.

That said, why does this school system think it can make everyone's judgements for them?

[Paul Atreides]

One thing we know; the kids weren't telling jokes about whitey.

[PetiteMericco]

"They should have published the joke so people could judge for themselves.

Hm, given the atmosphere, it was probably about Arabs. The left these days seem to think that Arabs should be considered especially fragile and protected and are NOT to be offended or profiled!

[PetiteMericco]

LOL, no kidding. But that would have been OK if they were American Indians.

[IronJack]

So if I told the joke about the Polack tailor, I'd be expelled? Or does this law just protect The Chosen Races?

[Let's Roll]

The Thought Police in action. If that's how the game is going to be played, they need to remember that other groups can play it too. Is there anything more useless than government employees?

[markman46]

that had to have been one horrific joke! it make you wonder about just who is running the schools. and sense when do parents have to apologies to the school fot what the kids did.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

"so it may be an inappropriate racial joke one day, but in another day, it might be some other kind of thing, be it pushing another child or something like this,” he said."

What planet do these people live on?

So pushing each other is even "worse".

God help the kids if they ever start fighting.

[grania]

Suspending them is downright silly, unless it included a direct threat of violence or was used to frighten individuals directly, or was an ongoing and consistant problem.

Why not just give them an assignment to write an essay about the positive history and cultural aspects of that ethnic group?

[linn37]

13 posts and not one joke? I'm dissappointed.

[Boxsford]

Key words here, I believe, are this principal can dictate what her students can or cannot think!

Shrewsbury Middle School Principal Maryjo Moon said: “They can't stand by and laugh at those kinds of things, think those kinds of things are funny... They shouldn't be bystanders... because that is not what we are about.”

[calvin sun]

I agree. In fact, the story REALLY should read as follows: "...students were suspended for telling WHAT THE PRINCIPAL CONSIDERED TO BE a racist joke." When the paper calls it "racist" without this qualification, it is supporting the principal's point of view and is editorializing.

[THROW?]

The only reason we need to know the joke is out of curiosity. It doesn't matter what the joke was, the kids had a right to say it. The funny thing is they defeat their entire argument by calling it a joke.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

1 a : something said or done to provoke laughter; especially : a brief oral narrative with a climactic humorous twist b (1) : the humorous or ridiculous element in something (2) : an instance of jesting : KIDDING c : PRACTICAL JOKE d : LAUGHINGSTOCK

These parents should take their kids out of this school and let it and its teachers starve. Politically correctness will be the downfall of America. What happened to the good ol days when the CIA would just take these a-holes out. :)

[joesnuffy]

“In this particular case, a racial joke really cuts at our value system.”

And children must learn not to mess with our system