Parents Sue School Over Teacher's Remarks

The State (SC) ^ | 11/18/02 | Chuck Crumbo

[asformeandformyhouse]

but parents allowing this incident to get them so upset just teaches the child to be oversensitive.

Exactly. And what's ridiculous is that he's being taught to be sensitive concerning something that he has no control over, his race, rather than that which he can contol. It's going to be far more important how this young man lives his life than what color he was when he was brought into this life. The fact that my son is a different color than my other children has never even entered into their minds as being important. How he grows and develops in his life, is important.

[mil-vet]

Another amusing example of idiot over-sensitivity! Thanks for the post.

As I recall, it was a political appointee (in Wash., DC?) who used "niggardly", AND used it properly, but was forced to resign because of the woefully deficient vocabulary of idiot overly-sensitive anal openings.

I liked the story of the overly-sensitive idiot who tried to get his white coach in trouble when, during high school football practice, the coach told him to get his "black a$$" back on the line of scrimmage to correct an egregious error in blocking technique. The principle the kid complained to, also a black, asked the kid if he were black. The kid said yes. the principle asked him if that included his posterior. The kid answered, "yes." The principle then told the kid the coach was correct in his assessment of the kid's hind quarters and told him to get his black a$$ back to football practice! I loved it!

Bottom line: There was no ill intent, so these parents are real jerks! By their laughable, idiot over-reaction they've done FAR more harm to the kid than the teacher EVER did, even if the teacher was trying to be demeaning!

[MHGinTN]

He </I>could</I> ... I haven't made up my mind as to the nature/nurture question yet. [Often might have been better as occasionally, but that still is far from always.] LOL

[nanny]

[Calling an African-American person a "Negroid" is vastly different than using the word "niggardly" in a non-racial setting. One is a disgustingly racist epithet used by the decidedly less-ejumacated. The other is a questionable-sounding adjective used by decent, well-meaning folk. I think the parents are right to sue, if the events happened as is alleged. The primary issue here is racial insensitivity and violation of civil rights, but the bigger, more underlying question is: what the hell is this ignorant buffoon doing teaching?? /rant ]

Well, back in the 'unenlightened' days, we studied the races that way. Now, we have to have the government and lots of people educated beyond their intelligence to tell us we can no longer use those words, they hurt someone feelings. Horsefeathers!! It is just a way to attempt to control not only the speech of Americans but their very thoughts. Anyone who buys into the racist, bigot screed is just aiding and abetting the people who would like to keep us divided.

Had the teacher done anything in the past to that child? I doubt it. But you know in this society - words matter more than anything else. It doesn't matter what a person feels or how he acts, if only he says the right things.

Just get over it!! If that is the worse that child has to live with in his lifetime, he will be lucky indeed.

[cynicom]

Lurker....

The French and southern rednecks are open season, fair game for all. No one cares. Here I am , a French southern redneck. Wahhhhhhhh

[Kev-Head]

Us Irish been gettin bashed since our ancestors arrived in this country. It dont bother me, the Pat & Mike jokes are halarious. (My Dad even used an Irish acent to tell them to us kids).

[billbears]

bump

[Pushi]

I am proud of my race--whatever it is. I am an ethnic mixture. Why is anyone ashamed of who he/she is? I don't understand.

[PleaseNoMore]

What am I?

Paternal ethnicity is Italian / Jewish. Maternal ethnicity is German / English.

I agree, I consider myself to be just an American.

[FreeTally]

If his friends since kindergarten didn't come to the party because of the use of that word, they must not have been very good friends.

I think you misread the story. The kids didn't come because his parents are suing the school over nothing.

[nanny]

[This is 2002, not 1952. We musn't mistake racism and/or ignorance for historical etymological reverence. If that makes sense.]

Are you saying that the remark was racist and we cannot allow it to be cloaked in etymological reverence ?

I would say we cannot afford to allow certain groups to malign very good words of the English language in order to police our speech and thoughts. It is too dangerous and it needs to be confronted at each and every turn, and needs to shown to be as ludicrous and frightening as it really is.

[spintreebob]

ask me to fill a form out (voluntarily, right??) stating my race

The school had my daughter fill out a form with those standard questions. She put that she was 1/2 and 1/2. The teacher, and then the administration told her she had to select one or the other. She couldn't be both. Not wanting to reject either my wife, nor me, she got very stubborn. It escalated.

My wife and I were called to the school. They explained to me that they hoped I would understand that they would prefer if my daughter took her mother's side because that would put her in a special category for which they could get special money. And they needed every person possible to meet a certain threshold at which they would get a higher percentage of money for not just my daughter, but all the kids. So it would be my fault if the other kids got a substandard education.

[ladyjane]

Home school!

[panther33]

Remember the recent fuss in a Florida school over a teacher who used the word "niggardly"?

FWIW, I think this is an entirely different matter. When I first heard the word, I immediately categorized it as a likely racial epithet. It doesn't sound like a nice thing to say, and certainly not appropriate inside a Catholic classroom. While the word may have been part of an outdated textbook, singling out a student because of his mixed racial identity is extremely inappropriate.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Thanks for the ping.

Bouncing to my wife to see if she wants to comment...

[Havoc]

Oh brother is this ever lame. Someone should sue these people for stupidity. At worse the teacher may have been inaccurate if that is what was said. If facts are offensive then this kid has problems this teacher has nothing whatever to do with.

[mafree]

Negroid never bothered me and I know my folks would have raised holy hell if it did. The Hurshmanns need to find another battle.

[jocon307]

"If this 'theorey' is so wrong, and people may be sued for using this classification; why do companies ask me to fill a form out (voluntarily, right??) stating my race as being either Caucasian, Asian, Black, Hispanic or Other?

Besides, wasn't the teacher demonstrating a FACT? Saying that Mary appears Asian, Jeff looks Caucasian, Jamahl may be Arabic and Ken is likely Negroid is not an insult. It's observable fact."

YES, YES, and another big YES. But I must say, I think if what actually happened in the classroom was closer to your description this wouldn't have been such a problem. I'm sure the teacher was just trying to be effective, but maybe ended up being inept. If the kid was really singled out, I can see why his feelings were hurt. Remember how one hated that as a kid? I sure do. I'd think if the one parent has a master's degree they'd be smart enough to know this is not an insulting word and should have just told the kid to keep a stiff upper lip, if that's the worst thing that ever happens to you, etc. etc. I really think sometimes that the adults are the big babies today. OTOH, I have BIG arguments all the time with a liberal friend of mine who continues to insist that "negro" is an insulting word also. Even tho' this friend has advanced knowledge of spanish (not a native speaker), and therefore comprendes muy bien that negro=black.

PS - those companies, who want you to fill out those insulting, and dare I say it, denigrating (hah! this word would be in big trouble too, but the ignoramuses don't know this word - this is a good $7.00 word!) forms...you should definately sue them! Class action action!