How should a history teacher handle the "N" word?

[colton]

I guess he could be lying but he said he showed the PG version of the movie.

I didn't realize there was a PG version of the movie. I'd actually be quite surprised if the n-word was allowed in the PG version, but I could be wrong. One of the parents was quoted in the article as saying "Frye believes her son was shown the R-rated version." That's what I was assuming when I wrote my reply.

I stand by my initial opinion that an 8th grade teacher shouldn't be showing movies with the n-word in them. Or s-word, or f-word, for that matter. But clearly the right thing to do, if the teacher felt he just HAD to show the movie, would have been to send a permission slip home explaining that the movie would be shown, the historical context of the word as used in the movie, why the movie is important for the class goals, and requiring a parental signature for permission. And obviously allowing students an alternate activity if their parents disapproved.

 

[colton]

How about classic literature like Huck Finn? Gone With The Wind? Uncle Tom's Cabin? To kill a mockingbird? Of Mice and Men? Grapes of Wrath? From Here to Eternity? At what age do you "allow" school aged children to read these or do you ban them outright?

There's a HUGE difference between allowing students to read something, and REQUIRING them to read something. Those were all in my school library. Huck Finn was REQUIRED, and contains the n-word. It was not required of 8th graders, it was required of 11th or 12th graders (can't recall which). Our teacher told us why he was requiring it, and warned us that the n-word was used, much like it sounds like this junior high teacher did. The difference is age and maturity of the students, 8th graders compared to 11th or 12th graders.

Jumping from my opinion that a movie with the n-word not be REQUIRED of 8th graders, to a suggestion that I'm in favor of banning all books for all students, is despicable.

 

[colton]

Well that is your opinion. I do not know where you are from but I grew up in Utah and Glory was a standard in 8th or 9th grade jr high history. We was all sent home w a permission slip for mommy and daddy to sign.

I'm OK with that. But that doesn't seem to have been the case here.

Pretty sure that movie was a big reason I did not become more racist like most Utahans were in the 70's 80's and 90's.

I get what you are saying. I read the book To Kill a Mockingbird when I was probably around 8 years old. It was on our bookshelf and I just picked it up looking for a book to read. I absolutely loved the book and probably re-read it another 5-6 times before I was 18 years old. It played a huge role in forming my opinions of how people of all races should be treated.

 

[jimmy eat jazz]

https://www.sltrib.com/home/3855962-155/official-south-ogden-teacher-violated-policy

The N word is becoming kind of the new F word in terms of its use in polite society.

It isn't, however, like the F word. The N word has very important historical context and can and should be used to teach students about how language is one of the many tools of oppression. In contrast, the F work has no instructional value. So, while the latter should be barred from any classroom discussion, the former has useful pedagogical value, and I think its suppression goes overboard at times (kind of like the city employee who got canned for using the word 'niggardly' even though it has absolutely no connection with the N word.

However, like the F word, I'd advise any teacher in any context to avoid its use. It's potential for getting you in trouble far outweighs any instructional value it might have.

 

[Scat]

There's a HUGE difference between allowing students to read something, and REQUIRING them to read something. Those were all in my school library. Huck Finn was REQUIRED, and contains the n-word. It was not required of 8th graders, it was required of 11th or 12th graders (can't recall which). Our teacher told us why he was requiring it, and warned us that the n-word was used, much like it sounds like this junior high teacher did. The difference is age and maturity of the students, 8th graders compared to 11th or 12th graders.

Jumping from my opinion that a movie with the n-word not be REQUIRED of 8th graders, to a suggestion that I'm in favor of banning all books for all students, is despicable.

 

[Deleted member 848]

Well, I think HOME is the best environment for that, but I think school is ALSO a good environment.

if you want more consistency and efficacy across a population of >300 million, it's foolish to leave it solely at the hands of parents. Not everyone's father has a PhD & I doubt you have access to the opinions and resources that an educational system would have after consulting the right studies and professionals who are educated in the matter. When's the last time you spoke to a black intellectual and asked him how to teach your children about the n-word? Could you disseminate it better? Perhaps. But not all could.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

*****

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[colton]

if you want more consistency and efficacy across a population of >300 million, it's foolish to leave it solely at the hands of parents.

Me, too. Note that I didn't say solely the parents anywhere in my post.

 

[JazzGal]

This is my junior high school. Yay!

I love the movie "Glory" but I agree with Colton that junior high school students are likely too young to be shown this movie at school. It seems the teacher was trying to be responsible about it, though, using the word in explanation. The teacher hopefully learns that parental permission should have been obtained. I do not believe he should lose his job over this.

On the news last night, the mother claimed that her son now feels unsafe at school. I'll admit that this may be my white privilege showing, but I have a hard time understanding that viewpoint. No one was using the word in a derogatory fashion, and certainly they were not directing the word at him. If anything, the movie would be likely to create more sympathy and understanding toward a black student. Once again, I have no idea what it is like to be a black American, but I wonder if the reaction is a little extreme.

This movie was the beginning of my love for Denzel Washington. Oh my!

 

[Boris]

I'm OK with that. But that doesn't seem to have been the case here.



I get what you are saying. I read the book To Kill a Mockingbird when I was probably around 8 years old. It was on our bookshelf and I just picked it up looking for a book to read. I absolutely loved the book and probably re-read it another 5-6 times before I was 18 years old. It played a huge role in forming my opinions of how people of all races should be treated.

We are comoletely on the same page. Have kids take home a very well scripted informative letter for parents to agree to. If this teacher did not do this he should be fired. If he did and the patent was negligent then she should be fired.

 

[Boris]

Just kidding. Do not fire for first instance just warn.

 

[jimmy eat jazz]

This is my junior high school. Yay!

I love the movie "Glory" but I agree with Colton that junior high school students are likely too young to be shown this movie at school. It seems the teacher was trying to be responsible about it, though, using the word in explanation. The teacher hopefully learns that parental permission should have been obtained. I do not believe he should lose his job over this.

On the news last night, the mother claimed that her son now feels unsafe at school. I'll admit that this may be my white privilege showing, but I have a hard time understanding that viewpoint. No one was using the word in a derogatory fashion, and certainly they were not directing the word at him. If anything, the movie would be likely to create more sympathy and understanding toward a black student. Once again, I have no idea what it is like to be a black American, but I wonder if the reaction is a little extreme.

This movie was the beginning of my love for Denzel Washington. Oh my!

The terms 'unsafe' and 'safe space' are now used so ubiquitously that, while I understand the purpose behind them, I think they are now being used to silence opposition speech. While I do believe that institutions need to try in good faith to create school/work/social environments that are not overtly hostile to certain social groups, part of being a grown up is learning how to navigate successfully in situations that are not, per se, 'safe.' As with other cases, I'm not sure where the line is between legitimate concern and political correctness, I do believe this line is crossed with frequency, which only serve to delegitimize cases where there are actual inappropriate hostile environments. I don't see that anyone has a right to being 'safe' all the time. Sometimes you just need to grow up, but sometimes also the people are just arseholes who seek to discomfit people intentionally and inappropriately.