APS black student singled out to play cotton picking game

[Anonymous]

So many racists jump on this board every time something egregiously racist is posted. I hope that kid finds a better learning environment soon. You all get a kick out of these little acts of racism you commit without realizing how deep of a wound you inflict and how long those kids will carry it with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many racists jump on this board every time something egregiously racist is posted. I hope that kid finds a better learning environment soon. You all get a kick out of these little acts of racism you commit without realizing how deep of a wound you inflict and how long those kids will carry it with them.

Please explain how this game was in any way racist. Did you actually read the article?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a nothing burger.

+100 it was a game that involved cotton balls not "picking cotton." Blowing up over something silly will just make people less likely to take you seriously when there are real issues.

This. Also, it was a game provided by the school, and every class was doing it as a team building activity. The real problem was arguing with the kiddo when he said he was offended or didn’t want to participate, but I also don’t think that a long-term substitute can be expected to understand the ramifications.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t sound like a “cotton picking” game from the description

[Anonymous]

The NAACP and the mom need something else to focus on

[Anonymous]

My kids go to Gunston and on all the half day Wednesdays they play these kinds of games instead of teaching the kids anything academic. I wish the NAACP would get upset about that. A lot of these kids are way behind due to a variety of factors including COVID. I realize the half days are tough but there has to be something more constructive the school could be doing.

[Anonymous]

Shame on WJLA for running this “story”—it is just turd stirring. There are legitimate issues related to race that need to be discussed, and things like this are silly distractions.

How many kids crafts and activities have cotton in them? Tons. Are they all cotton picking activities now? As a parent of a Black student, I never would have made the leap to conclude that this activity was racist. I might have been annoyed that they were doing it in French class, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The NAACP and the mom need something else to focus on

The NAACP sees this as another Madisons Trust in Loudoun County, and an opportunity to push for an equity agenda.
At Madison's Trust they had a 'anti-racist' exercise, that was then declared racist and was used as an excuse to push the School Board.

[Anonymous]

What did the sub do or say the next day that was offensive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to Gunston and on all the half day Wednesdays they play these kinds of games instead of teaching the kids anything academic. I wish the NAACP would get upset about that. A lot of these kids are way behind due to a variety of factors including COVID. I realize the half days are tough but there has to be something more constructive the school could be doing.

This would be my take as well. These games are stupid, there was not “picking cotton” from the description, but a young teen/tween was forced to participate in moving a cotton ball, when he was embarrassed about it and didn’t really want to. And for what?

I can’t even believe they waste every half day with this nonsense, and this wasn’t even a one time thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a nothing burger.

+100 it was a game that involved cotton balls not "picking cotton." Blowing up over something silly will just make people less likely to take you seriously when there are real issues.

I have to agree with this here. A weird game, yes. Intentionally choosing a racist game and targeting a black child in class? No. A brief search on the internet tells me the game is called Nose Dive and is taken from the Minute to Win It Television game show.

https://www.workrfun.com/activities/300-Nose-Dive-Minute-to-Win-It-Game/

It sounds like the substitute teacher's response was inappropriate after the fact, but let's face it-- we aren't getting the best and brightest to sub at Gunston Middle School for the pennies they are paid and disrespect from students.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a nothing burger.

+100 it was a game that involved cotton balls not "picking cotton." Blowing up over something silly will just make people less likely to take you seriously when there are real issues.

I have to agree with this here. A weird game, yes. Intentionally choosing a racist game and targeting a black child in class? No. A brief search on the internet tells me the game is called Nose Dive and is taken from the Minute to Win It Television game show.

https://www.workrfun.com/activities/300-Nose-Dive-Minute-to-Win-It-Game/

It sounds like the substitute teacher's response was inappropriate after the fact, but let's face it-- we aren't getting the best and brightest to sub at Gunston Middle School for the pennies they are paid and disrespect from students.

I agree. And what is really sad is there a parent on AEM whose child is being bullied because kids copied this silly “cancel culture” that adults are creating and perpetuating.

Also I wonder prior to this game how often the parent who complained engaged in any meaningful way in her child’s education either at home or at school. Because if she really had been paying attention and was engaged she would know there is a laundry list of real actual issues related to the piss poor academics that she could be complaining about. But meh that’s education stuff so why worry about that ….

[Anonymous]

I am a AA APS parent and this seemed a bit blown out of portion to me too. Also, I should add I grew up in South Carolina so I think if anyone would be offended it would be me. I may have felt it was not an appropriate game to begin with, and advise the APS administration of the matter and then would have told my child they have a right to decline partipation any school activities that make them uncomfortable going forward. I think this was a case of bad choice in activity no different than the cotton planting activity at Campbell elementary a few years back, and it was buried quickly.

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/05/16/planting-of-cotton-at-arlington-elementary-school-prompts-discussion/

[Anonymous]

A similar story in our district outside of DMV. A black student volunteered to play the role of a slave in a school wide play. It was later blown up by his parent and escalated to the district level and later used to try and shut the charter school down (very popular school but an eyesore for the district leadership because competition).
i bet there is more to the story here as well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did the sub do or say the next day that was offensive?

Per the parent, “Rousey said he faced immediate backlash from the substitute teacher after his mother talked with her.

"She shut the door and she started, I would say, attacking me, saying, 'Am I a racist?'" Rousey said.

Kirkland continued: "She asked him in front of the class, 'Sidney, am I a racist?'"