HOS Dressed as Pharaoh for Super Hero Promo video during the month of Passover... wtf?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't comment specifically on the Civil War costume post that's been removed. However this teacher's lessons routinely include dressing as abolitionist Sarah Grimké with students donning her costume as well. Sarah Grimké and her sister devoted their lives to ending slavery and make appropriate and interesting subjects for students. Could this be a case of an incomplete photo caption failing to explain the sensitivity, respect, and inclusion present in the actual lesson? Probably. Was it ill-advised to post such a picture of students despite parents having signed waivers? Probably. Should the school provide a response to this event, particularly regarding the removed post(s)? Yes and as a Congressional parent, I've added my voice to those asking for this. I suspect they saw the vitriol here and removed the post quickly to protect students, something any parent would want. Give them a minute to craft a thoughtful reply that doesn't create more harm. Personally, I will presume good intentions, allow time for accountability, and delay any outrage.

+1 I am sure the teacher feels awful and terrified for trying to construct an engaging lesson. I have been there, all teachers have, where a parent "questions" a lesson. OK. It is usually addressed internally with an explanation between the parties involved, understanding, or reflection and a change going forward. I agree that being pilloried by total strangers for something they have no context for is really cruel to someone who sounds like an outstanding educator. What most educators devolve to after a couple of experiences like this is giving students lists of dates to memorize. Scrub the dioramas, scrub the monologues, scrub the reader's theater and poster projects. And scrub the dates for any the woke police might find offensive (4th of July? Western Settlement? etc.) You all are going full circle to learning 1910's style with a woke cherry on top. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Maybe this school needs more creative and sensitive approaches to teaching about painful topics in history? There is such potential for inflicting trauma on POC in the way we go about teaching slavery, Holocaust, Japanese internment... maybe save the skits and fun and revelry for the many more innocuous topics.

[Anonymous]

Can we just get collective agreement here that “Pharaoh” is not the name of one guy who persecuted Jews? It’s literally a title, like King or Czar. There were hundreds of them. It is beyond a stretch to say that dressing up as an Egyptian monarch is the same as a Nazi.

[Anonymous]

So I think there is some room to disagree:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2012/04/18/hitler-pharaoh-and-anti-semitic-culture-victimhood-victims-who-persecute/Hph5XM6IfgWN7VkObPAasI/story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe this school needs more creative and sensitive approaches to teaching about painful topics in history? There is such potential for inflicting trauma on POC in the way we go about teaching slavery, Holocaust, Japanese internment... maybe save the skits and fun and revelry for the many more innocuous topics.

Sure, but there really is no super bright line--and you end up wondering what doesn't trivialize a topic once you apply the fun metric. What is the difference between fun vs. engaging teaching (always the goal)? A thesis could no doubt be written on it. If you don't want schools to be completely whittled down, you need to allow some flexibility and a common sense clause to apply. Maybe this failed the common sense clause, maybe it didn't - context is needed to delve into that one. Regardless, no one needs to be flagellated or deliver public , Cultural Revolution style apologies to the community and world at large for a mild dress up scenario --whether Pharaohs or Civil War costumes. If it's been pulled they no doubt are reflecting on it and likely won't repeat it. Curriculum is a living thing, if it's good curriculum. Or you can, you know, just give kids workbooks.

[Anonymous]

Mt. Vernon was owned by slaveholders. Should we not have field trips and events, like the winter cocoa tour (fun!) there? Should other similar sites not host weddings and garden parties? All of these place are wonderful museums that document all the sides of history in nuanced ways. Events and visits fund that educational mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we just get collective agreement here that “Pharaoh” is not the name of one guy who persecuted Jews? It’s literally a title, like King or Czar. There were hundreds of them. It is beyond a stretch to say that dressing up as an Egyptian monarch is the same as a Nazi.

I think that it is a bit disagreeable to tell an AA male that they can't find their super-hero in ancient Egyptian rulers. While the pharaohs weren't exactly black Africans, and no doubt enslaved quite a few, Egypt is technically on the continent of Africa. Who am I to question your hero, especially one that is pretty much a pop figure in today's world. I am guessing he was just "a pharaoh", no name tag with Ramses, Tut etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think that it is a bit disagreeable to tell an AA male that they can't find their super-hero in ancient Egyptian rulers. While the pharaohs weren't exactly black Africans, and no doubt enslaved quite a few, Egypt is technically on the continent of Africa. Who am I to question your hero, especially one that is pretty much a pop figure in today's world. I am guessing he was just "a pharaoh", no name tag with Ramses, Tut etc.

Right? And I can't say that the HOS doesn't have Egyptian heritage, which would rule out concerns of cultural appropriation. The music teacher had a treble clef as part of her costume, so I just assumed the video participants chose alter-ego heroes based on things that were personally meaningful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we just get collective agreement here that “Pharaoh” is not the name of one guy who persecuted Jews? It’s literally a title, like King or Czar. There were hundreds of them. It is beyond a stretch to say that dressing up as an Egyptian monarch is the same as a Nazi.

I think that it is a bit disagreeable to tell an AA male that they can't find their super-hero in ancient Egyptian rulers. While the pharaohs weren't exactly black Africans, and no doubt enslaved quite a few, Egypt is technically on the continent of Africa. Who am I to question your hero, especially one that is pretty much a pop figure in today's world. I am guessing he was just "a pharaoh", no name tag with Ramses, Tut etc.

A pharaoh is not a superhero.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think that it is a bit disagreeable to tell an AA male that they can't find their super-hero in ancient Egyptian rulers. While the pharaohs weren't exactly black Africans, and no doubt enslaved quite a few, Egypt is technically on the continent of Africa. Who am I to question your hero, especially one that is pretty much a pop figure in today's world. I am guessing he was just "a pharaoh", no name tag with Ramses, Tut etc.

Right? And I can't say that the HOS doesn't have Egyptian heritage, which would rule out concerns of cultural appropriation. The music teacher had a treble clef as part of her costume, so I just assumed the video participants chose alter-ego heroes based on things that were personally meaningful.

It is not cultural appropriation to wear an Egyptian costume. Appropriation or being offensive is when someone is denigrating or profiting off another person’s culture. Egyptian culture belongs to all humanity as it was one of the first great civilizations.

As someone of Egyptian heritage, I think it is sad that Jewish people see symbols of my ancestors as symbols of hatred towards them. Partly this is because for much of Egyptian history Egypt had a large and indigenous Jewish population who had been in the country since ancient times and are just as much a part of the fabric of the country’s history as any other group. Anyone who has read the Bible can see that Egyptian history and Jewish history are far more intertwined than the events of the Passover story suggest.

[Anonymous]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/teen-and-mother-sue-northern-virginia-private-academy-over-handling-of-alleged-attack/2019/04/22/a335dd1a-6061-11e9-bfad-36a7eb36cb60_story.html

Sounds like in general there is a school culture problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think that it is a bit disagreeable to tell an AA male that they can't find their super-hero in ancient Egyptian rulers. While the pharaohs weren't exactly black Africans, and no doubt enslaved quite a few, Egypt is technically on the continent of Africa. Who am I to question your hero, especially one that is pretty much a pop figure in today's world. I am guessing he was just "a pharaoh", no name tag with Ramses, Tut etc.

Right? And I can't say that the HOS doesn't have Egyptian heritage, which would rule out concerns of cultural appropriation. The music teacher had a treble clef as part of her costume, so I just assumed the video participants chose alter-ego heroes based on things that were personally meaningful.

It is not cultural appropriation to wear an Egyptian costume. Appropriation or being offensive is when someone is denigrating or profiting off another person’s culture. Egyptian culture belongs to all humanity as it was one of the first great civilizations.

As someone of Egyptian heritage, I think it is sad that Jewish people see symbols of my ancestors as symbols of hatred towards them. Partly this is because for much of Egyptian history Egypt had a large and indigenous Jewish population who had been in the country since ancient times and are just as much a part of the fabric of the country’s history as any other group. Anyone who has read the Bible can see that Egyptian history and Jewish history are far more intertwined than the events of the Passover story suggest.

Thank you !

[Anonymous]

So is it common at private schools that teachers post pictures of their students on the teacher’s personal social media site? We’re starting K next year at a small Catholic school and I know there’s a waiver to sign about allowing the school to use your child’s image on the school’s website or promotional materials, but nothing that would give a permission teacher to post pictures to their own Twitter, FB or IG. Seems like Congressional parents follow this teacher on Twitter so maybe that’s just the way things work there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry but are you suggesting to make a valid point one most be morally spotless in doing so? One does not necessarily negate the other. You just want it to so you can bury the lead.

It's bury the lede, and I don't think it's the point you're trying to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So is it common at private schools that teachers post pictures of their students on the teacher’s personal social media site? We’re starting K next year at a small Catholic school and I know there’s a waiver to sign about allowing the school to use your child’s image on the school’s website or promotional materials, but nothing that would give a permission teacher to post pictures to their own Twitter, FB or IG. Seems like Congressional parents follow this teacher on Twitter so maybe that’s just the way things work there.

I wouldn't say it's common and the school may need to revisit its social media policy, or perhaps this was a violation. A simple reminder would suffice.