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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I think you could make an argument that god like or super human powers were often ascribed to them in their societies, certainly to fictional pharaohs.

[Anonymous]

So who is brave enough to post the email that was sent out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So who is brave enough to post the email that was sent out?

Yes, please! I'm pretty invested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Agree that the school should revisit it’s social media policy. The school retweets the 5th grade Civil War teacher’s posts so they are obviously ok with her posting pics and videos of students on her personal Twitter (which links to her FB site and a YouTube page in her name). I personally am of the belief that a teacher should never post pictures of students to their personal social media page.

[Anonymous]

I am appalled by such a bunch of joyless, judgmental and thin-skinned posters with a disproportionate and selective sense of their own morality at a time a time of genuine suffering and need throughout this country, particularly amongst minority groups.

History is rife with oppression, subjugation and punishment based on race, religion and socioeconomic status. We can't change that but it is important we understand the past and how this affects the present. If you are going to judge everything by today's standards then at least be consistent. If you're going to ban pharoahs, then ban Roman emperors (they persecuted the Christians), Ancient Greeks (kept slaves), and definitely don't plan a vacation in Europe where you can marvel at the beautiful architecture and monuments built on the backs of empires and exploitation.

My greatest sympathies go out to people who have and continue to suffer from real disadvantage. Those people who just want to dissect history and inconsistently perceive it through today's moral frameworks, you need to check your own hypocrisy and tunnel vision, especially at a time when so many people are suffering so badly in this country and around the world. 75% of the people who have died from covid in DC are black and yet, over here in the private school forum, we have the morality police scrutinising the costume of a hapless HOS as though it's their business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another Congressional Family here: We are proud of our Head of School and he would never knowingly offend anyone. I am pretty sure I know who the original poster is and this person has an axe to grind against the school....we get it, you're angry. We'll all look forward to your next post.

This

Yikes. You all sound like a really welcoming school. With parents like these, who needs people with axes to grind. This post, and the one who says lay off because it’s just a fundraiser speak to the culture at the school. Also... quick question: if the fundraiser is for the teachers, I assume the fundraising will go directly to year end bonuses?

Sure it is, but do you really think anti-Semite when you see someone in a pharaoh costume? Does the old King Tut speech trigger you? It’s not like seeing someone dressed as a Nazi? I remember dressing as Haman one year for the Hebrew school Purim celebration. As usual, DCUM needs to get a grip. The school is doing a fine job on diversity, equity and inclusion. They are welcoming and instructive. If you are not part of the community and you are basing your view on isolated events taken out of context and spun out of all reasonableness posts on DCUM, you are missing out. I’ve not once felt out of place there as a Jewish parent nor have my children as Jew-ish (mixed) students. Why not take a step back and look at yourselves before casting aspersions at others - especially the non-Jews here who are spending entirely too much time and effort telling us how we should be offended. Maybe do something useful to combat the many, many instances of actual antisemitism.

I’m a prospective parent who was (as of the beginning of this week) interested in the school. I’m appalled by the school’s non response. I’m appalled by parents on this thread defending stupid actions.

[Anonymous]

We have a bunch of yentas on here. Oy vey!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am appalled by such a bunch of joyless, judgmental and thin-skinned posters with a disproportionate and selective sense of their own morality at a time a time of genuine suffering and need throughout this country, particularly amongst minority groups.

History is rife with oppression, subjugation and punishment based on race, religion and socioeconomic status. We can't change that but it is important we understand the past and how this affects the present. If you are going to judge everything by today's standards then at least be consistent. If you're going to ban pharoahs, then ban Roman emperors (they persecuted the Christians), Ancient Greeks (kept slaves), and definitely don't plan a vacation in Europe where you can marvel at the beautiful architecture and monuments built on the backs of empires and exploitation.

My greatest sympathies go out to people who have and continue to suffer from real disadvantage. Those people who just want to dissect history and inconsistently perceive it through today's moral frameworks, you need to check your own hypocrisy and tunnel vision, especially at a time when so many people are suffering so badly in this country and around the world. 75% of the people who have died from covid in DC are black and yet, over here in the private school forum, we have the morality police scrutinising the costume of a hapless HOS as though it's their business.

I’m less concerned about why the HOS thinks a pharaoh is a superhero as I am about the teacher putting girls in Old South dresses for a fun civil war photo shoot. Indeed I would suggest that actions like that deepen the suffering you are also concerned about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am appalled by such a bunch of joyless, judgmental and thin-skinned posters with a disproportionate and selective sense of their own morality at a time a time of genuine suffering and need throughout this country, particularly amongst minority groups.

History is rife with oppression, subjugation and punishment based on race, religion and socioeconomic status. We can't change that but it is important we understand the past and how this affects the present. If you are going to judge everything by today's standards then at least be consistent. If you're going to ban pharoahs, then ban Roman emperors (they persecuted the Christians), Ancient Greeks (kept slaves), and definitely don't plan a vacation in Europe where you can marvel at the beautiful architecture and monuments built on the backs of empires and exploitation.

My greatest sympathies go out to people who have and continue to suffer from real disadvantage. Those people who just want to dissect history and inconsistently perceive it through today's moral frameworks, you need to check your own hypocrisy and tunnel vision, especially at a time when so many people are suffering so badly in this country and around the world. 75% of the people who have died from covid in DC are black and yet, over here in the private school forum, we have the morality police scrutinising the costume of a hapless HOS as though it's their business.

Thank you for that! Thinking the same. DCUM posters don’t see the hypocrisy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am appalled by such a bunch of joyless, judgmental and thin-skinned posters with a disproportionate and selective sense of their own morality at a time a time of genuine suffering and need throughout this country, particularly amongst minority groups.

History is rife with oppression, subjugation and punishment based on race, religion and socioeconomic status. We can't change that but it is important we understand the past and how this affects the present. If you are going to judge everything by today's standards then at least be consistent. If you're going to ban pharoahs, then ban Roman emperors (they persecuted the Christians), Ancient Greeks (kept slaves), and definitely don't plan a vacation in Europe where you can marvel at the beautiful architecture and monuments built on the backs of empires and exploitation.

My greatest sympathies go out to people who have and continue to suffer from real disadvantage. Those people who just want to dissect history and inconsistently perceive it through today's moral frameworks, you need to check your own hypocrisy and tunnel vision, especially at a time when so many people are suffering so badly in this country and around the world. 75% of the people who have died from covid in DC are black and yet, over here in the private school forum, we have the morality police scrutinising the costume of a hapless HOS as though it's their business.

I’m less concerned about why the HOS thinks a pharaoh is a superhero as I am about the teacher putting girls in Old South dresses for a fun civil war photo shoot. Indeed I would suggest that actions like that deepen the suffering you are also concerned about.

Just because they looked “old south” to you does not mean they were. I suspect you’d be hard pressed to distinguish northern dresses from southern dresses of the period. In all likelihood children dressed up in some generic “old-timey” dress for an activity that was anything but an homage to plantation life. It does seem like some people responding have a particular axe to grind with the school.

[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.

[phone]

History can be taught without being celebrated or romanticized. A “fun Civil War photo shoot” is just WRONG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh god, lay off the teacher. We have zero context and are just zipping off "shallow optics", while claiming to want to foster a love of learning in children.
Otherwise, this silly thread is the gift that keeps on giving. "HOS dressed as Pharaoh.." made my day yesterday!

Have to imagine that kind of reenactment doesn’t instill a love of learning in kids who are not white. But yes, let’s not ask for accountability for poor judgment lest we make the school leadership uncomfortable.

This is so incredibly important. This is why ultimately school needs full public mea culpa. I think students of color and students from other minority groups (Jews, Muslims) need to feel seen and supported. And frankly whether OP has an axe to grind I really don’t know— but OP could not have possibly been responsible for 15 pages of thread with many many folks agreeing that at best this was insensitive or clueless. These are educators in 2021– no matter who is grinding what, I cannot imagine OP made teacher post civil war fun in slave owner dresses or vaguely offensive super hero Passover oppressor. And yes, any Jew that does not at least have some connection probably hasn’t been at a sedar in sometime... trust me it is hours of “we were slaves in Egypt”

Yes. Parents of white kids who say they don’t see how the civil war Old South dresses are deeply offensive are in the fortunate position of not having had to wrestle with the history of slavery and the reality of racism in our country. Shame on Congressional for not only allowing this activity but not seeing a need to apologize for it.

Are you a Congressional parent? Do you even know the context? I am not, but I am a teacher and the keyboard judginess without knowing the facts is annoying. Yes, all classroom activities should be done sensitively but we have no idea about this one. In my class, we used to do "Roman feasts" when studying ancient history, but I'm sure having kids dressed up in togas (or as pharaohs LOL) is out. I actually figured out a long time ago that most dress-up or skits or re-enactments are just...out. But guess who enjoys those? Kids do. Oh well, we know better.

I’m a prospective parent horrified at the thought of any teacher who would think a photo shoot on a horrible period of history would be fun in any way for non white kids.

[Anonymous]

Did the email from the school address the southern belle dresses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch of yentas on here. Oy vey!

Is there a reason you keep posting this in different ways?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a bunch of yentas on here. Oy vey!

Is there a reason you keep posting this in different ways?

Yes so you’ll stop clenching the stick up your butt