N word at Whitman

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would bet a million dollars that one would hear the N word a billion times more at a minority school like Blair or Einstein than at a school like Whitman. That said I don’t think the DCC parents could cover the bet.

This happened at Whitman. You're ignorant suppositions aren't relevant.

The first PP is right. And you're ignorant to think that PP's post isn't relevant.

The "N" word is kicked around among minorities b/c it's been co-opted into AA teen slang. We've had discussions around the word during our lunches, and its use was solidly supported by some of the younger AA teachers. On the flip side, the older AA teachers - females in particular, based on my observations - were still appalled at its use, as they were part of the Civil Rights Movement demanding change.

I would hear it many times in the hallway but prohibited its use in my classroom, as it made me feel uncomfortable as a white woman.

While its use is widespread, how I have witnessed it being used is very different from its use at Whitman, as its connotative meanings are clearly situational.

I don't have an answer; I'm just sharing my experiences as a former teacher in the DCC/NEC and the perspectives of some of my colleagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a different perspective. I think the principal was showing that he was taking the matter seriously and that such behavior would not be tolerated. Using offensive and demeaning language like this was a problem when my kid was at Pyle last year and I thought the principal there (Nardi) handled it terribly. Kids were running around heiling Hitler and calling people dirty Jews and using the N word and the F word willy nilly and no one did anything about it. It was depressing.

Whitman would really benefit from a desegregation plan.

[Anonymous]

In the meantime let’s get a kickass principal of color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the meantime let’s get a kickass principal of color.

Let's get a kick ass principal. If s/he is a POC, fine, but let's not make that the focus if there is a better qualified person who is not a POC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a different perspective. I think the principal was showing that he was taking the matter seriously and that such behavior would not be tolerated. Using offensive and demeaning language like this was a problem when my kid was at Pyle last year and I thought the principal there (Nardi) handled it terribly. Kids were running around heiling Hitler and calling people dirty Jews and using the N word and the F word willy nilly and no one did anything about it. It was depressing.

Whitman would really benefit from a desegregation plan.

That is nothing like I have ever heard my kids describe at the school. And in terms of desegregation, Jews are hardly lacking at Pyle/Whitman.

[Anonymous]

The kids have nothing to rely on but stereotypes because they've never met a black person. The stats say it's less than 5% black so it's somewhere between 0 and a small handful of kids. Their parents paid a lot for what they perceived as the privilege of this white school. So their parents shouldn't be surprised when the kids have 0 knowledge of black people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a different perspective. I think the principal was showing that he was taking the matter seriously and that such behavior would not be tolerated. Using offensive and demeaning language like this was a problem when my kid was at Pyle last year and I thought the principal there (Nardi) handled it terribly. Kids were running around heiling Hitler and calling people dirty Jews and using the N word and the F word willy nilly and no one did anything about it. It was depressing.

Whitman would really benefit from a desegregation plan.

That is nothing like I have ever heard my kids describe at the school. And in terms of desegregation, Jews are hardly lacking at Pyle/Whitman.

Ask Nardi to see the student climate survey they did. What the kids reported about every type of “ism” and bullying even shocked him. It’s BAD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a different perspective. I think the principal was showing that he was taking the matter seriously and that such behavior would not be tolerated. Using offensive and demeaning language like this was a problem when my kid was at Pyle last year and I thought the principal there (Nardi) handled it terribly. Kids were running around heiling Hitler and calling people dirty Jews and using the N word and the F word willy nilly and no one did anything about it. It was depressing.

Whitman would really benefit from a desegregation plan.

That is nothing like I have ever heard my kids describe at the school. And in terms of desegregation, Jews are hardly lacking at Pyle/Whitman.

Ask Nardi to see the student climate survey they did. What the kids reported about every type of “ism” and bullying even shocked him. It’s BAD.

As a Pyle parent, I would like to know how you were able to review this?

[Anonymous]

He openly talked to the kids about the results. It’s not a secret.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a different perspective. I think the principal was showing that he was taking the matter seriously and that such behavior would not be tolerated. Using offensive and demeaning language like this was a problem when my kid was at Pyle last year and I thought the principal there (Nardi) handled it terribly. Kids were running around heiling Hitler and calling people dirty Jews and using the N word and the F word willy nilly and no one did anything about it. It was depressing.

Whitman would really benefit from a desegregation plan.

That is nothing like I have ever heard my kids describe at the school. And in terms of desegregation, Jews are hardly lacking at Pyle/Whitman.

no kidding, each of my pyle kids went to 30 bar mitzvahs in MS.

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen more antisemitism actually in environments where there are lots of Jewish kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids have nothing to rely on but stereotypes because they've never met a black person. The stats say it's less than 5% black so it's somewhere between 0 and a small handful of kids. Their parents paid a lot for what they perceived as the privilege of this white school. So their parents shouldn't be surprised when the kids have 0 knowledge of black people.

And you became such an expert on the families in Whitman how?

You plainly aren't connected to the school and are simply spouting uninformed nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is a public relations exercise, OP. The Principal cannot do anything other than show that he's taking it seriously and doing the maximum. Thus the general annoyance and inconvenience for everyone.

I certainly hope the student who used that word was punished.

Exactly.

Two birds with one stone: not only is this the right decision for all the students, but it also protects the administration. Win-win.

[Anonymous]

As someone who’s part of pyle, I second the idea that the issue is lack of community. There’s just tons of people everywhere, and not a lot of bringing people together. The whole idea of teaming is meaningless if you don’t even end up in classes with the same kids anyway. And there’s so much unkindness. In addition to racism and antisemitism, the kids get away with a lot of homophobia, most of which is under the surface but kids see it. I think Nardi probably cares but has no idea what to do, is overwhelmed by the size of the school and probably feels unsupported by his teachers, who don’t have many nice things to say about him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who’s part of pyle, I second the idea that the issue is lack of community. There’s just tons of people everywhere, and not a lot of bringing people together. The whole idea of teaming is meaningless if you don’t even end up in classes with the same kids anyway. And there’s so much unkindness. In addition to racism and antisemitism, the kids get away with a lot of homophobia, most of which is under the surface but kids see it. I think Nardi probably cares but has no idea what to do, is overwhelmed by the size of the school and probably feels unsupported by his teachers, who don’t have many nice things to say about him.

agree, they need a ability tracking plus a pod system asap. my kid has 30 different kids in each of her 7 or 8 classes and then each class is 1/3 high/lo/average ability. makes for a mess for teaching, learning and finding good friends. everyone seems to resort to their ES friends at lunch.