To Bullis, from a Prospective Family: Stadium Songs Containing the "N Word"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. My friend's public school in CT played Rhianna's S&M as part of the in-house music while waiting for the play to start. He texted me laughing about it, wondering who created the lineup.

My daughter goes to Bullis and loves it. I've had nothing but good experiences with this school. Part of the reason we left public school was because of the PC BS that occurs, often driven by parents. while ignoring more serious issues, often created by the kids of the same parents screaming loudest with PC BS issues.

This doesn't even phase me.

Don't even let this thread phase you. There is a serious Bullis hater on this forum and he repeats the same tired post over, and over, and over again.

He was up late drinking, apparently.

The word is actually spelled "faze" -- different word and meaning from "phase," same pronunciation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

Yeah, as a white guy I'm going to go up to one of my black companions and say "Hey nigger, what's up?". I'll let you knowhow it goes.

The word in the song is nigga not nigger. It has a completely different meaning than nigger. The meaning of words change over time! It is really not a big deal.

Well, this has actually been a pretty enlightening thread. Either a lot of people at Bullis actually do think it is okay to play stadium music with the "n word" in it (or this "new derivation" of it) -- which can tell prospective families something; or they would rather defend Bullis than get a simple change made in a music playlist (which also says something about the culture/environment of the school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please. My friend's public school in CT played Rhianna's S&M as part of the in-house music while waiting for the play to start. He texted me laughing about it, wondering who created the lineup.

My daughter goes to Bullis and loves it. I've had nothing but good experiences with this school. Part of the reason we left public school was because of the PC BS that occurs, often driven by parents. while ignoring more serious issues, often created by the kids of the same parents screaming loudest with PC BS issues.

This doesn't even phase me.

The question for Bullis is whether sports success built on bringing in junior-senior transfers will draw applicants and strengthen community. With regard to the first issue, I'd say there's at least an equal chance that it will reinvigorate Bullis's old reputation as a dumb jock school and drive away potential applicants. As far as community, Bullis is already facing a challenge in bringing together many different subcultures which don't share the same values and don't interact much. The school has families from Potomac who never socialize with families from PG County who never socialize with the folks who live up 270. In broad terms all these families are looking for the best for their children, but how that's defined varies considerably. Will sports success unite these subcultures? Doubtful. The strongest independent schools in this area each have a culture defined by shared values -- that's true whether you're talking about GDS or STA. That's what Bullis lacks. The attempts to brand the schools as a sports powerhouse a la Good Counsel or as a private STEM school or an entrepeneurship incubator are nothing but lipstick on a pig.

And, BTW, you mean "faze", not "phase."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

Yeah, as a white guy I'm going to go up to one of my black companions and say "Hey nigger, what's up?". I'll let you knowhow it goes.

The word in the song is nigga not nigger. It has a completely different meaning than nigger. The meaning of words change over time! It is really not a big deal.

Hahahaha!

Good one.

NP here. I think you should have this new word "nigga" printed on a t-shirt and then hang out in Anacostia and explain to people that is has a completely different meaning than "nigger."

[Anonymous]

That would be soooo 2008

http://hiphop.popcrunch.com/nas-nigger-t-shirt-grammy-awards-2008/

You so 2000 late.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

Yeah, as a white guy I'm going to go up to one of my black companions and say "Hey nigger, what's up?". I'll let you knowhow it goes.

The word in the song is nigga not nigger. It has a completely different meaning than nigger. The meaning of words change over time! It is really not a big deal.

Hahahaha!

Good one.

NP here. I think you should have this new word "nigga" printed on a t-shirt and then hang out in Anacostia and explain to people that is has a completely different meaning than "nigger."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

Yeah, as a white guy I'm going to go up to one of my black companions and say "Hey nigger, what's up?". I'll let you knowhow it goes.

The word in the song is nigga not nigger. It has a completely different meaning than nigger. The meaning of words change over time! It is really not a big deal.

Well, this has actually been a pretty enlightening thread. Either a lot of people at Bullis actually do think it is okay to play stadium music with the "n word" in it (or this "new derivation" of it) -- which can tell prospective families something; or they would rather defend Bullis than get a simple change made in a music playlist (which also says something about the culture/environment of the school).

Or they have a more contemporary understanding of the word, which is informed by the context in which it's being used. I'm not a Bullis parent, but I do have kids in high school and college, and I know that this generation has an evolving understanding of the word "nigger/nigga". Think of the word "queer", which went from being an insult to being used in the title of a TV show as the gay community took ownership of the word, rather than allowing themselves to be victimized by it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. My friend's public school in CT played Rhianna's S&M as part of the in-house music while waiting for the play to start. He texted me laughing about it, wondering who created the lineup.

My daughter goes to Bullis and loves it. I've had nothing but good experiences with this school. Part of the reason we left public school was because of the PC BS that occurs, often driven by parents. while ignoring more serious issues, often created by the kids of the same parents screaming loudest with PC BS issues.

This doesn't even phase me.

Don't even let this thread phase you. There is a serious Bullis hater on this forum and he repeats the same tired post over, and over, and over again.

He was up late drinking, apparently.

The word is actually spelled "faze" -- different word and meaning from "phase," same pronunciation.

Whatevs my MS is in tech, not English vocabulary. And guess what? It's more marketable!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. My friend's public school in CT played Rhianna's S&M as part of the in-house music while waiting for the play to start. He texted me laughing about it, wondering who created the lineup.

My daughter goes to Bullis and loves it. I've had nothing but good experiences with this school. Part of the reason we left public school was because of the PC BS that occurs, often driven by parents. while ignoring more serious issues, often created by the kids of the same parents screaming loudest with PC BS issues.

This doesn't even phase me.

Maybe it should. There are some serious issues at Bullis in terms of lack of leadership from coaches/administration, questionable recruiting practices and apparently poor college placement. Topped off with ridiculous and irresponsible pre-game music choices. Yeah, nothing to worry about at all.

By the way, those Bullis folks who want to hide behind the race issue as the polarizing element for IAC disgust with your team's program are just engaging in self-delusion. None of the other IAC teams care what color your players happen to be. The bigger issue is how those players (whatever their race) ended up at your school. Coming in as juniors or seniors is just wrong on so many levels. If it has to be "excused" or "explained" does not mean it is a good practice. Yet, that is how Bullis has chosen to compete. Take the heat -- you chose your path.

College placement is a BS issue. SO many great colleges out there! Not worried, though I hope one of my kids end up back north so I get the hell out of here!

I just don't see racism in everything. Sorry to disappoint

[Anonymous]

This is the behavior that Cliento Bullis football coach exhibits all the time at his games. I have followed his games, been on campus watching other sporting events and hearing him yell at his players during practice, it is no surprise that he acts this way on the field. The head of school does nothing, the AD's must do nothing, but hey football is great!! Carefull with you ask for..

[Anonymous]

My son plays football for Cilento. He has never been yelled at or treated poorly by anyone on the coaching staff.

Funny how these comments come out after a shutout by Bullis. They won the IAC two years ago and would have likely won it last year if not for their QB getting injured before the final game. This year, they have a shot at winning it again. So no surprise the haters have come out.

The number of kids who have transferred in as juniors is a handful. If your son doesn't go to Bullis, why would you care?

For us, the school has been great academically and athletically.

As for the song, do you really have nothing better to do than worry if a rap song THAT IS ON TOP 40 RADIO is played during the pregame? LOL.

[Anonymous]

Like I said before, Bullis has recruited several transfers the past 3 years for football and basketball. This year, even a few of the recruited athletes will most likely be graduating from the school. I look forward to seeing Bullis college placement list come May.

I wouldn't be shocked if not every single student didn't graduate and how many students are actually cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse. This will be the true test as if kids cant pass that then Bullis is kinda fucked as it will become obvious the school just inflated kids grades.

Full Paying Families are eventually going to be sick and tired of paying $36K a year to pay for the recruited transfers and waterdown academic offerings Bullis has now implemented for these recruited athletes.

Why pay $30K+ to attend a public school when you have Whitman or Churchill.

[Anonymous]

Like you said before, and before that, and before that.... Actually you have been obsessed with this for way too long... Move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like I said before, Bullis has recruited several transfers the past 3 years for football and basketball. This year, even a few of the recruited athletes will most likely be graduating from the school. I look forward to seeing Bullis college placement list come May.

I wouldn't be shocked if not every single student didn't graduate and how many students are actually cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse. This will be the true test as if kids cant pass that then Bullis is kinda fucked as it will become obvious the school just inflated kids grades.

Full Paying Families are eventually going to be sick and tired of paying $36K a year to pay for the recruited transfers and waterdown academic offerings Bullis has now implemented for these recruited athletes.

Why pay $30K+ to attend a public school when you have Whitman or Churchill.

Thank you for perfectly encapsulating the idiocy that spawned this thread. Nice language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like I said before, Bullis has recruited several transfers the past 3 years for football and basketball. This year, even a few of the recruited athletes will most likely be graduating from the school. I look forward to seeing Bullis college placement list come May.

I wouldn't be shocked if not every single student didn't graduate and how many students are actually cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse. This will be the true test as if kids cant pass that then Bullis is kinda fucked as it will become obvious the school just inflated kids grades.

Full Paying Families are eventually going to be sick and tired of paying $36K a year to pay for the recruited transfers and waterdown academic offerings Bullis has now implemented for these recruited athletes.

Why pay $30K+ to attend a public school when you have Whitman or Churchill.

Why would I want a public school that overloads my kid with homework and drives them into psychiatric centers, while parents scream 'deal with it - you have to go Ivy', when she can get her As, be in a STEM program, participate in extracurriculars, and basically walk out the door a well-rounded person?

I'd rather my kids go to a 'lesser college' and get a useful degree than major in English Literature, Art History, or Foreign Studies and struggle to try and find an entry level job. Shit, I'd be happy if my kid decides to learn a trade rather than go to college, so long as isn't amoral nor illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son plays football for Cilento. He has never been yelled at or treated poorly by anyone on the coaching staff.

Funny how these comments come out after a shutout by Bullis. They won the IAC two years ago and would have likely won it last year if not for their QB getting injured before the final game. This year, they have a shot at winning it again. So no surprise the haters have come out.

The number of kids who have transferred in as juniors is a handful. If your son doesn't go to Bullis, why would you care?

For us, the school has been great academically and athletically.

As for the song, do you really have nothing better to do than worry if a rap song THAT IS ON TOP 40 RADIO is played during the pregame? LOL.

It is a fact that they've had transfers senior year. For a few years the IAC will probably roll with what Bullis does, figuring that every dog has its day and that things are cyclical. But if as a school Bullis continues to recruit players who are actually attending another league school, and bring in upperclass junior/senior transfers for their marquee sports (football, basketball, lacrosse), I do think there is a possibility the IAC will vote them out of the conference. That would not be a good result for Bullis.

Again, time will tell if this is a good long-term strategy (concentrating on sports, using the financial aid dollars for mostly athletes) -- as a school in MoCo Bullis needs to market itself, and sports may be a good way to do it. But if they eventually are seen as a sort of rogue sports school that may chase away some of their constituency in terms of full paying students.