Ugh 3 yr old came home with a Native American headdress craft from preschool today. My daughter wants to wear it around the house but I’ll be honest it makes me cringe. Hopefully she loses interest soon. Would you say something to the director or let it go? |
I'd definitely say something to the director, and I'd back up my words with printed facts on what really happened, and printed out suggestions for PC activities appropriate for preschool. |
What, exactly, are you planning to say? |
You want to ban something that is actually cool looking. Crazy. |
Lead by example. Return your land. |
My kids have made headdresses with personal attributes on them, and other times headdresses with descriptive names.
I'm not going to complain about that. |
For the win! |
Oh, shit. Well, there IS that. What are you going to do, OP? |
Yes. |
We had so much fun dressing up as Native Americans as kids - we admired them! They were our heroes. Now my kids won't get to experience that. And when I walk by Native Americans selling their clothes at festivals, we just walk by. No point buying something we'd just have to hide in a closet. |
Unclench, OP. |
What is wrong with this? I don’t understand why you are cringing. Presumably they are learning about Indians? Btw, the term “Native American” is out of date and politically incorrect. It’s like saying “colored people” or “Negro” or “Oriental.” The correct term is “Indian” or “American Indian” or best, the actual tribe. |
+1. |
The Indian head-dress was my favorite craft at my kids' Montessori preschool! As a foreigner whose parents come from Europe and Asia, I fail to understand the American concept of cultural appropriation that comes up at every Halloween and every time somebody references anything African-American or Indian American. I'll say this bluntly - stop being so stupid. DOn't you realize you're shooting yourself in the foot by turning innocent activities into issues? The real issues are then ignored! The line between entertainment, education and cultural appropriation may be occasionally blurry, but in most cases, as in this one, it is not. |
PP again - and feel free to dress as people from either of my native countries on any occasion. I could not care less. |