Is a Redskins-obsessed teacher ok?

[Anonymous]

No. The objection is to the offensive nature of the term "redskins" and lines like "braves on the warpath" and such.

What's that sound??? The sound of quasi-intellectual liberals sucking the joy out of a childhood and a teacher trying to have a little fun.

My two daughters, both die hard Ravens fans, will stand up to anyone, even a teacher. They've been able to stand up to teachers, fellow male students and pretty much anyone else... this as young as 6 years old. No one is brainwashing your special snowflake, they are not destined for a life of bigotry by the horrors of being exposed to someone who supports their professional home team.

Why not take this as an educational opportunity, everyone does not have to share your narrow opinion, and ou don't have to ram it down everyone throat.

Since we moved here I've seen a lot of this guilt manifested by people who intentionally live in all white neighborhoods, send their kids to schools with very low farms rates and squawk about issues like this without ever really exposing their children to any real diversity.

BTW killjoy, Redskins are not "braves on the warpath" that would be the Atlanta Braves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No. The objection is to the offensive nature of the term "redskins" and lines like "braves on the warpath" and such.

What's that sound??? The sound of quasi-intellectual liberals sucking the joy out of a childhood and a teacher trying to have a little fun.

My two daughters, both die hard Ravens fans, will stand up to anyone, even a teacher. They've been able to stand up to teachers, fellow male students and pretty much anyone else... this as young as 6 years old. No one is brainwashing your special snowflake, they are not destined for a life of bigotry by the horrors of being exposed to someone who supports their professional home team.

Why not take this as an educational opportunity, everyone does not have to share your narrow opinion, and ou don't have to ram it down everyone throat.

Since we moved here I've seen a lot of this guilt manifested by people who intentionally live in all white neighborhoods, send their kids to schools with very low farms rates and squawk about issues like this without ever really exposing their children to any real diversity.

BTW killjoy, Redskins are not "braves on the warpath" that would be the Atlanta Braves.

It's in the Hail to the Redskins song you dope.

[Anonymous]

"Hail to the Redskins" sounds like honor and homage. The segregated liberal white community is borderline bipolar.

[Anonymous]

Listen up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR-tbOxlhvE

[Anonymous]

I scanned a lot of the posts, but not all. My only comment is that this is MoCo - the local team is the RAVENS!!! Go Ravens!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our child is in a young elementary grade in a very well-respected Montgomery County elementary school. At the before-school open house, along with our child, we visited his classroom to meet his teacher and saw some prominently displayed Redskins paraphernalia (flag, poster, etc). and were told by the teacher that if the Redskins win over the weekend, her father will come to class on Monday and lead the children in "Hail to the Redskins."

My husband and I are quite disturbed by this. We find the Redskins name, song, etc. really offensive, and don't want our kid inundated with Redskins stuff at his public school - especially at a young but able-to-understand age. There are entire networks and newspapers that are even refusing to use the name, so we know we aren't crazy. Yet, we also understand that there are lots of people who don't see it as a big deal.

We'd like to bring up our discomfort, but how? To whom? We worry both about burning bridges and also not sticking to what we truly believe. Any ideas & opinions are appreciated...

Please tell me this is a joke post.

[Anonymous]

I can actually understand the OP's point (even though several others have clearly missed it!). I'm an elementary school teacher. We have lots of teachers who are big fans of specific teams and display articles in the classroom and/or incorporate it into lessons. This includes both professional and college teams. I think it's completely appropriate and it's just one way to "connect" with students.

That being said, there are very strong opinions on both sides regarding the Redskins name. While it may seem silly, I think that is actually a decision that should be made above the school level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No. The objection is to the offensive nature of the term "redskins" and lines like "braves on the warpath" and such.

What's that sound??? The sound of quasi-intellectual liberals sucking the joy out of a childhood and a teacher trying to have a little fun.

My two daughters, both die hard Ravens fans, will stand up to anyone, even a teacher. They've been able to stand up to teachers, fellow male students and pretty much anyone else... this as young as 6 years old. No one is brainwashing your special snowflake, they are not destined for a life of bigotry by the horrors of being exposed to someone who supports their professional home team.

Why not take this as an educational opportunity, everyone does not have to share your narrow opinion, and ou don't have to ram it down everyone throat.

Since we moved here I've seen a lot of this guilt manifested by people who intentionally live in all white neighborhoods, send their kids to schools with very low farms rates and squawk about issues like this without ever really exposing their children to any real diversity.

BTW killjoy, Redskins are not "braves on the warpath" that would be the Atlanta Braves.

Chill. I was just explaining the objection, since several PPs didn't seem to understand what the actual issue is.

I don't like the term Redskins, but I don't think the teacher is being offensive. I don't think I'd say anything because I see how the teacher is using it as a way to bond and chat with the students.

And yes, "braves on the warpath" is a line from "Hail to the Redskins."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Hail to the Redskins" sounds like honor and homage. The segregated liberal white community is borderline bipolar.

Maybe to you. Not to a great many American Indians. I guess they're just too ignorant to appreciate when they're being honored?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Teachers should not have personalities.

What the hell kind of personality is that?

During week one, you engage in team builders to build rapport. You don't indoctrinate your students.

I'd be annoyed as hell, too. She sounds immature.

Signed,
another MCPS teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I scanned a lot of the posts, but not all. My only comment is that this is MoCo - the local team is the RAVENS!!! Go Ravens!

STFU.

[Anonymous]

So the ravens have had a prominent player who was accused of murder and found guilty of obstructing justice and another player who was caught beating up his wife on an elevator. Should teachers not broadcast Ravens fandom - either verbally or through the display of Ravens gear and memorabilia?

As a die hard REDSKINS fan who has REDSKINS gear displayed throughout his office, I would say drop it. We root for the team, its players and the city it represents. THAT'S IT - NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS.
To us the term REDSKINS means, honor, respect, heritage, legacy, pride and faith. We cried and celebrated with our fathers, grandfathers, girlfriends, mothers, kids while watching REDSKINS games. The team has given us joy and heartache.

The fact that the context of the word is lost when decrying the word as offensive is indicative of the lack of common sense that surrounds the debate. For example, the word "boy" clearly is not offensive, but if you refer to a person as a "boy" - either to demean him or to belittle him - it's use makes it offensive. Similarly, the argument that you would never call a native american child a "REDSKINS" as a basis for declaring the word offensive misses out on the fundamental fact that the use of the term is not intended to offend. It's not intended to refer to a person or race or ethnicity. It simply is used in the context of referring to a team.

There - to this day - are still majority Native American schools that use "REDSKINS" as a mascot. How then can one declare that it is an offensive term?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
As a die hard REDSKINS fan who has REDSKINS gear displayed throughout his office, I would say drop it. We root for the team, its players and the city it represents. THAT'S IT - NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS.

Then you don't have any problems with changing the name, right?

[Anonymous]

I simply cannot believe this would cause so much anger. When my family moved to this area my DD was a die hard Steelers fan (nope, not from Pittsburgh). She was very nervous about her first day in a new middle school. Two teachers at her school had up Steelers signs or stickers hanging in the classroom and she immediately had something in common with someone. She felt likevshe belonged. Sports are a great way to have something outside of school in common with kids that maintains appropriate boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the ravens have had a prominent player who was accused of murder and found guilty of obstructing justice and another player who was caught beating up his wife on an elevator. Should teachers not broadcast Ravens fandom - either verbally or through the display of Ravens gear and memorabilia?

As a die hard REDSKINS fan who has REDSKINS gear displayed throughout his office, I would say drop it. We root for the team, its players and the city it represents. THAT'S IT - NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS.
To us the term REDSKINS means, honor, respect, heritage, legacy, pride and faith. We cried and celebrated with our fathers, grandfathers, girlfriends, mothers, kids while watching REDSKINS games. The team has given us joy and heartache.

The fact that the context of the word is lost when decrying the word as offensive is indicative of the lack of common sense that surrounds the debate. For example, the word "boy" clearly is not offensive, but if you refer to a person as a "boy" - either to demean him or to belittle him - it's use makes it offensive. Similarly, the argument that you would never call a native american child a "REDSKINS" as a basis for declaring the word offensive misses out on the fundamental fact that the use of the term is not intended to offend. It's not intended to refer to a person or race or ethnicity. It simply is used in the context of referring to a team.

There - to this day - are still majority Native American schools that use "REDSKINS" as a mascot. How then can one declare that it is an offensive term?

+100

The Ravens had a double murderer playing linebacker until 2012, and a woman beater is still on the roster. As well as several players with dui's and weapon charges.

The Eagles had a dog killer playing QB and a raging racist that still plays wide receiver for them.

Glass houses indeed.....