Why are the Jews who are not offended so incredulous about the possibility that others clearly are? Or are at the very least suggesting while somewhat harmless it feels insensitive or just unnecessary or simply bizarre?

A Jew dressing as Hamen on Purim is very different than a a non-Jew HOS dressing up as an Egyptian Pharoah during a Super Hero themed video during or near Passover. As for the antebellum dresses, if that wonderful teacher sees no issue with the generational trauma surrounding POCs and slavery, especially in Virginia... well then I just don’t know what to say. If that’s your wokest teacher then the school is feeling pretty sleepy.

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, yes, Avadim Hayinu, for hours.

Plenty of Jews who have plenty strong connections to Judaism do not think this is a big deal. Let's not pretend its only JINOs who are suggesting the outrage is inappropriate.

Just because you are one Jew and not offended, does not mean it is not offensive. Clearly the OP was offended enough to post. I don’t even know if OP is Jewish or not, but sounds like the video and the subsequent civil war post (which I believe said “A little fun with civil war dress up”) gave OP pause to decline an acceptance. Perhaps the reactions of other parents at congressional who said lighten up it’s just a fundraiser, or who immediately defended the teacher based on her record of good deeds while sweeping this under the rug gave further pause to decline because they speak to an overall feel at the school or at least how it is currently being portrayed. For whatever reason, there may even be some sour grapes (either teachers or parents or frankly even students) that have left. Regardless, this all speaks to the culture at the school of not being able to have open and frank discussions and transparency when mistakes are made.

Again: both can be true. This teacher may be fabulous. But she made a mistake. This HOS may be fabulous but he made a mistake. We teach our kids accountability: you need to apologize when you have hurt someone or made a mistake, regardless of your good intentions. This is not hard. Justifying the picture may do more harm than good. Justifying the video may do harm than good.

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 can't comment specifically on the Civil War costume post that's been removed. However this teacher's lessons routinely include dressing as abolitionist Sarah Grimké with students donning her costume as well. Sarah Grimké and her sister devoted their lives to ending slavery and make appropriate and interesting subjects for students. Could this be a case of an incomplete photo caption failing to explain the sensitivity, respect, and inclusion present in the actual lesson? Probably. Was it ill-advised to post such a picture of students despite parents having signed waivers? Probably. Should the school provide a response to this event, particularly regarding the removed post(s)? Yes and as a Congressional parent, I've added my voice to those asking for this. I suspect they saw the vitriol here and removed the post quickly to protect students, something any parent would want. Give them a minute to craft a thoughtful reply that doesn't create more harm. Personally, I will presume good intentions, allow time for accountability, and delay any outrage.

It’s not defamation if it’s true. No one has said anything untrue here. Just FYI. People may have differing opinions on the facts and what they show but no one is being defamed. FYI.

I’m sorry but are you suggesting to make a valid point one most be morally spotless in doing so? One does not necessarily negate the other. You just want it to so you can bury the lead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In situations like this, it is good to remember that there is BIG difference between beliefs and behaviors. Sometimes we use our good beliefs to cover up and even justify our awful behaviors. If you’re trying to judge the stuff someone’s made of, examine their behaviors, not their beliefs. For all those of you who do have first hand knowledge of the school and the strength for character, moral courage, and the causes of those being defamed in this post, then you know just how gross this thread is. These teachers/staff members’ (actual not perceived) actions speak louder than these awful words. Those of you calling out and cyber bullying people that you don’t know, in a situation that you have no first hand knowledge of, your actions speak louder than your words. Even if there is merit in your points, it won’t be heard because of how you undermined yourself morally in delivering a moral point.

Thank you for your lecture dear

Yes their actions speak loudly. Sure. And on totality they are probably lovely people. They are also human. They also made errors that clearly offended some. These things can coexist. Just as some of the opinions in this thread are valid, and some are ridiculous or bullying. Both can coexist. Some can be offended and some may not be. I’m sorry your lovely school does not appear to teach duality.

Anonymous wrote:In situations like this, it is good to remember that there is BIG difference between beliefs and behaviors. Sometimes we use our good beliefs to cover up and even justify our awful behaviors. If you’re trying to judge the stuff someone’s made of, examine their behaviors, not their beliefs. For all those of you who do have first hand knowledge of the school and the strength for character, moral courage, and the causes of those being defamed in this post, then you know just how gross this thread is. These teachers/staff members’ (actual not perceived) actions speak louder than these awful words. Those of you calling out and cyber bullying people that you don’t know, in a situation that you have no first hand knowledge of, your actions speak louder than your words. Even if there is merit in your points, it won’t be heard because of how you undermined yourself morally in delivering a moral point.

Thank you for your lecture dear

In situations like this, it is good to remember that there is BIG difference between beliefs and behaviors. Sometimes we use our good beliefs to cover up and even justify our awful behaviors. If you’re trying to judge the stuff someone’s made of, examine their behaviors, not their beliefs. For all those of you who do have first hand knowledge of the school and the strength for character, moral courage, and the causes of those being defamed in this post, then you know just how gross this thread is. These teachers/staff members’ (actual not perceived) actions speak louder than these awful words. Those of you calling out and cyber bullying people that you don’t know, in a situation that you have no first hand knowledge of, your actions speak louder than your words. Even if there is merit in your points, it won’t be heard because of how you undermined yourself morally in delivering a moral point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if something was plantation themed that’s obviously a terrible idea and racist but period dress for women of the civil war era could be wives of northern soldiers, no? Antebellum refers to the southern houses, dresses, etc general but civil war doesn’t mean that right?

The teacher’s post only said that they were having “a little fun with dress up before shooting Civil war videos.”

I’m sure there is an appropriate history lesson that was in there about the civil war. But no, kids shouldn’t be taught that civil war dress up is fun. She lost me there and I would have been mortified if my kid was in the photos.

They lost me further when they took them down without public accountability. They know they screwed up but have failed to say so (outside the school walls).

What if they wrote skits based on Uncle Tom's Cabin? Or Harriet Tubman? Or Voices for Abolition? I agree you can't touch any of these with a ten foot pole today, but you are deluding yourself if you think elementary kids don't find some of these episodes in history to be exciting and daring. Kids also find Anne Frank's poignant dairy compelling despite knowing the horror of her family ultimately being unable to evade concentration camp. They find resistance to the Nazis in all forms, exciting. Yes, exciting. These stories are human, daring, and sometimes involve forces for what's right and decent coming out on top in the end. No one is being 'taught' that the enslavers or Nazis were on the right side of history, though context and perspectives may be explored. if you strip the story-telling away, school becomes all somber candle-lighting. There is a time for that ( especially remembrance ceremonies, or moments of reflection and gravitas during lessons that are simply palpable if you have ever taught), but if you completely strip away the story vehicles that are the main way children learn, I guarantee kids will not remember and there will be nothing left to remember.

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.

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.