FUNCTIONAL WARDROBE

Teacher Who Let Students Play KKK-Dress Up Won't be Punished

Creativity is important in the classroom, say colleagues

Jan 28, 2013 by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t

A Las Vegas teacher won't be reprimanded for allowing students to don KKK robes during a history lesson on the Jim Crow era, reports the Christian Science Monitor.

The unidentified educator employed by a performing arts magnet school was defended by peers, parents, and students alike, who say the teacher in question should have the flexibility to be "creative" with pedagogy. A minor controversy erupted over the wardrobe selection after a student posted pictures of class proceedings online. A previous incident involving the same teacher saw students dressed as Adolf Hitler.

"This teacher has my support," said Linda Young, the only African-American member of the Clark County school board. A professor at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas cited the importance of academic freedom in this case.

It's a trend that's prompted one official to warn instructors of the necessity of treading carefully around sensitive racial matters.

"Teachers need to be careful, and really know the culture and climate, and have a good grip on how the school will react," said Clark County school board equity and diversity chief Greta Peay. "I would not do this activity with K-12 students."

Via the Christian Science Monitor.

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Jan '13
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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Assuming the Teacher was telling of the atrocities I see no problem with it.
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Jan '13

GmanGSW

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I agree with you on this one, too. We'll speak another day re a prior subject.
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Jan '13

Rightwing

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@GmanGSW Hell why not allow them to bring loaded guns to school to react the civil war !!
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Jan '13

GmanGSW

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@Rightwing I never said I agree with anything along those lines. I agree that as long as the teacher(s) explain why certain events took place, dress ups could prevent future atrocities. Regarding bringing weapons/loaded weapons to school? Come on!!!!
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Jan '13

norezen

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@GmanGSW Yeah AND its a performing arts school. Someone who wants a career in performing arts might have to play a villain or a part they disagree with ideologically one day.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@norezen I had a cameo as a Zombie in a horror movie a friend of mine starred in. I suppose now there will be some that claim I'm out in my back yard typing while eating human flesh?
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Jan '13

Neo_NtheMatrix

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Watch the left try to milk this even though the black parent of a student in that class had no problem with this. PC is going to kill America -- if we let it.
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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Unless you read it elsewhere it was the only African American school board member who said she didn't object.

Being disgusted by kids dressing up as klan members is not being PC it is being disgusted by something many find objectionable.

I have 2 questions for you:
1) Do you think the klan is shunned because they are racist bigots or because of political correctness?
2) Would you be okay with kids dressing up as members of the Taliban and acting out 9-11?
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Jan '13

woodtick57

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kind of like you trying to milk the boy scout's thing.....
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Jan '13

Neo_NtheMatrix

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@Cheenoguy

1) The KKK are shunned for both reasons. They are correctly shunned for being racist. However, any mention of the KKK is not racist, but the PC crowd would try to spin it that way.

2) That would be funny. Do you have a YouTube of such an event?
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Jan '13

Neo_NtheMatrix

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@woodtick57 - We're on the wrong thread for this, but I'll give it a whirl anyhow. Uhhh, there is no reason for a Scoutmaster to be bragging to a bunch of boys that he is gay. Okay, so with that said, we now return to the topic at hand.
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Jan '13

woodtick57

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@Neo_NtheMatrix

just you trying to milk what you think is politically correct. and being a hypocrit as usual...
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Jan '13

ctc

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Okay children......who can draw the best swastica??
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Jan '13

Canoochee

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Probably all of them can at least spell 'swastika. '
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Jan '13

ctc

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@Canoochee Sackcloth and ashes for me.
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Jan '13

Canoochee

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@ctc That was cinda petty.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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@Canoochee U mean kinda petty don't cha?:)
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Jan '13

Canoochee

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@PoliticalSpice Yah those kids kan probably spell 'kinda' too.
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Jan '13

TheJimmy

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Why does Topix pick a such a politically incorrect story like this one then expects politically correct responses?
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Jan '13

Neo_NtheMatrix

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True. They deleted your response fast.
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Jan '13

thejimbo

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@TheJimmy The Politix PC Police strikes again!
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Jan '13

Republican5001

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thats right...lets not have an honest discussion....so in order to avoid hurt feelings

Moderate!
Moderate!
Moderate!
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Jan '13

TheJimmy

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@Neo_NtheMatrix
Lesson learned. Discussion of fire hoses and German Shepherds are strictly prohibited by the mods.
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Jan '13

hwyangel

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@TheJimmy

I got kicked off topix for posting a YouTube video of a pro choice protest, lol. Haven't been able to post there since.
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Jan '13

DARSB

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Sounds like this teacher has done all the right things to set the stage, as it were, for historical role playing - and is lucky enough to have a supportive school board. Unlike that now unemployed teacher in California dismissed because she once did adult movies.
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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HMMM.....prefer adult movie's historical role playing better than KKK's teacher. Bet most of the boys (and some of the girls) would too!
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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I like the adult film star better, but honestly, I think this teacher was trying to motivate the kids to learn, and think she acted correctly. Punishing a kid for re-enacting a real piece of history when that was the assignment would be wrong.
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Jan '13

Chromalord

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Maybe they should also let the kids wear masks made of human skin to learn about the factual story surrounding the Texas chainsaw massacre.
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Jan '13

texas_cutie75

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That made my skin crawl.... ugh!!
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Jan '13

Raptor

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This is a shame on America, what kind of fools would do or endorse that. God help us all.
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Jan '13

stephen

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only if you let them dress up as black panthers as well. there part of bad history.
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Jan '13

tomincali

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while standing at the polls with clubs?
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Jan '13

stephen

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@tomincali sure its history to.
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Jan '13

stephen

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@stephen maybe the should dress up as back door abortion clinics doctors before row vs wade....
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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My local High School's play that's being advertised: Murder in the Knife Room
Every time I see one of the flyers, I think "and parents/teachers complain about violence in schools"
What, besides the zombies, are eating the brains of our teachers/parents and youth? Jeez louise!
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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As long as it's used as a teaching tool, I find no problem with it. I severely dislike the KKK! But if students are learning about that time period, dressing up for that does sound like a good teaching strategy. I know I would never forget those lessons if I had been taught in that manner.
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Jan '13

PNWest

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We are missing the context of what went on with the lesson. I have a feeling that we are dealing with a very creative teacher who probably taught the lesson in a very unforgettable way. I suspect that the teacher is a very good one.
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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@PNWest
Agreed!
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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She wanted to motivate kids interest in history. Punishing a kid for doing the assignment would be wrong.
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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@PoliticalSpice
Agreed again. I also do not believe she should be punished for using an unorthodox way of teaching her students. When I was in school, they made us watch these black and white educational films. I would watch them now, as an adult; but back then I always just fell asleep. No learning there.
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Jan '13

2b1ask1

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Good.....
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Jan '13

NTBFW

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This may be the only time but I agree with most of you. In a historical teaching way it's no problem.
But just asking, as distasteful as they are aren't they a legal organization?
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Jan '13

DARSB

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You're correct on both counts - the KKK is distasteful and legal. So's the American Nazi Party, for that matter.

Gotta love the 1st amendment. It allows degenerate organization like these to exist and the rest of us to make fun of them.
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Jan '13

NTBFW

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@DARSB like Larry Flynt said if protects him it certainly protects the rest of us.
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Jan '13

jmann88

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The kkk is ok aslong as its a history lesson. My grandfather was in the kkk back in the 20-60s. We have black history month what's wrong with a little white history? Now if the kid was gonna burn a cross in the classroom then yea it's not ok. The klan is not what it use to be I can bet on that.
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Jan '13

culinary

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I think it is ok to teach about the kkk in a broad context. Vut I wouldn't do this for this age group. College, definitely.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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He's teaching about Hitler, he's teaching about the KKK. He's not endorsing them. If a teacher at a performing arts school wants to illustrate history by using costumes, they should be accurate.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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Exactly. People don't seem to get this was a teaching tool, not an endorsement. Learning how the klan ran the south for a hundred years with terror and kept the promise of the 13, 14 and 15th amendment from being realized till the 1960's is an important part of u.s. history, lest people think that kind of thing (fascism) could never happen here.
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Jan '13

WattheTyler

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The new KKK doesn't wear the white robes anymore. Nowadays they register as Republicans and attend tea party rallies claiming to take America back from non-whites. If you don't believe me there is someone who lives a few block from me who is a member of the tea party, votes Republican, and calls Obama the n-word all the time. So I know all to well how racist these people really are. That's why I stay way from that racist idiotic lunatic.
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Jan '13

PoliticalSpice

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Well this teacher was trying to motivate interest in history. Punishing the kid for doing the assignment would be wrong. No evidence the teacher said the kkk was good, and knowing the role of the klan is an important piece of u.s. history. The kkk kept the promise of the 15th amendment from being accomplished and imposed institutional racism for a hundred years, people need to learn that, lest they believe it can not happen here. I support the teacher, I hate the klan.
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Jan '13

slov

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Omg some people need to get there feelings off there shoulders n stop looking to cause drama or law suite because they don't have a life.they were being taught in a class enviroment. Not like theywere being recruited. Sad people want to stand on a soap box an rant n rave or foirm a march because they so shallow minded. Grow up
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Jan '13

Tralee

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Wow, we can't even say Merry Christmas in school, mention God or wear certain T-Shirts (Flags of America are particularly bad for some reason) but we can dress our little kids up like the KKK? Gotta love that public school education, no wonder we are something like 35th in math and science. At least the KKK is easy to spell. Phew - so glad I don't have kids in public school and that our grands will not have to suffer such a paucity of education as presented now in our public school institutions.
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Do you defend the teacher's decision to allow KKK costumes in the classroom?

Do you defend the teacher's decision to allow KKK costumes in the classroom?