Educator insults little girl!!!

[RHooks]

This story disturbs me on a couple of levels.

I can buy into the fact that an adult might tease a little girl at an event. However, where he looses me is in the language he choose. Pretty harsh for "teasing" a little kid. The guy needs to go. He's either a moron are incredibly insensitive. Neither are trait's one should find desirable in an Education Secretary.

The child's mother seems to behaving like an adult about it and is setting a good example for her "dirty stupid" little girl to follow.

The second part that concerns me is towards the bottom. A local black community leader was all up in arms when he thought it was a black child. Planning rallies, protests, etc... Until he found out the little girl in question is white. Then it was ok. If this act was so offensive against a black child that it demanded protest, wasn't it just as offensive against a white child? An Asian child? A Native American child? I wasn't aware that "dirty" and "stupid" were now considered racial slurs.

:rolleyes:

Education Secretary calls little girl names. (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/08/girls.name.ap/index.html)

[Chylde Roland]

Yes, this is very ridiculous. Obviously that guy has a very lame sense of humor if that's his idea of "teasing" a young child. I was quite impressed with her mother's response, too:

"Obviously it hurt her feelings, but she didn't take it personally. She knew he was wrong and she let it go," Lila said. "I'm not going to sue them for therapy bills."

[Fzoulcmbyl]

Yep, this has been all over the news here too. It's a bit ridiculous for the entire world to be having a fit over it, when the 2 parties involved, have apologized, forgiven, and moved on.

Most everyone that I have heard "respond" to the topic, has not seen the video of this incident, and is just buying into the "hype" and ferver that is going on with this.

I have not seen the video either, but it's been said that the whole idea was that he intended to say something like "silly girl", and even "winked" at her, but said those other words instead. Even at that, the entire class laughed, and the girl merely corrected him, saying that it meant "egyptian princess".

The question was posed, "did he actually intend to harm the little girl, with demeaning words, in front of an entire class, with adults and media in the room?".....or did he just accidently say the wrong words, intending to joke with the girl?

Apparently, the mother and the little girl think it was the latter, and that's good enough for me, I'll keep my nose out of their business.


Fzoul

[RHooks]

Still harsh words to say to a little kid. I've read about some of his other exploits. He's a real charmer. What's his major malfunction?

[Rob]

The question was posed, "did he actually intend to harm the little girl, with demeaning words, in front of an entire class, with adults and media in the room?".....or did he just accidently say the wrong words, intending to joke with the girl?

Fzoul, I used to have really long hair and one time in a class while working with a female partner, a teacher called out to us from behind calling us 'girls' to come forward. Everyone laughed and the teacher apologized. Even though I was embaressed, I realized it really was an honest mistake and the teacher was clearly embaressed by her mistake as well.

Since when did 'dirty' and 'stupid' because so close to being 'silly girl' that we can say it was an honest mistake. No, stupid dirty girl, especially directed at a six year old child was an outrageous and horrible thing to say.

I guess his name means really means Stupid Dumb Ass... oops, I meant silly man.

Of course, the best part to me is that this six year old child displayed more maturity (along with her mom) then the Educational Secretary. Sounds like she will have a good foundation throughout life.

To RHooks, I caught that bit about the up in arms approach when it was thought she was black to a complete whatever when they found out she was white. To me, that is just as offensive.

[Fzoulcmbyl]

Ya, I myself have a hard time with the words "dirty and stupid" being used instead of "silly".....I was just getting impatient with the people I heard on the Radio Shows today, because they were running laps around the question, which was really a simple "yes" or "no" question.

Actually there were 2 .

1. Do you think he intentionally was trying to embarass or hurt the girl, in front of all those people?

Yes or No...

2. Should he be fired from his job for what he did?

Yes or No.


Me personally? I would have to say "No" to both questions...

I don't think the "intent to harm" was there, and I don't think the punishment of being "fired" fits the "crime".

He said something stupid, I believe it was a mistake, but I do think he should issue an "Official" apology, and possibly some form of "gesture" to the family, even though they have already accepted his apology.


Fzoul

[Chylde Roland]

I agree that he made a foolish and silly mistake, and I agree he shouldn't lose his job for it. If it became a pattern, then yes, more strict measures would be required. But once doesn't indicate a pattern, IMHO. You can bet people will be keeping an eye and an ear pointed in his general direction for the next little while though.

I also agree that since the apology was given and accepted, it's a dead issue. Water under the bridge.

[Gaim Mastr]

A local black community leader was all up in arms when he thought it was a black child. Planning rallies, protests, etc... Until he found out the little girl in question is white. Then it was ok. If this act was so offensive against a black child that it demanded protest, wasn't it just as offensive against a white child? An Asian child? A Native American child? I wasn't aware that "dirty" and "stupid" were now considered racial slurs.


So where's the main-stream media to ostracize this degenerate "community leader" ??

I ask, because this is the first I've read/heard of the incident.

[Lou Cypher]

I've seen the video, and I'll have to agree with Fzoul. There was no malicious intent that I could see, it was just a very poor choice of words and he opolagized immediatly.
I am also more disturbed at the local black community leader, He should be held accountable for his obvious racisim.


So where's the main-stream media to ostracize this degenerate "community leader" ??I give Vegas odds that you won't hear a peep about it.


Lou :globe: