Purple Penguins

[Clean]

Just when you think the crazy libs in education can't top their last act of stupidity, they surprise you!

The "educators" in Lincoln, Neb., (think about that, Lincoln, not LA or NY), suggest that their teachers should no longer call boys and girls "boys and girls" because they want to be "gender-inclusive", whatever that means. Instead they'll call them by a non-genderized term, like Purple Penguins or whether they prefer milk or juice.

Apparently they're afraid little Tommy might be a girl in a boy's body and by labeling him a boy, you could confuse the poor bastard even more, if that were even possible.

I'm sorry I probably won't be around to see what a bizzaro world the libs will have created in another 25 years. I'm glad I was a child in the fifties and sixties when at least we knew what sex we were.

The Link

 

[Larry T. Spider]

This is a perfect example of taking a great idea too far, ruining the idea, and creating enemies to the original idea that was good. There has been an effort for the past few decades to not use gender specific words when talking about certain careers such as using police officer instead of policeman. The effort also included pushing the idea that girls could succeed in math/science heavy careers and boys could be nurturing. This is all well and good and probably played a part in my role as a male working with young children, so its something that I appreciate. But, like most good things, some clown has to take it too far and ruin it. I think its a good idea to use things such as interests to group children so that we arent constantly making our classes into a middle school dance with boys on one side of the room and girls on the other. We need boys and girls to learn to work together. But the reasoning behind this is insane. If there is a kid with a gender identity issue, then deal with it when it comes up. I have seen ONE very real case of that and I have been around thousands and thousands of children. This seems to be an isolated incident and I haven't heard anything about this in Texas. Surprised that it came from Nebraska of all places.

 

[Hu_Fan]

What I don't get it this....

On the one hand, progressive-liberal agenda is to celebrate differences.
Then on the other hand, that same group wants to dissolve all differences.

On the one hand, you are to get special admission considerations into academic institutions based on identifiable differentiable matters, yet... you are at the same time not to be singled out for any differences.

 

[Horns11]

This is nothing new. I remember a classroom discussion in the late 80s (88? 89?) when we discussed using gender terms as "good" or "bad" and that's why the faculty tried to refer to everyone as their "team" name instead. Like the Rockets was one part of the 7th grade, and the Cavaliers was another part, etc. We discussed why "runs like a girl" was bad and "he's so manly" was bad.

Now, it wasn't because of transgenderism. But I think society does tend to go overboard with the gender biases a bit much.

 

[CedarParkFan]

Liberal wussy insanity. Plain, pure, and simple.

 

[nashhorn]

Just stupid. And even 'stupider' for not realizing it to be stupid. Guess this just shows how old and set in my ways I have become but darn it, a girl is still a girl and a boy is still a boy, no matter their tendencies to act to the contrary. And I have a granddaughter that most definitely 'ran like a girl' for her first 16 years.......then she joined the High School tract team and learned to run like an athlete, female athlete to be sure but well enough to become team captain her Senoir year.

 

[Mr. Deez]

This is an area where I largely concur with the hard Right. At some point, the public school system decided its job was to do more than teach people how to read, write, do math, etc. and to dabble in social engineering and social justice (as they see it). Why do they care who identifies as a boy or girl? That's not the business of the teacher or anybody in the school. Just teach him/her/shim/it how to read and write.

 

[Larry T. Spider]

If republicans knew how to expand their base (they are inept in this area), they could make ground by focusing on exactly what deez said. Most teachers just want to teach and leave the social justice missions to somebody else. Instead they demonize the entire system and often the teachers. They harp on the largest abuses such as this and create a cognitive disconnect because 99% of teachers and parents don't see this in their own schools. A huge part of the republican base in texas has kids in good suburban schools where this stuff is rare. Ideas that republicans largely support that teachers also support:
1. Teachers are there to teach. Cut the other BS.
2. Do something with the behavior problems to keep them from disrupting class.
3. Make sure the money is getting to the classroom.
4. Local control

I fear that republican politicians have found out that they can gain more support by bashing the system instead of fixing the problems. If they fix the worst aspects, then what do they crow to the gullible base about? And yes, the base is gullible when it comes to schools in texas. I teach in a Hispanic somewhat liberal area. We sing god bless America and support the military. We have veterans come talk to the kids about what America is all about and how to serve the country. Do you ever see that on the news? No, we hear about purple ******* penguins in Nebraska.

 

[texas_ex2000]

I think a lot of all our problems in this country come down to a critical percentage of men not raised with the concept of accepting the responsibility of being a "man." More generally, that means being raised with, valuing, and dedicating yourself to the virtues of being a gentleman.

Just off the top of my head. The first two are, without a doubt, the most important.

1) Don't lie, say exactly what you mean and do exactly what you say
2) Loyalty/take care of your family, friends, and community/fidelity/fraternity
3) Accept responsibility for your life: feeding yourself, taking care of yourself, and your business
4) Humility
5) Go to church
6) Address everyone by their proper title
7) Be a leader
8) Don't be a victim
9) Cultivate your mind and intellect
10) Study and know the classics and be malleable to new ideas.
11) Be compassionate and protect the marginalized and weak
12) Treat women with respect
13) Have a relentless work ethic
14) Being a true sportsman is more important and worthy than winning
15) Make the right decision, even if it's unpopular, even if it's the hard decision. Do this every time.
16) Reject and stand against unvirtuous ideas and behavior
17) When you're down, don't cry and feel sorry for yourself...pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and fight on
18) Cowardice is a disgrace
19) Captain Stephen Decatur, USN “Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but right or wrong, our country!”
20) Value and defend your honor and respect that of others...men with no honor deserve no respect
21) OU sucks

And yes...I would consider this an exclusively masculine code.

 

[Crockett]

In a good suburban high school, my son has had at least two high school teachers with extremely hard core right wing political stances teaching economics and social studies. One told the class -- "Global warming is a complete hoax. You don't even need to read about it. Trust me, I've studied it and there's nothing to it."

Fortunately, my son, lacking the education of his teachers, has superior critical thinking skills and is intellectually curious. I didn't complain to the teacher -- even when the subject turned to the stock market and bizzarre, pointless exercises in how it works. I simply advised my son to read a book by Peter Lynch, and if he still wanted to know about the market, I'd show him how to manage the money he has in mutual funds in an online trading account at Fidelity, first with a theoretical account, then if he still enjoyed it, with his own money. He read the book, played a while, then got interested in something else.

I'm not saying everyone who believes global warming is a hoax is not as smart as my son. I will say a teacher who discourages critical thinking on controversial issues among bright, college bound, students, is probably not as smart as my son. If you feed your children's intellectual curiosity they won't form their opinions on the opinions of others. I've never feared having my children's politics unduly influenced by their teachers. Of course, when smart kids think independently, they don't necessarily agree with me either.

 

[Larry T. Spider]

Wait wait wait. I was told that teachers are leftists that spend their days indoctrinating children to the ways of Marx. This guy needs to get kicked out of the club.

 

[texas_ex2000]

Crockett,

I completely agree with you. Parents need to take responsibility for the education and raising of their boys and girls.

You can't rely on the schools or teachers. There are good teachers out there, but the quality is very hit or miss.