June 20, 2005

PC Nonsense in Berkeley...What Else?

Jeff over at the Bernoulli Effect has this little tidbit:

On June 22, the school board of the Berkeley Unified School District will vote on whether to change the name of Jefferson Elementary School to Sequoia Elementary. "Debate over the name of the school has continued for more than two years after several teachers, including an African American mother of three former Jefferson students, said Jefferson's name offended them," reported the San Francisco Chronicle. A group of teachers and parents had circulated a petition that read, in part, "A school name which fails to acknowledge or respect the depth and importance of their people's collective sorrow is personally offensive." The name change was ultimately supported by vote of staff, students and parents.

Are they going to petition to have Jefferson removed from the nickel next? And how much of this nonsense that the students "supported" do they really understand?

My high school alma mater changed its mascot from the Indians to the Nighthawks about five years ago...not because any American Indians complained, but because a crunchy granola science teacher thought it would be a good idea. Oh, and the same high school has also just gotten rid of its class ranking system (although valedictorian and salutorian will still be chosen)...presumably because it will be less "traumatizing" for the kids than having their progress compared against that of others.

Oy!

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