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KKK Style Hat

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,352
120,773
Metro St. Louis
#1
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I take the teacher at his word that this was inadvertant, but it seems to me that he should have been aware of what that hat would look like to the kids parents. I hope he wouldn't send a little Jewish boy home with a swastika, or Muslim child home with a cross.
 
#3
Mark, I can see the knight's helmet. I don't know the racial history in that part of Kansas, but I do know that in much of America, a hat like that would mean only one thing, KKK. As I said, I can see it being an innocent oversight, but I also think a good teacher should be aware of what things might look like to a kid's parents.
 
#12
ericw said:
Yeah.. I don't see what the teacher has to do with it unless he showed them a picture of KKK get-up as one of his hat examples (which I didn't read anywhere).
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The point is not that the teacher intentionally did anything. It is that I think a teacher might reasonably guess that a hat that shape may be problematic for the parents of a black child.
 
#15
Dr. Cheese said:
The point is not that the teacher intentionally did anything. It is that I think a teacher might reasonably guess that a hat that shape may be problematic for the parents of a black child.
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Yeh, I can see that. But do you think it's the art teacher's job to broach that subject, during art class, when the kid makes his hat? Or should the parents address it when he gets home with his creation?
 
#16
Dr. Cheese said:
The point is not that the teacher intentionally did anything. It is that I think a teacher might reasonably guess that a hat that shape may be problematic for the parents of a black child.
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Perhaps we should be happy that the idea of the KKK was so far away from this teacher's mind that it didn't even occur to him that his art project could possibly offend anyone?

I'm kind of curious what other kids' hats looked like, too, since the teachers says he's been doing this a number of years, and this is his first complaint.
 
#19
WalterBush said:
Perhaps we should be happy that the idea of the KKK was so far away from this teacher's mind that it didn't even occur to him that his art project could possibly offend anyone?

I'm kind of curious what other kids' hats looked like, too, since the teachers says he's been doing this a number of years, and this is his first complaint.
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Would you except that reasoning for a Jewish child with a swastika? I would also say that a good teacher should have some sort of clue about what might culturally sensitive for his or her students and their families.
 
#20
Dr. Cheese said:
The kid is 6. As a teacher yourself and parent, I'm sure you have told children that their innocent choices may have unintended implications.
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I certainly have.

I wouldn't in this case. Unless the kid wore a white gown, got on a horse with a shotgun, and rode through town threatening people and lighting crosses in their yards.

This is an innocent exercise in patterns, shapes, and colors, and I would be reluctant to make a young person feel self-conscious or guilty for chosing this shape innocently. As others have pointed out, this shape could be interpreted as many other things.

The kid is probably proud of his work. That's a positive experience for a kid. I don't see a cause to spoil it for him over a vague interpretation.

The association is a stretch and not entirely appropriate in this case.
 

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