Pittsburgh Teacher Humiliates Student For Wearing Broncos Jersey

[matcom]

:popcorn:

<snip>

Embracing diversity and practicing tolerance had been mainstays of Joshua Vannoy's Pittsburgh-area high school ethnicity class - until the student wore his Denver Broncos jersey to school.

A die-hard Steelers fan and teacher at Beaver Falls High School made Vannoy, 17, take a midterm test on the floor because he was sporting a John Elway No. 7 jersey. The honors ethnic relations teacher had Vannoy sit in a circle of desks, then instructed his classmates to throw paper at him.

The treatment wasn't part of any classroom lesson, his teacher says. He had warned students before not to wear another team's jersey in his classroom.

"I was humiliated and shaking. I couldn't finish my test," said Vannoy, a Broncos fan even though he's a native of Pittsburgh Steelers country.

Teacher John Kelly thought he was "just messing around" with Vannoy, telling him he couldn't sit at any desk in his class Friday.

Vannoy said Kelly grabbed him by the neck of his jersey when he tried to sit in his chair and told him he would give him a zero on the exam if he didn't sit on the floor. Kelly told the 12 other students that part of their midterm was that they had to throw paper at "the stinking Denver fan" - or lose points, he added.

"Some threw the paper at me, some threw it at the ground," Vannoy said.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_3426221

[kick-ass-bob]

1. No, no, you shouldn't pick on people who look different than you do,

BUT MY GOD! HE'S A BRONCOS FAN!


PUMMEL HIM!!



:eyes:

[Magrittes Pipe]

2. Isn't wearing a Broncos jersey humiliation enough?

:shrug:

[Midlodemocrat]

3. I blame it on the parents. They shouldn't have allowed him to wear it.

[wallwriter]

9. Exactly n/t

[CatWoman]

18. bwahahahahaha

too damn funny!!!

:rofl:

[lies and propaganda]

62. BWAAAHAHHAHAHAH!

My sentiments exactly!

[imperialismispasse]

115. BPOTT

[rug]

4. What's the problem here?

:shrug:

[BikeWriter]

5. Is he teaching from Lord of the Flies?

[Hugin]

6. Typical...

And they say things will get better once abortion is gone.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

7. "Humiliated and shaking."...You're in High School, dude.

You live in a serious football town called Beaver Falls (birthplace of Joe Namath and numerous other NFL greats)and if you didn't realize that you would catch some flack in Steeler country for wearing a Broncos jersey, then you have extremely poor judgment.

This is a whaaaaa whaaaaa story.:eyes:

[Ravenseye]

10. Yeah, I'm not buying it.

I don't doubt SOMETHING happened, but this is a national honor society kid. He's smart, yet a dweeb. I'm sorry but Beaver Falls is...well it's Beaver Falls, they take the Steelers seriously there. This kid KNEW that morning that by wearing a Broncos jersey he was looking for trouble, in one form or another. There is no way he wore it not knowing that. He did it deliberately to....well i'm not sure...He asked since to finish the test and then be released from the class. Maybe he didn't like the class, or maybe he was doing poorly and didn't want his grade point average affected.

Either way when you takea 17 year old kid, purposely doing something that anyone in the area knows is going to ask for torment...Sorry, he wasn't hurt, he's in high school....grow up.

Now if the kid were from Denver and a recent transplant and everyone knew he was a Denver fan, I wouldn't blame the kid, but this kid even said he wasn't a Broncos fan, but liked Elway and just thought of it as a shirt.

Bah. Even here in Pittsburgh on the radio people were arguing about this. Half calling it ridiculous that people would get this worked up about football, and the other half calling it a non-story created by the media and a kid who didn't want his GPA to drop.

My vote is with the later.

[hfojvt]

14. It's a free country

everybody's got the right to root for the other team.

Now, if he had worn it on a Monday after the Broncos had kicked the Steelers a$$, then that would be another story, but even then I would expect a teacher to be more mature than the average junior high kid. It is the teacher in this case who needs to grow up.

[Ravenseye]

16. I'm not judging that part of the story

but whenever you get an uppity teenage who obviously knew better, and really who wasn't hurt but all of a sudden the story is in the paper....well big question marks spring up.

AT this point his story is all just his story, In the stories I've read they haven't even talked to any of the other students in the class. Just one kids story at this point.

Yes it's a free country, but he wasn't even rooting for the Broncos. He admits he wasn't a Denver fan, not that it matters. The fact is that it's a BS story, with no cooboration at this point, and smells like a kid trying to make a stink for his own purposes.

[hfojvt]

27. uppity teen who defies arbitrary authority

They talked to the teacher and the principal.

"The treatment wasn't part of any classroom lesson, his teacher says. He had warned students before not to wear another team's jersey in his classroom.

"I was humiliated and shaking. I couldn't finish my test," said Vannoy, a Broncos fan even though he's a native of Pittsburgh Steelers country.

Teacher John Kelly thought he was "just messing around" with Vannoy, telling him he couldn't sit at any desk in his class Friday."

Sure, the bully thinks it is all in good fun. Especially considering what he is teaching - tolerance of diversity. He really wasn't hurt, eh? "When we grew up and went to school, there were certain teachers who would hurt the children any way they could. By pouring their derision upon anything we did ..." "Poems boys (and the class laughs)"

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

28. When I, or anyone, defies authority, I do not expect smooth sailing.

Sure, it's fun to defy authority but always expect some reaction or consequences...otherwise it isn't really making a statement.

I find it odd that a "rebel" in HIGH SCHOOL would be left shaking and humiliated by such a trivial matter....guess he's not cut out to be a rebel.

[hfojvt]

31. it is not fun to defy authority

The teacher in this case has no authority to tell his students what they can and cannot wear. Everything is a trivial matter when it does not happen to you. If his story is true, that he was grabbed by the collar - that is assault. Hardly a trivial matter. The teacher seems to think he is some sort of dictator, above the rules. Let's see if he faces his own consequences.

[Ravenseye]

30. Why is it just his story?

i'm not saying it's not true, but this is one kid talking to a reporter, who only also talked to the principal. No other students stories, barely anything from the teacher, barely anything from the principal.

No other coroboration of the story, makes it smell fishy to me. A waa waa story as it's been called by others here. How did the reporter even find out about this non-story? Probably the kid called them. I'm assuming the kid, or his parents, called in with the story, which to me makes it even fishier.

I could tell you stories about when I was in high school too, and some of them would be the truth from my own perspective, but I doubt you could get other people to coroborate some of them.

What if the teacher who is teaching tolerance really made a point in his class? What if he did it to make a point, and chose that as a perfect example of why people should be tolerant? What if the kid picked on had been a prick in the class up to that point and had previous talked about how tolerance is bull, and was a member of the local nazi youth?

We have no idea because this story is about a dweeby high school kid who is the only source for this story...I'm sorry I need more than that.

[hfojvt]

33. the teacher did not deny the events

that a) the kid did sit on the floor, and b) the class was told to throw paper at him. He also claims to have done the same thing to another student who wore a Payton Manning jersey.

I witnessed a teacher assault a thuggish student, for no reason whatsoever, but nobody ever called me as a witness. Actually I saw two assaults and battery, and both teachers were fired without anyone asking me what I saw (I never came forward either, but I think I mentioned both stories to my dad who was on the school board). It never made the papers either. Getting straight stories from high schoolers is pretty tough. Are they friends of the kid, enemies of the kid, friends of the teacher, just not very honest or observant, etc.?

What exactly makes it a non-story? Because we do not care about people who do things that we would not do ourselves? Because some people deserve to get picked on?

[Ravenseye]

47. Why is it a non-story?

I call it a non-story because it's tied into a sporting even where people are looking for any kind of story. I call it a non-story because the reporter basically talked to a kid and didn't get any other coroborating evidence. The principal and teacher's quotes I've seen could have been taken wildly out of context.

This is just a bs non-story. The kid wasn't hurt, he was just trying to rile people up and it worked and a reporter looking for ANYTHING to print glommed onto it.

[kick-ass-bob]

40. Did you read the story? FROM HIS TEACHER?

Students, yes. Teacher, no.

Whaa whaa, my ass.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

42. Still a waaa waaa story.

If you don't like heat, stay out of the kitchen.

A Broncos jersey in a Beaver Falls high school...did he expect the red carpet?:crazy:

[kick-ass-bob]

43. He was probably prepared for his classmates, but not the teacher

who was giving him a test that day.

What is so hard about this to comprehend?

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

44. He should stick to a herd mentality...no guts for rebelling

I'm glad he wears Bronco jerseys.

[Sandpiper]

75. That sounds very similar to the old argument of

She was wearing a short skirt, she asked for it.

[Left Is Write]

54. Catching flak from schoolmates is one thing.

A teacher deliberately singling him out for ridicule and humiliation is quite another.

[JVS]

8. He's lucky to be alive, stinking denver fan!

[satireV]

58. It will be fun watching the Steeler cry babies . .

squirt some when the Seahawks demolish the lame Pittsburg team.

Let the Steeler fans redirect their energies toward teen age fans. Seattle has the 12th man at the game, not in classrooms.

Suddenly the self described underdogs Steelers, are the favourite, yet while the oddsmakers give the Rust team a 4 point edge, fat boy Bettis and Coach Cowpie still claim they are the underdogs.

Can you say cognitive dissonance?

:)

Smack talk is meant to just be fun.
:beer: Enjoy the game!

[JVS]

59. It will be more fun seeing all the Seahawks shit-talkers eat their words

[Cats Against Frist]

79. WOO-HOO -- you said it! Seattle will wipe the floor with them.

:)

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

81. Your "birdies" will be put in a "steel" cage

Honestly, I do respect the Seahawks and I watched them dominate Carolina.

Here's to a good game.:toast:

[Kellanved]

11. How refreshingly European

And I thought proper fandom was not nearly as advanced stateside.
How is the hooligan-scene doing?

:evilgrin:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. I like to keep that in mind when people bitch about U.S. football fans.

People would have literally been killed for doing that in other countries.

[LisaL]

15. It's so sad we are behind Europe in that.

I guess wearing an offending jersey should be added to the list of justifiable homicides.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

23. Yep, it is sad.

[JVS]

13. It ain't easy being a hooligan in the US. The cops don't mind using...

lethal force here. If we did some European style hooliganing, we'd be lucky to get away with mere tasering.

[Kellanved]

17. ouch

So I guess natural selection is the reason for the tamer fan culture.

[JVS]

19. There are a few outbursts, but they end ugly and the networks...

make sure not to "reward" the fans by airing the footage. For example a few months ago at the Steelers vs Browns game, a Browns fan ran onto the field between plays. He ended up getting roughly tackled by a steelers player, but TV proceedure is to cut away from the action on the field in such instances so only those who were at the game saw it.

If fans did a full blown riot like europeans do, there would be some deaths and many injuries. Lots of violence to put it down,

[Kellanved]

20. Social responsibility as criterium for choosing footage?

Wow. Sport reporters still have ethics.

:D

[Beware the Beast Man]

21. Sounds like BS to me.

I wouldn't put it past a Browns fan, though.

[JVS]

22. I'm stealing you sig pic

Is that OK?

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

24. Hey, can I "Steeler" your sig line too?

Pretty please?

[Beware the Beast Man]

25. Do I have a choice?

:D

Sure!

[JVS]

26. Woohoo!

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

29. Thanks.

Seems to be a lot of Steeler fans on DU.

[kick-ass-bob]

41. The teacher corroborated the story.

:shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

32. Oh cry me a river...My daughter "gets it" all the time, from students AND

teachers" for wearing a Packers Jersey unfailingly on gym day. The gym teacher alwyas makes her take another lap. This little boy needs to grow up.

[Whoa_Nelly]

34. Since when is it a teacher's responsibility to punish a student

for their personal reasons? As a retired teacher, I find what your daughter's teacher does and wht this teacher did to this kid abusive and out of line. teachers are there to teach, not punish, when something the student is wearing offends them. :mad:

Yeah...great lesson in civil liberties and First Amandment rights :sarcasm:

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. I think you misunderstood me. It's all in a good fun for my daughter.

She finds it funny as does the teacher. It strengthened the bonds of her class in her opinion.

[Whoa_Nelly]

38. Then that's great for your daughter :-)

But for the young man in the article, it comes across as pretty abusive. Not all kids can take such treatment as a joke. Many kids are easily humiliated, have had bad experiences in school at the hands of teachers and/or peers, and just aren't self-confident enough to weather teasing, or as in the case of the boy in the story, what reads like out and out abuse meant to undermine his ability to learn in the school environment.

Teasing is one thing, especially if the teacher has developed a good rapport with a student and recognizes the fine line between teasing and abuse. It's like when someone is tickling a little kid: There's the fun for the giggles and smiles and knowing when to stop when crosses the line to being a power over issue and/or physically/psychically painful for the kid.

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. I guess something just doesn't ring true with this story.

I think the boy in this case knew exactly what he was doing and then decided to make a case out of it..but, i could be wrong.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

39. Sounds like your daughter has a sense of humor....this kid, not so much.

Provocation with a sense of humor is always a winner (see Jon Stewart as an example). This high school age kid thought he'd provoke but got all wimpy when he got the attention he actually sought.

Wonder who fed the story to the media...hmmm?

[LisaL]

53. Provoke? He worked a freaking t-shirt, for crying out loud.

One has to be able to wear a sports t-shirt and not be abused for it, especially by a teacher.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

55. Abused? He's a high schooler, for crying out loud.

He needs to stick to a herd mentality where nobody will pick on him.

[LisaL]

56. You know, I expect better from a teacher who is teaching

acceptance and diversity, of all things. Geez, WTF can this guy teach the students about acceptance? And you think it's fine because it was just about a sport?

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

57. I think it's a contrived story of overreaction.

With no greater implications than just that.

[fishwax]

93. why shouldn't he feed the story to the media?

if he did, i'm not sure what that proves. I'm not saying the story isn't fishy or oversold, but if true, the teacher was out of line, and taking the story to the media is an appropriate response, imo.

[LSdemocrat]

50. The guy's 17, he's old enough to handle some joking

[skygazer]

37. Would you feel this way if

Your daughter were penalized by a Bush-loving teacher for wearing a T-shirt supporting a Democrat?

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. It depends upon the context. This story smells to me. FWIW, my

daughter goes to a private Catholic High School...often wears shirts in support of Democratic principles and often gets into discussions (sometimes heated) with her teachers. But, there is respect in the classroom on both sides. She is in the minority for her beliefs and yet manages, without too much trouble. I am not trying to pat myself on the back, but my daughter has a strong sense of self and will save her cries of abuse for times when a teacher acts in what she feels is an innappropriate manner...which hasn't happened. Again, this story just stinks of something to me.

[Cascadian]

35. Imagine what it would have been like if it were a Browns jersey!

He probably would have had the class stone him. However, that is ridiculous for the teacher to do that.


John

[edbermac]

45. The Patriots should be humiliated by losing to those lame-asses

We'd be gearing up for 3 in a row right now...:grr:

[Sandpiper]

46. Hazing isn't funny

And it's that much worse when it's instigated by a teacher who should know better.

[Spacemom]

51. I applaud this teacher!

We need to teach them young not to speak out when their opinion differs from everyone elses. :eyes:

[JVS]

52. WATCH THE LOCAL NEWS STORY HERE

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/6370479/index.html

[sasquatch]

60. After class, did they knee cap him as well

[JVS]

63. Yes. Kimo von Oelhoffen came to the school and jumped into his leg...

thus crippling him. After that Troy Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger took turns kicking him in the crotch for several hours. But the pinnacle of the evening was when Jerome Bettis sat on the young man and broke several of his ribs.

[sasquatch]

65. You see that's why the Steelers will win the Super Bowl

Thy're consistant in their thugishness and unnecessary roughness. The Seahawks are very incositent at it, hell they sometimes help the opposing player get up after the play, SHEESH!
:eyes:

[JVS]

66. I feel sad for you that you cannot enjoy this Superbowl, but have to...

torture yourself by stirring up your deep vat of bitterness and anger. I really think that it's time for you to let go of the hurt and start the healing.

[sasquatch]

70. Who says I'm not going to enjoy the Super Bowl?

I'll enjoy the AFC showing it's absolute dominance over the NFC by the sixth seeded team in the AFC beating the top seeded team in the NFC. I'll just never forget what KVO did is all.

[JVS]

71. Then can I get a "Go steelers"?

[sasquatch]

72. Don't push it

[satireV]

84. Let's see if I understand this east coast right wing logic ;)

The AFC is supposed to be a better conference than the NFC, yet the 6th seeded AFC team beat all those better seeded teams.

Yeah, and Iraq has WMDs too!

:)

Gimme some smack talk!

The Super Bowl will be a great game. I really do suspect Pittsburg will be over-confident and Seattle will utterly destroy Coach Cowpie and the lumbering (Short)Bus.

:beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:

[sasquatch]

94. "East Coast" You better learn your state flags, and buy a Atlas

I'm in the Industrial Midwest here. And the Pittsburgh Steelers proved the NFC is overrated when they pimp slapped the Bears and the Bengals pimp slapped the Bears in Chicago and inhialated the Vikings at home in the second game of the season.

[INDIA]

98. Pittsburgh has an H at the end

JAG OFF!

[JVS]

104. You tell him!

[chookie]

102. I'm so sorry I missed that!

I'm just surprised that Coach Cowher sent in Polamalu and Roethlisberger to kick the kid in the groin for several hours rather than Chris Gardocki or Jeff Reed who are more specialized.

[jobycom]

61. Bullshit. Dude didn't study for an exam and was looking for a way out.

That kid is full of it. Notice the last part, that they gloss over, about the mom believing his grade suffered and he should be allowed to take the test again? Notice also that the teacher did this just last week to someone else? And that the teacher says he never threatened his grade? The kid was setting his teacher up, to cover for a bad grade. That's my take. If it was a running gag all year, the kid knew what he was doing when he wore the shirt to class. I can imagine him plotting it with his buddies the night before.

Unless the other kids back his story, I believe the teacher.

[LisaL]

68. You believe the teacher? The teacher confirmed the kid's story.

I don't care why the kid did it. Teacher should know better than that, especially one who teaches acceptance. What kind of lesson did he give his students? Clearly not the one of acceptance.

[Sandpiper]

73. The teacher's behavior was totally unacceptable

"Ha, ha, it was all in good fun" just doesn't wash when you're an authority figure.

The teacher is the adult in this situation and should be expected to act as such.

[LisaL]

76. Not only that, the guy is supposed to teach acceptance and

diversity. I say he is completely unqualified for that position.

[Sandpiper]

77. I foresee sensitivity training in someone's future

Along with a public apology.

[jobycom]

83. The teacher did NOT confirm the kid's story.

The kid said the teacher threatened his grade and grabbed him by the shirt collar. The teacher says he didn't. All that's left is a teacher cutting up with his class.

The kid--btw, seventeen years old--didn't study. He was looking for a way out, so he made a big deal out of it after he failed his test. Good teacher. Bad student. Unless the other kids confirm the kid's story, that's how I see it.

[huskerlaw]

64. I had a professor

who wouldn't let us wear anything with a Yankee logo on it in her classroom. She was born/raised in New York, loved the Mets. She was teaching in Nebraska and hated that most of us were Yankees fans.

She warned us that if we wore it, she'd call on us for an entire hour (law school. socratic method. not fun). Some students tested it, she followed through on the threat.

Maybe they should sue her.

Meanwhile, what kind of dumbass wears a Broncos jersey in Steeler country? Askin' for it, my friend.

[miss_american_pie]

69. A public classroom is not law school

You had the choice to take that prof's class or not. You had the choice to choose an entirely different law school altogether. High schools don't usually give kids the choice in what teachers they get. And unless the parents can afford otherwise, the kid attends the district based on where they live.

[huskerlaw]

90. Actually, we didn't

have a choice as to whether or not to take the class. It was required.

Sure, we could have changed schools. And paid double or triple the tuition (this was the only public law school in the state).

My original post was somewhat tongue in cheek. I don't think that the teacher was right. However, I think the kid was tempting fate by wearing the jersey and having wadded paper thrown at you isn't exactly a horrible punishment. They were both wrong, and both stupid. And yet, we find it a newsworthy event. :shrug:

[miss_american_pie]

95. Ahh, I see

Forgive me. As someone in Pittsburgh who could not care less about football, having it shoved down one's throat gets old quickly.

[GalleryGod]

67. Hey,Kelly !

"Look under your hood, chief."

[Patiod]

74. Yeah, that jersey would have lasted REAL long in Philly

If the Eagle were the ones in the playoffs. Folks here would probably have considered the teacher a wimp for not suggesting that the student hurl condiments rather than balled-up paper.

[LisaL]

78. That is a complete idiocy. It's only a freaking sport, for crying out

loud. To suggest that one deserves whatever is coming to him for simply supporting a certain team is ridiculous. People are just so completely obsessed that even outrageous behavior is acceptable. What if the teacher did that to a student because he was gay, for instance? Most here would be crying from the rooftops, I imagine.

[Patiod]

80. Not defending, just saying what would happen

Baseball fans from opposing teams are treated fine (as long as they are screaming, cursing Mets fans). I myself have welcomed folks from Baltimore and D.C. who sat near us at the ballpark, suggesting restaurants or bars for post-game visits, etc.

(I did once give purposefully wrong directions to a Mets fan, but he had been cursing and screaming in my ear through 9 innings, so he deserved it.)

As for high school kids, does ANYONE have a sense of humor anymore? The kid knew what he was doing wearing the jersey, and it sounds like a fairly good-natured pelting, and not exactly dangerous.

[LisaL]

87. And some students would love to harass a gay student.

I guess that's o'key too? If the teacher encouraged it, it would have been fine?

[Patiod]

91. A gay student vs. someone wearing a Colts jersey in Pittsburgh

amidst all the Superbowl fever? And getting pelted with...paper.

Like I said, does anyone have a sense of humor anymore, or are we all turning into exactly the stereotype of humorless liberals? I say grow the hell up. Obviously this person did not grow up in a house with older siblings.

[Metta]

82. The teacher clearly crossed the boundary between person and role.

The professional role of teacher, given the first amendment, is to support the expression of free speech as being welcome. The teacher's person should always be subjugated to their professional role and kept out of the classroom unless it adds to or in some way illuminates the former. This teacher was clearly out of line; his behavior added severe negative and uncalled for consequences,i.e., punishment to this student.

You *never* score things on how you intended them. You *always* score them on the impact they had, in interaction assessment scales. If I were this teacher's supervisor, I'd suspend him for 30 days without pay and have him take sensitivity training, proving proficiency as part of his yearly review.

[bleedingheart]

85. The kid is a moron...sorry but in da 'burgh...yinz guys have to know

that if yah wear the opposing teams jersey...your going to get a kick in the pants-n-at...

[LisaL]

86. If it was anything else, and the kid had to know he would

get his ass kicked for simply expressing his opinion, I guess that would be the same? What if he was a democrat in a school full of repukes, etc? I guess everybody better shut up if their opinion is different from that of majority?

[bleedingheart]

88. i was posting in jest...which is why i used a smattering of

pittsburghese....

[JVS]

89. I've been to parties in Pittsburgh where people got much scorn for...

declaring themselves to favor a Republican candidate. There are 3 fundamental things that one must never do in Pittsburgh.

1) Declare that one is opposed to the Democratic Party.

2) Declare that one is opposed to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

3) Deliver criticism of the Roman Catholic Church in any but the gentlest terms possible.

As long as one remembers those rules, they'll be OK.

[redsoxliberal]

92. that's nothing.

[Fleshdancer]

96. because being a teenager doesn't suck enough

that teacher is complete asshole. In fact, I wish the Steelers would sign a letter telling the teacher what a fuck face he is and that they don't want him as a fan anymore. Then the Principal should force the teacher to read the letter on the intercom at school.

Good teachers are priceless. Bad teachers will piss you off for the rest of your life.

[SeaBob]

97. broncos Jersey

Fire the teacher, hang the Kids paernts and put the kid in therapy...quick:silly:

[cynatnite]

99. Teacher was named world's worst person by KO

what a putz. :eyes:

[RPM]

100. Here we go Steelers, Here we Go!!!!

:hide:

[JVS]

105. Here we go Steelers, Here we Go!!!!

*Clap* *Clap*

[RPM]

109. Here we go Steelers, Here we Go!!!!

*Clap* *Clap*

[chookie]

110. Here we go Steelers, Here we go!!

(clap clap)

[JVS]

112. Here we go Steelers, here we go!!

*Clap* *Clap*

[chookie]

101. Am I the only one who finds this funny?

I think the teacher was trying to be funny, and in a "rite of reversal" ironically "victimized" the Bronco guy -- even though we tolerate diversity and practice sensetivity, there are SOME things that simply cannot be tolerated!! Ha ha. The kid didn't get the joke; maybe a few others, who also are blind to irony and satire or who think it should only be on tv and only then clearly marked and even then get all offended. To me the incident sounds like tomfoolery and hijinks! I say, let's get this guy writing for Stephen Colbert!

Does anyone really think an ethic studies teacher, who I would guess to be a flaming liberal, would act like an intolerant Nazi over a tshirt, in all seriousness? I personally find that harder to believe than him just having some ironic fun with his students, "acting out" "intolerantly" on an innocent scapegoat on a safe topic, like sports allegiance.

This kid is making a very great deal about this. I wonder about his motives. Maybe he is a Limbaugh loving freeper kinda guy, who is at odds with his liberal teacher about tolerance (affirmative active, gays, secularism, PC , etc) and who, knowing the teacher's "rule" about Bronco jerseys, deliberately wore it to "test" the liberal's so called tolerance two days before The Big Game. Maybe the kid's motivation is to "prove' liberals are really not tolerant. I think the teacher's behavior was funny, not ill intentioned, but that it misfired, because heaven knows authoritarian types are irony and often humor impaired, and as i suggested, maybe the kid has an ideological axe to grind.

No one is denying the little dear's right to free speech, however realistically, wearing the opposing team's jersey two days before The Big Game in a city totally crazed by Steeler Mania is a provocative act, perhaps meant to offend. And now, in a freeper kinda irony, his parents will launch a frivolous lawsuit against the school district for infringing on the free speech on their little boy.

[Starlight]

111. Yes, you're the only one.

:spank:

[LisaL]

113. Funny? The teacher is supposed to teach his students

tolerance and acceptance. Do you think they got the lesson? I guess because it's about a sports team, common sense can just go out the window. It's not tolerance these students are going to learn, when they are given a lesson like that.

[chookie]

114. Perhaps it was satire and irony

It could have been meant to be funny. It may not have been malicious in intent. The humor of the situation, as i see it, was that the tolerance teacher was intolerant over something like football. Ha ha. It was all theatrics 2 days before the Big Game. The teacher was not persecuting the poor widdle Bronco fan, nor was he instructing his students to be intolerant. He was just being silly, aburdist, like Monty Python. Oh well, it's true that some jokes go well over the heads of the audience.

All I am saying it that I don't buy that the ONLY explanation of this situation was that a poor patriotic young American, whose dream was to express his free speech, was mocked by a Nazi tolerance teacher, and that the tolerance teacher is actually deeply intolerant. Given the big deal that the kid is making about it, my guess he is a freeper who wanted to "prove liberals were intolerant" by the provocative gesture of wearing the opposing team's jersey 2 days before the Big Game. Maybe the kid hates his liberal teacher for forcing minorities, the handicapped, gays, etc on him. Maybe I find some similarity between this episode and recent ones in which, against dress codes, individuals make a point to defiantly wear religious symbols to make a point.

Sorry, I don't buy the "this boy is pure and a victim" line of reasoning.... I'd have to see evidence of that.

[Oeditpus Rex]

103. I'll tell you why I don't find this one bit funny

People are posting comparisons here to teasing, etc. and saying the kid knew, or should've known, what to expect when he wore a Broncos jersey in Steeler country. That's all well and good, and I agree. BUT — I agree ONLY in the sense that we're talking about his peers instigating the backlash, and that it doesn't go beyond expected teasing.

In a classroom, students have a reasonable expectation of safety, respect and basic human dignity. If there is a lawsuit, this will likely be what the plaintiffs' attorney will hold. Whereas the kid should expect taunting, etc. from his peers, he should not expect it, or tolerate it, from a teacher — someone in a position of trust.

That said, I find it absolutely ludicrous that all this is happening over a fucking sport.

[ComerPerro]

106. And some threw it at him but it hit the ground anyway

because they can't aim!!! They fail!!!

[realisticphish]

107. Yeah sure, this is nothing

But wait... let's change it from a jersey to an anti-bush shirt.

Now what do we get? "Suppression of free speech" etc. Which is of course true. But what I see is steelers fans refusing to let their team be tarnished. A noble effort, but stop and think for a minute, before ridiculing this kid (which, ironically, is what happened to the kid in the first place)

[Metta]

108. The class was honors ethnic relations.

Now, does that excuse the teacher any further. Plus, the Post-Gazette is reporting that the kid's been getting threats though it doesn't say what kind. First amendment wake anyone?