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January 15, 2008 at 12:29 AM

Assignment: draw the 5 lines of the music staff. Tough, I know. So what do I get? Oh, a student decides to start writing a gansta rap that includes the "n" word. So, before I sent him to the counselor, I asked him if he knew why that particular word was bad-I really think he did not know. It's disturbing that I have students who do not even know the history of that word. They won't even try to listen to a classical piece but are perfectly accepting of lyrics which denigrate their own existence. I wonder if that student has any idea why we do not have school next Monday. Disturbing. Just disturbing.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on January 15, 2008 at 8:11 PM

Yikes!

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on January 16, 2008 at 8:22 AM

It's more than disturbing. It's depressing.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on January 17, 2008 at 3:33 PM

It's not clear from your post: was this an African-American student? (Does it matter?) Would there be a way to use this as a teachable moment rather than just sending him to the counselor? I can imagine students that age wanting to talk about music that reflects or speaks to their own life experience in some way. Maybe his experience (sadly and unfortunately) includes the n-word.

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