Althouse: "The book contains statements and cartoon pictures regarding bodily anatomy, bodily functions and removing clothing to expose private areas of the body in various positions."

May 12, 2022

"The book contains statements and cartoon pictures regarding bodily anatomy, bodily functions and removing clothing to expose private areas of the body in various positions."

"[It] described butts in various colors, shapes and sizes (example: fireproof, bullet proof, bomb proof)."

From "Mississippi school district upholds teacher’s firing for reading I Need a New Butt! to kids/Toby Price, an assistant principal who plans to pursue an appeal with the chancery courts of Mississippi, was fired in March" (The Guardian).

We discussed the original decision 2 months ago, here.

22 comments:

Tom T. said...: Doubling down on crazy. It's a great book and perfectly acceptable for kids.; 5/12/22, 6:38 AM
Humperdink said...: Judgement is a terrible thing to waste. Or more succinctly, a hold-my-beer moment for an idiot.; 5/12/22, 6:43 AM
RideSpaceMountain said...: "...described butts in various colors, shapes and sizes..."

Wow, seems pretty comprehensive. Does it cover small butts the size of large butts?; 5/12/22, 6:51 AM
Leland said...: I still think it is a silly book for kids that’s fine for the library but a bad choice to single out and read to the class. My exception does not seem a good reason to fire.; 5/12/22, 7:07 AM
What's emanating from your penumbra said...: Are we supposed to feel bad for him because he lost his livelihood? Or is this just presented as a freedom of speech issue?

I think it's the latter, but the former is used to prime our emotional response.

Neither is very compelling. Whoever is in control of the district ultimately has the final say on whether certain teaching materials are appropriate. Does he think that's him?

And if this is about his job, he has been turning down other opportunities, so he has other options. Maybe he will learn to be better at reading the room.

The entitled attitudes of public employees is the real story.

"it could have a devastating effect on students and educators, especially as conservative-fueled gag orders make their way across schools in the US"

Oh, right. I'll care about this when progressives show us they care about viewpoint diversity.

"Devastating" effect on students...; 5/12/22, 7:07 AM
Dude1394 said...: Expected ridiculousness when we cancel everyone for everything. Thanks democrats.; 5/12/22, 7:26 AM
What's emanating from your penumbra said...: Regarding those "conservative-fueled gag orders"...

"On Tuesday, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction against the Geary County Unified School District blocking them from disciplining Ricard if she were to intentionally disclose a student’s “preferred name or pronoun” to a parent."; 5/12/22, 7:34 AM
Wince said...: [It] described butts in various colors, shapes and sizes (example: fireproof, bullet proof, bomb proof).

In related news, Sir Mix-A-Lot was removed as Superintendent of Schools.; 5/12/22, 7:57 AM
Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...: The new insane meme: My body is bad; I need (government paid) surgery to correct it.

The old insane meme: Everyone gets an achievement award; self esteem is important.

The timeless sane meme: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.; 5/12/22, 8:23 AM
iowan2 said...: I must be in the minority.

How is the educational agenda hindered by not using material like this? I fail to see any purpose highlighting this material, adds to anything.; 5/12/22, 8:31 AM
n.n said...: 50 shades of pedophilia, pornographic industrial complex, and social progress.; 5/12/22, 10:05 AM
n.n said...: "...described butts in various colors, shapes and sizes..."

Ages? Baby... fetal butts?; 5/12/22, 10:06 AM
Mark said...: I got through the entirety of grade school, and probably junior high and high school, without any teacher talking to us about butts.

It can be done. Kids can receive a good and full education without their teachers talking about butts to them.; 5/12/22, 11:21 AM
Joe Smith said...: Fire every liberal teacher.

Nobody has the right to impose their bullshit and fetishes on kids.

I'm against all censorship, but there's a time and a place for everything.; 5/12/22, 11:30 AM
Joe Smith said...: Can Blogger get any worse?; 5/12/22, 11:31 AM
Rabel said...: 1. He was an assistant principal, not a teacher.

2. As I pointed out last time, there is a racial aspect.

3. Most readers won't understand that racial aspect as it cuts against standard prejudices.

4. The board might not say it but they felt that the white principal was disrespectful to their students and the work the board is trying to do with these difficult children.; 5/12/22, 11:35 AM
mikee said...: This book is the second grade version of the kindergarten favorite, "Everyone Poops."
Convince me I'm wrong.; 5/12/22, 12:20 PM
Temujin said...: You know, years ago Thomas Sowell described the average education curriculum at the university level as the least intellectual, least regarded of any on campus, and was attended by the lowest average SAT score achievers at any particular university. Obviously, there are outliers, but that was the first time I had read about just who was going into education and what was happening when they got there, then went on to teach.

That was in the mid-80s. Today it's that on steroids. I think if parents took the time at their PTA meetings to 'interview' the teachers handling their kids, asked them serious questions about things both in and outside of the classroom curriculum, there would be a mad dash to the nearest private or charter school and you would see the majority of people in this country demanding the undoing of our public education system.; 5/12/22, 12:38 PM
ngtrains said...: My AB degree was completed in 1960. So, I had a number of excellent women teachers. They were bright and dedicated. Many were not married. Even in our HS math department - we had a women with a Phd in MATH, My wife majored in math in college and went into high school teaching. I have a thought that is not been supported by many. Math teachers and many other subject matter teachers had few other opportunities in the 1950's. Now they do accounting, banking, investment research, etc, ao the brightest and best are no longer teaching young students.; 5/12/22, 5:12 PM
Rollo said...: I Need a New Butt

Wasn't that a Huey Lewis song?; 5/12/22, 6:45 PM
walter said...: Huey Lewis smirks.
If word problems involving farts were incorporated into math, young boys would be all over that.; 5/12/22, 8:00 PM
Ampersand said...: Here's the thing. Our country ranks 54th, yes 54th, in gluteal pedagogy. And these peckerhead philistines dare to object to an honest attempt to bring our young people into the 21st Century, so they can compete with China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Gabon in seat cushion technology that will be the key to global dominance in the 22nd Century. For shame!; 5/12/22, 8:51 PM