Agreed. But this is the kind of crap elementary schools just love to do. Any excuse for them to dress our kids in cute little outfits. I'm sure it will be followed by some activity involving glue and lots and lots of glitter.

Yeah, how about not at all? Is there a Spanish American history month? How about a European American History month? Jewish or Muslim American history months? Definitely no Japanese-American History month, and they were put into concentration camps just 70 years ago.

Having this idiotic token tribute on our calendar is an insult to this country, and to black people. It does nothing to address injustices of the past, and does nothing to build respect or understanding for the present.

It's a farce, and everyone with any sense of rationality knows it. Ending the idiocy will only help to blur racial boundaries.

Wow, this Fitzbaum guy REALLY doesn't like Black History Month....

Ok, a few points:

1. EVERY month is European-American History Month.
2. May is the Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month (asianpacificheritage.gov).
3. There's also a month for Jewish heritage.
4. And a month for Muslim heritage in Canada, but it hasn't been adopted in the United States yet.

These "history" months are designed not just to celebrate heritage, but also to get our children immersed in a culture and history that is different than their own.

If you think that National Black History Month is just a means of "atoning" for slavery and segregation, then you have missed the point entirely. This is about diversity and education, not guilt.

How many months in your year...or can months have more than one ethnic devotional inspiration ? Can November be shared by South Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and Gays. How about spliting December between between four or five groups (and they don't have to ethnic groups, let's throw in left-handed, obese, etc.). When somebody has to tell you that you're special, that's when you know you ain't.

Obviously, the teacher meant "African attire". It goes to show how intimidated educators have become with everyone bringing a magnifying glass to school to track possible mispronouncements.

why make a big deal out of it ? Just tell the teacher he/she made a mistake and go on from there. Black History month was instituted for us to learn. So in this case, the teacher learnt something.

Isn't it really like wearing something green - or drinking it - on St. Patrick's Day ? As my son said : during Black History Month, you learn something. On St. Patrick's Day, you get drunk..... Did any Irish person ever sue about that ?Did any North German ever sue because people think ALL Germans wear Dirndls ? No, neither did. Why ? Because they are above this pettiness. Let's hope all ethnicities can feel secure enough to let these little things go. They do not contribute anything to mutual understanding.

So - everyone get out their dashiki already !

Stupid, stupid, stupid. African American attire?? The African Americans I know dress just like I do and have most likely never set foot in Africa. Probably some flunky administrator who came up with the idea and is trying to get bonus points on his review with "increasing ethnic awareness" or some such nonsense. Racism is alive and well in this country and it takes more than a shirt with zebras to eradicate it.

ey, Fitzbaum, you are just too lazy to learn new things. There is a great need for people of all colors to learn about and read up upon African-Americans. A good theme would be for students to dress up as their favorite African- American scientist or inventor. That would instill new awe and respect into an entire group of people. What ? Scientists and inventors and statesmen, too ?

See what I mean ?

I thought it was wrong to say "black" shouldn't it be african american history month, even though there are very few actual African- Americans here who have imigrated from Africa, all those that want to use the term were born here and are Americans by birth nothing else

Susie-o. How can it be racism to ask students to dress in an African inspired dress during Black History Month ? Can you think of anything more appropriate ? Don't Hispanic children proudly don their colorful ethnic clothes whenever the school celebrates their heritage ? Ever been to a Luau ? Did you wear a Lei ? Was that racist ? Is it racist when Michelle wears dresses by white designers ?

You can really go too far. Obstinacy has never been a good tool.

EVERY month is European-American History Month.

Since when? Show us on any calendar where EVERY month is specifically designated European-American month. Where are all of the scheduled special diversity and cultural awareness educational events focused on European-Americans? Just because there are not designated times doesn't mean that those periods are by default European-American days/months/etc.

It's amazing that people want special recognition to make themselves feel equal.

Kris Craig, don't forget that October is Hispanic Heritage Month. March is Women's History Month.

Don't forget kids, let those pants sag waaaayyyy low down on your ass. And wear lots of gaudy gold chains too. How about a teardrop tatt by your eye?

Is the school going to issue a letter to the parents to have their kids "dress up" for the following:

Groundhog Day, Washington's Birthday, Easter, National Arbor Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Columbus Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Christmas, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, St. Patrick's Day, and Mardi Gras, to name a few.

Nah, nah, nah. Just make school a three ring circus INSTEAD OF TEACHING.

I thought they wanted the kids to dress in baggie pants,white t-shirts and a dark colored hoodie while adorning themselves with large, fake gold chains and a gangster style ballcap. But then again that is how most kids dress these days.

Actually this sort of thing is great. When I was on the school board in a VERY racist town in East Texas where the N word was tossed around freely in our schools, some non-black kids including some whites and Hispanics decided to call each other blacks and to wear the common dress of the black kids. In that deeply racist town, those kid's idea brought some humor to the issue and the black kids felt very supported by their friends. It cooled the entire racist tone and that was amazing since I never heard the "N" word used more prolifically than I had noticed in that school. I was so proud of those few wonderful young people who CHANGED the tone of discourse in that school and did it with their humerus idea, IT WORKED!

Fitzbaum: Regarding Black History Month as a whole, anything that serves to educate and inspire isn't a bad thing. My nephew, who is mixed, is currently visiting me. Just in spending time with him over the past few days, I've been noticing how much subtle negativity and racial put downs there are all around us about black people.

I'll agree that this school did a piss poor job with black history month (likely a clueless school teacher came up with the idea), but the larger effort is positive for everyone involved. Racial tensions are still high, and highlighting accomplishments within adversity is inspirational to all involved.

I am still struggling with how the gay community got offended and registered a complaint over this????? And as there isn't one particular or specific mode of dress which would encompass the entire African continent, I imagine that it would be hard in any event for parents to choose something appropriate that wouldn't offend at least one African nation on that continent. Strife between African nations is pretty common. Differences in culture are extreme from one end of the continent to the other. The teacher was guilty of trying to take a very complex social and political entity, and make it understandable for young students....and the adults are all flapping and fussing about political correct speak...

What could be more appropriate than showing up at school in blackface?

This is so stupid, it wasn't intentionally offensive, in fact other then it was a poor choice of words I think the idea was lovely. Some people need to stop jumping up and down everyone someone makes the slightest mistake. Personally I agree with Fitz, we don't need a black history month. Black history should be taught just like American history, Native American history, European history and so on. What happened was in the past and we 'should' learn about it so we don't repeat the same mistakes, but that doesn't mean we can't take the band-aid off and move on without taking offense over every stupid thing or trying to change books to be more "PC".

I'm thinking they were shooting for, "traditional African attire." That would be neither unreasonable nor uncommon for Black History Month.

and how many young kids have traditional african garb hanging around the closet? Was an incrediablly stupid idea and extremely racist

if the school had sent home a note asking the kids to come dress as white anglo-saxon Europeans blacks would have been marching in the streets and rioting, raping and burning the town down

stexan: " in their world THERE are only..." please tell me that was a typing error.

We have a cultural history week at school. All children come dressed as their ancestors. My children wore traditional Austrian clothes and brought Austrian snacks. There were several children who are of Nigerian decent and they wore several items that came directly from Nigeria. I think the letter home could have been worded better and ALL cultures should be celebrated.

It is certainly no problem to find material with African prints in any sewing store. If you can be authentic because you have some at home,wonderful. But the point is not that one should be authentic but that once occupies one's mind with the question. That is called learning. People from the Carribean have beautiful African garb and so do some in Louisiana.

And I o not see the need for all cultures to be celebrated. We have all seen enough Dirndls in our life times .....

How does dressing in "African" attire, with animal prints, etc.. celebrate or educate about Black History Month? How does it do anything other than reduce a culture down to a stereotypical "image" which is exactly what the education campaign is designed to correct. It's almost as bad as dressing kids in feathers and making paper tomahawks and dancing around whooping pretending to "honor" Native Americans.

Why not ask them to bring in a picture of a famous black in American history? Or an item invented by a Black American (carbon filament, peanut butter, or the Super Soaker water gun!). How about actually providing an educational activity that actually EDUCATES the kids rather then reinforcing stereotypes.

Does anyone realize what a morass we have made of society...that this one letter can receive so much attention, so much discussion, so much debate and editting......It is a miracle that our children learn anything at all, because in the age of political correct speech, and the absolute zero tolerance of anything or anyone that doesn't adhere 100% to political correct speaking and thinking, coupled with the fact that we cannot even laugh at ourselves, make jokes about anything (humor being the common denominator that proves we are all capable of making errors)......Wow, just trying to come up with a five minute presentation by a teacher must take literally weeks of preparation and review by every possibly offended entity on the planet. Get over it.....Yes, we all have unique cultural history, and it should be shared and understood. However, we have created a society where there is no sharing or understanding, only fear of saying the wrong thing, wearing the wrong thing....and fear prevents anyone from reaching out to the other side.

Are you suggesting that all those things are African American attire? Because you are very ignorant if you are. Keep believing those media stereotypes if you want to but you're only making yourself look dumb.

Define "decent."

Modest attire. It's a shame decent would need to be explained. No dictionary at home Kris? Age appropriate and reflecting respectable moral behavior.

Accepted American standard would be: Clean clothing consisting of a shirt with a collar, pants worn with a belt and clean socks & shoes. Clothing properly fitted, not excessively tight, allowing full range of motion, nor excessively loose that mechanical hazards may result. Skirt length no shorter than slightly above the knee.

Again for people like Kris that need the word "decent" defined for them I repeat: Reflecting appropriate and respectable moral behavior.

I found the dress code at my high school to be absolutely brilliant and simple. Students will demonstrate proper hygiene being bathed and hair combed....Clothing must cover the body from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the finger tips when the arms are stretched straight down at the sides of the body. The bottoms of the students feet will be covered at all times....that covered shorts, how short skirts could be, naked belly buttons, and sandals vs shoes and boots without having to go through pages of description and debate about what is the definition of this or that.

Where I live there are plenty white boys sporting that look. More than blacks anyway. So your statement lacks any kind of mirth.

I'm sorry.... I feel better now. My bad ya'll.

Then you get accused of giving them the silent treatment which is also a form of harassment.

yup

When I grew up, kids in the neighborhood used to tease each other about being Catholic, or Protestant or Irish or Italian or thin or fat or tall or short or smart or dumb-wearing glasses, wearing braces.....We were all friends, and we all had our days when we didn't want to talk to one another, or when we might be a lot less than kind to one person or the other....and we all learned to work it out, with very little interference from the parents....Each one of us was brought up that physical violence was not a solution to anything, but yet, our parents did not expect us to stand and be physically abused by others without doing something to protect ourselves, or perhaps to defend or protect somebody else. We all had to learn that sticks and stones would break our bones, but names are just words....and only have the power to hurt or diminish us, if we allowed it to. We wonder why our children spend all their time in a virtual world, computers, I pads, I pods, phones.....well, we have created so many rules, tried to forsee every single obstacle that might cross their paths (used to be called learning experiences) that being a child, interacting with each other is simply not exciting. We have posted everywhere that there is not playing, congregating, bike riding, skating, skateboarding, ball playing. We have stripped playgrounds of whatever equipment might cause a lawsuit (children do not file suit over breaking an arm-they are the coolest kid in class and everyone wants to sign the cast), instead of teaching proper responses to provocation, the schools have enacted zero tolerance which means that the bullied as well as the bully are penalized for an altercation. Parents fear child predators, so children cannot be let out of sight of responsible adults (and even that isn't a guarantee of safety)....organized park district and Y programs cost money and require that kids be transported to and from the activities which doesn't work with parents having to work full time to afford the activity...(kids don't use public transportation or walk to destinations or ride bikes to destinations.....see reasons noted above) We strip physical education as an expendable requirement for schooling, and then we yell at them for being overweight and out of shape.....Yup, it is so great to be a kid in 2012 where the adults have taken safety to the level of....well, you may as well just escape into a virtual world where you are allowed to tell ethnic jokes and wrestle with opponents....run, climb, jump, hide, build forts......all the things that adults have deemed unsafe for children to do. At least for now......

the truth hurts.

Thanks for the note. I hope your comment gets quoted in full with the MSNBC article...but I doubt they will. Instead, this incompletely-reported story will get propagated to every corner of the internet.

I would love to see MY culture recognized in such a way. Oh, wait, I'm a straight "white" man, who doesn't wear his religion on his sleeve, and not Irish, Jewish, German or Hispanic, so apparently I don't count.

When I was in college (at a public university) we had a whole building devoted to "cultural programs" offices - some of which had religious rather than cultural definitions, and there was one for hardcore Christians, one for women and one for gays. NONE of them included me. When one of my friends wrote a letter to the editor of the school paper about it, the editor replied with an editorial (signed with her female, hispanic, and hyphenated name) accusing the author of wanting to start a Klan chapter.

These people who say "well, you get the rest of the year" are full of it. Maybe they'll come to my Bastille Day party and see what I mean.

I like to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day.....

That's not exactly fair. African Americans descend from the west african groups that were enslaved by other Africans, sold to traders and shipped via the Middle Passage to Cuba and the United States before ending up in the deep south; at least until the trade was outlawed by the UK and then the US (which outlawed the trade but not the practice). East Africa was subjected to slavery, but those slaves were transported to the Middle East.

Our country now represents almost all the nations of Africa in terms of heritage....Many came here for educational opportunity and then chose to stay....We can't say that all African Americans are from the East or West Coasts of the continent. I imagine that we have South Africans as well, who came here to avoid the practice of appartheid. You cannot categorize the entire continent or culture with a mode of dress. It is an ever changing, complex network of society and cultures.

One of the great struggles for all African nations is the preservation of the rich wildlife eco-systems, elimination of poaching....the wildlife factors heavily into African history. Society differences are often dictated by differences in climate and the availability and type of resources that a community has. The animal prints, to my way of thinking, represent the inter-relatedness of African culture and society with the wildlife that surrounds them. It is still a source of food for some cultures, and definitely changes the way society operates to live in harmony with such a diverse wildlife.

Kids rejoice at a trip to the zoo as a class field trip, no so much the museum....I think you are right, it spurs interest that can be channeled into other areas of conversation.

If we truly educate our children to be color blind, to accept each other equally, to acknowledge everyone's right to strive and compete and to gain success, then we shoot ourselves in the foot to clutter their minds with terms like diversity....(divisive is a derivative word). We should teach world history acknowledging that all nations and all cultures have negative times in their past, and that some of the negative conditions still exist. We should acknowledge that Americans come from all national backgrounds, and that all of those backgrounds faced some hardships assimilating to the New World-even the pale white explorers and early settlers had to struggle with unfamiliar terrain, animals, weather conditions, and native populations that were so different as to be frightening just by that difference-there were no manuals to prepare these people for what they faced, nor for the waves of immigrants from all over the world that came at varying times in our history. We have muddled along as a nation and a society. We have made mistakes, and some have been corrected, others still needing more work. It is a process. We look at history through the filter of modern eyes and ideals.....At the time of colonization, slavery was a world wide practice, viewed as the spoils of war for a more powerful and wealthy nation...Slavery has existed just about as long as mankind has with kingdoms subjecting other kingdoms and using force to gain compliance from the conquered. America does not have a patent on that, and in the scope of American history, we should be proud that as a nation, we addressed some of these abuses in a relatively short time frame comparatively to the history of other nations, where enslavement existed for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Let us look at history as it is instead of rewriting it to be politically correct. We can state that the early explorers were abusive to native Americans, and at the same time demonstrate how the views of the society at the time shaped the behaviors we find abhorent. The point of history is to learn from past mistakes, as well as to emulate success, so we can move forward and do better for the future and for everyone.

Dude, where the hell are you from? If you are going to post, learn
how to spell or use the spell checker.

Now thts funny