She Who Will Be Obeyed!: Did you know that saying the word 'noose' can get a kid suspended?

November 29, 2007

Did you know that saying the word 'noose' can get a kid suspended?

Lee's Summit, Missouri, is a very nice suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. The public schools there have decided that a kid in the band must be punished for admitting that he knows how to tie a knot for a noose -

From the Fox Article:

Travis Grigsby loves playing drums, but he and his friend Alex Coday weren't able to play for two weeks after they were suspended. It started after the band's performance at a football game. Some kids on the drum line said they were talking about the best knots to use to tie up the drum equipment.

"Someone asked if anybody knew how to tie a noose and Travis did admit he knew how to tie a noose," Kim Grigsby said.

Travis' mom said her son is almost an Eagle Scout, he knew how to tie it, but told his friends he wouldn't because you could get in trouble for that. Later, a black student on the drum line told the teacher he was offended.

"Travis was accused of using a racial slur for saying the word 'noose.' Then he was suspended for 10 days," Kim said.

She said the school district accused the boys of having a racially charged conversation about nooses, but Travis and Alex insist that's not what happened.

"I don't feel they let Alex or Travis tell their side of the story," Kim said.

Alex's parents wrote to the district saying this is pushing the kids apart instead of bringing them together. Other kids and parents agree.

"We just want what's fair for our boys," Kim said. "They're good boys, get good grades, participate in school activities."

The school did shorten the kids' school suspension to only five days, but it will affect their grades.

"They are being punished beyond what is even near reasonable," Kim said.

The school district said it can't comment because of privacy issues, but said no one is aware of any racial tensions at the school. The administrators said they did investigate it thoroughly.

Please, read the entire story here.

I originally heard about this incident while listening to Darla Jaye on KMBZ Radio. One of the mothers was interviewed. She is talking about this on the radio now, and I can only say that I'jm so glad that Andy is in college, not high school!!!

I wonder if they school hands out a list of verboten words at the beginning of the school year? I'd love to know what words are on it.

Have they verified that the word, noose, is not in any history books? It's crazy.

Posted by Beth at November 29, 2007 10:46 AM

Comments

Have those people no nous?

Posted by: Justthisguy at November 30, 2007 2:04 PM

I have it on good report that the Coast Guard and Navy beat these PeeCee schools to the anti-noose punch by a couple hundred years.

Going back to the day when serious miscreants aboard ship were hanged at the yardarm, the tying of a hangman's noose has ALWAYS been forbidden aboard ship, EXCEPT FOR EXECUTIONS, and is to this day.

The theory goes that it is bad luck, and if nooses are tied, even for practice, some poor gob will get in trouble and wind up being hanged! Apparently, there were regulations supporting the prohibition, and violating it was a flogging offense.

Have John check this out via his sources, but I have it from a Bosun's Mate in the USCG.

Posted by: Rivrdog at November 30, 2007 7:01 PM