Student wearing Broncos jersey forced to take test on floor

[TeamBoone]

Is this "ethnicity" class designed to teach students what it feels like to be different? That's my read. And if that's the case, then it did exactly what it's designed to do. It doesn't mean the teacher was actually ticked off because the kid is a Denver fan.

Remember the age old "test" of brown-eyed students vs blue-eyed students, which was designed to teach students what it feels like to be the subject of discrimination?

[GAC]

I agree with TB on this one.

I guess it really depends on the objective the teacher was trying to illustrate in a ethnicity class. If he was simply to humiliate a student because he wore a Denver jersey, then obviously that would be wrong. But if he was trying to illustrate to this student (and the class) about the effects discrimination and hatred has on an individual because they are different, then it could be an effective tool.

[KittyDuran]

Is this "ethnicity" class designed to teach students what it feels like to be different? That's my read. And if that's the case, then it did exactly what it's designed to do. It doesn't mean the teacher was actually ticked off because the kid is a Denver fan.

Remember the age old "test" of brown-eyed students vs blue-eyed students, which was designed to teach students what it feels like to be the subject of discrimination?

I agree, if this was in any other class, well I guess I'd be shocked. Actually, I was the typical picked on kid in school. I was a loner, and even though I made good grades, I HATED school. Got along with some teachers, but others seem to be out to get me [well it seemed that way] I was called all kinds of names by some of the kids (some not printable) with one of the nicer names being "crow" because of my long nose and dark hair. If there was any physical harm in all of this, I'm sure my parents would come to my rescue - but since I also got picked on by my sisters at home - they knew I would take it. For me, the "real world" was a lot better than school.

[Yachtzee]

If it was an experiment, it was a poor one.

1. If you're going to conduct an experiment, make sure the subject is cool with it.
2. If you're going to give a midterm exam, don't mess with the evironment so that one person has to take the exam in a substantially different manner than the other students.
3. Again, football fandom is not a reason for treating someone poorly, especially when you are an authority figure. All that does is ratchet up the abuse that kid gets for the rest of the day, because now everybody thinks it's okay to give the kid holy hell because "a teacher did it too."

When you are a person in a position of authority, you have to be careful how you conduct yourself among those subject to your authority. Playful ribbing can quickly escalate to serious abuse because other students suddenly feel they have license to act out because the teacher started it.

Maybe I'm more sensitive to it as a former teacher and a Bengals fan living in Brownstown, but I just don't see how anyone can justify treating someone poorly over a football game. And if it was just an experiment, it was ill-timed and poorly executed.

[ghettochild]

i heard about this on mike and mike and started roflling

[Crash Davis]

Is this "ethnicity" class designed to teach students what it feels like to be different? That's my read. And if that's the case, then it did exactly what it's designed to do. It doesn't mean the teacher was actually ticked off because the kid is a Denver fan.

Remember the age old "test" of brown-eyed students vs blue-eyed students, which was designed to teach students what it feels like to be the subject of discrimination?

Was it a "lesson" or was it "silly fun"?

It sounds to me like a lesson in power trips. If you have the authority, you can bully a teenager over something as meaningless as football.

I'd like to see the teacher try that on another adult. It sounds like he's not the kind of guy who wants anything to do with a fair fight...make sure all of the power is on your side when you try something like that.

[Crash Davis]

If this student...age 17...really felt humiliated because he had to - gasp - sit on the floor, and - horror of horrors - had paper wads thrown at him, he needs to grow a pair.

Otherwise, life is gonna chew this boy up & spit him out once he leaves the friendly bubble of high school and enters the real world.

He was wearing a Broncos jersey to school in Pennsylvania a few days before a Denver-Pittsburgh AFC title game. He knew he was going to get crap. He was begging to take some crap.

If you can't take it, then don't dish it out.

I'd like to see the teacher "grow a pair" when the power is on the other side of the ledger.

You wanna throw paper? Oh, we'll throw paper. Rolls of it. Eggs too. And that will hardly be the worst of it. In the morning, when he sees his house, lawn and vehicle, then we'll see who received the "lesson". Life can chew up a teacher and spit him out too.

Or does that only work one way? Only the person in the position of authority is allowed to misuse his power for humiliation purposes?

Don't like your houses being vandalized? Grow a frickin' pair! This is the real world, baby!

[Hoosier Red]

I think the kid is being a bit whiny about this. I had a teacher throw water on me because I wore a UC shirt the day of the 91 Crosstown shootout. She knew I could take the joke there.

On the flip side, the teacher's excuse of trying to teach a lesson is bunk.

He played a joke on the student, the student didn't think it was funny, he should have apologized, given the kid a chance to re-take the test, and the world would have moved on.

My question is who called the media? More than likely the kid. If he's afraid of "retaliation" now that the story has gotten to the media, maybe he needs to look into who leaked the story.

[bucksfan]

Unless the kid was acting up and being a loudmouth about his rooting interests, that was way out of line. I can imagine getting verbally razzed from my teachers, but they would have never made me take a test on the floor (whether they thought I could "take it" or not).

Other students are another matter entirely. You can predict that some kids may act poorly.

[Johnny Footstool]

My question is who called the media? More than likely the kid.

The kid's parents, I'd imagine.

[REDREAD]

Totally inappropriate for the teacher to play a joke during a test.

It would be different if he did it during a normal class and it was over in 5 min.
But I think the kid has a legit beef that he was forced to do this during an exam/test.

[Heath]

If I am the Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, I'm finding this kid and offering him a free package deal including tickets, airfare, hotel, meals, locker-room visits, merchandise, etc for a football weekend next year in Denver. It might seem expensive for us, but a little out of petty cash for the Broncos would seal the deal.

Then WHO would have the last laugh....

[dsmith421]

I agree with TB on this one.

I guess it really depends on the objective the teacher was trying to illustrate in a ethnicity class. If he was simply to humiliate a student because he wore a Denver jersey, then obviously that would be wrong. But if he was trying to illustrate to this student (and the class) about the effects discrimination and hatred has on an individual because they are different, then it could be an effective tool.

And I think it's after-the-fact rationalization by a teacher who knows he a) went too far and b) is in danger of losing his job.

That explanation, in my opinion, is so patently ludicrous I can't believe anyone is taking it seriously.

[savafan]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06027/645419.stm


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QB Elway sends gift to student reportedly taunted for Broncos jersey

Friday, January 27, 2006

BEAVER COUNTY

Joshua Vannoy expected a little ribbing when he wore a John Elway jersey to Big Beaver Area Senior High School before the AFC Championship game pitting the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Denver Broncos.

But he didn't expect a teacher and classmates to turn on him, to have to stay home from school because he fears for his safety or to make national headlines.

His parents and attorney will meet with school officials today to see if he can drop a course without failing and if it's OK for him to return to school.

The controversy has even gotten the legendary Mr. Elway involved. The former Broncos quarterback sent Joshua, 17, a gift. Joshua will be watching the next game from an Elway Home reclining massage chair, with No. 7's signature on it.

[Yachtzee]

The controversy has even gotten the legendary Mr. Elway involved. The former Broncos quarterback sent Joshua, 17, a gift. Joshua will be watching the next game from an Elway Home reclining massage chair, with No. 7's signature on it.

Rumor has it, Elway got the chair off of eBay from a user named d_miley2005.