Girls suspended for the use of the word "Vagina"

[Squatch]

Link

CROSS RIVER - Saying the word "vagina" during a reading at a John Jay High School open mic session has resulted in suspension for three female students and has sparked a debate about censorship throughout the community.

School administrators had warned the girls it would be inappropriate to say the word while reading a selection from Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues," but the students were willing to suffer the consequences.

<snip>

School board President Peter Breslin said the decision to suspend the students was not about censorship, but rather about insubordination. He said school administrators had been concerned about the use of the word because young children would be at the open mic session, and the girls had agreed not to say it.

<snip>

All three girls read the final line together, as a sign of unity.

[sarcasmo]

1. Why is this country so DAMN uptight. Is it the Religion that makes people this way?

[kath]

yep, it's religion.

Fundy whackjobs do sooooo much damage...

[acmavm]

25. Not all religion. I get sick of people lumping all people of

faith in one bundle of backwards idiots.

There are professionals, scientists, doctors, educators, people of all classes and descriptions who believe in God but aren't backward assholes. I like to think I'm one of them.

[Parche]

121. RELIGION

I also believe in GOD/Creator, but that is NOT organized religion

I despise any organized religion for just that point, I dont believe anyone should tell me where
to go on Sunday, what to or not to eat on certain days, how to think.......etc

[PVnRT]

33. Religious fundamentalists

not just religion.

[Kelly Rupert]

2. I applaud the school.

If girls start saying the word "Vagina," it won't be long before they start developing them.

[babylonsister]

111. ...and we can't have that!

:rofl:

[XNASA]

3. Trouble might have been averted, if only......

They used the term 'va-jay-jay' instead.

[aquart]

4. If only George would say, "vagina."

[noonwitch]

5. I don't think that "The Vagina Monologues" is appropriate for high school

It's more of a college thing. It's not an appropriate play for high school students. It's just easier for the school to avoid that particular controversy.

[endarkenment]

19. Yeah 'cause it is not like anyone actually has a vagina in high school.

Why exactly is this not appropriate for high school?

[Cronus Protagonist]

59. Hahaha - yer right!

I happen to know a few 13 year old kids and the word vagina is as familiar to them as "ice cream". As for the 17 year olds that I know, the word vagina is absolutely in common usage, although some prefer the more colloquial nomenclature. :P

[Horse with no Name]

20. You mean young girls don't have vaginas?

They just whisper and point and say "down there".:eyes:

[PVnRT]

30. In high school

we read a classical Greek play, written by a woman whose name I can't remember, in which at one point one of the women lifts up the another's dress and exclaims "My, how nicely your garden's weeded!"

[Reverend_Smitty]

47. Hell, most Shakespeare plays are just as "racy"

yet they are read and seen by school children every day. I think Julius Caesar is his only play without any sexual innuendo.

[PVnRT]

117. Exactly

But Shakespeare is considered all highbrow and smartlike, so it's a harder target to take down at the time being.

[geardaddy]

102. Hahahaha!

"The *point* 'down there' Dialogues"

[riderinthestorm]

26. Oh damn! I guess I'm in trouble now cause I took my 16 year old and a couple of her friends to see

the play!! Must. Be. Punished. :eyes: Poor things exposed to all of those ideas about their (gasps, looks around furtively ) vaginas!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

68. I don't think censorship is appropriate for high school.

It's more of a Nazi Germany thing.

[Elidor]

91. If the mere word 'vagina' is inappropriate for high school

Then presumably, so is sex ed. Ignorance of sexuality is a dangerous thing.

[mzmolly]

6. What if she had said "gynie?"

:P

[endarkenment]

7. Insubordination is the only sane response.

Good for them. We should all be insubordinate.

[unpossibles]

8. Who's Afraid of Vagina, Wolf?

If I got in trouble, I probably would have replied, "would you prefer I said 'pussy'?"


In case you can't tell I was always in trouble growing up.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. I suppose substituting the term "pee-pee" would have been appropriate. n/t

[kestrel91316]

50. Well, no, "pee-pee's" the OTHER hole.

[NotGivingUp]

10. the school is right...the girls are wrong.

[Richard Steele]

14. Any chance you'll enlighten us as to why you feel this way?

[Richard Steele]

52. *crickets*

[Richard Steele]

65. "Final Jeopardy" theme.....

[Richard Steele]

103. Stiiiiillll waiting....

[kath]

15. of course, the school is ALWAYS right. Authority must not be questioned.

Blind obedience is the highest virtue.

[endarkenment]

21. ironclad logic there. nt.

[onyourleft]

22. Why is the school correct?

When raising my children, I went out of my way to make sure that they learned the correct terminology for body parts so that they would not embarrass themselves or others. What is improper about correct terminology? Is the word "nose" improper? Is the word "eye" improper? If a young child hears the word "vagina", doesn't know its meaning and inquires, what is wrong with that?

Edited for an improper punctuation mark.

[tnlefty]

39. Jeeeze, the correct terminology is 'snot locker', not 'nose' and an 'eye'

is a 'jelly orb'!!! :sarcasm:

I, too, used the correct terms for body parts with my kids from their earliest days. It was only upon entering school that they would come home and ask me about slang terms they'd heard.

[proud2BlibKansan]

And I call it a coulter

[geardaddy]

104. *gasp*!

You said 'nose' instead of 'schnoz' and 'eye' instead of 'peeper'.

Oh the humanity!

[CTyankee]

118. some women prefer "vagina" to "vulva" when they actually mean

vulva. I don't know why they just don't like "vulva." Is it because it is the outer genitalia, while vagina is inner? Why is that a problem?

[kestrel91316]

51. Right. Got to train those little whores that they must NEVER EVER

question authority.

[babylonsister]

113. You are joking, right? Why is the school right? It's a body part, fer

cryin' out loud. Not a curse, not a vulgar term, a body part.

[TommyO]

130. Um, OK

:wtf:

[Richard Steele]

139. Still waiting.

[IronLionZion]

142. The girls were told not to say it, they agreed, and did it anyway

that's deliberate insubordination. It doesn't matter what the word was. There are many other outlets to excercise our first amendment rights.

I agree with the school.


On an entirely unrelated note, I started a lounge thread here on DU about my friend Tara who wants to start a taco restaurant called Tara's Tasty Taco. The thread was locked.

[Richard Steele]

11. Why not suspend students for saying "earlobe" or "bicuspid"? Makes just as much sense. nm

[Nickster]

16. Exactly. What the heck is with all this puritanical crap. It's a body part for cripes sake. n/t

[krispos42]

75. or "Asymptote"?

That could be a bad word, too...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymptote

[Richard Steele]

94. And don't even get me STARTED on "uvula"! nm

[krispos42]

96. The students should have consulted George Carlin about alternatives

I understand he made quite a list of alternative names for the vagina.

Not wanting to be spanked by the mods, I'll just let those in the know laugh a little.

Think "Chicken of the Sea", combined with a popular 4-letter Mexican entree, for starters. :evilgrin:

[geardaddy]

105. Your epidermis is showing!

;)

[Richard Steele]

109. Ack! How embarrassing!

[Left Is Write]

12. WHO CARES if young children would be present?

Is it okay to tell a young boy that the thing dangling between his legs is called a penis?

Why THE HELL is it not okay for young girls to know the term for their own anatomy?

Why is "vagina" in appropriate? Are words like abdomen, patella, and cranium inappropriate?

Good for those girls and their civil disobedience.

[riderinthestorm]

13. Yeah, maybe they should have used "cootchie snorcher" or

"hoo ha" or "cunt" or any of the hundreds of nicks in the Vagina Monologues - that would have been WAAAAAY better than using the correct anatomical term. :eyes:

[TommyO]

131. I thought the correct term was "cha-cha"

Cartman: "Mom, who stuck their hoo-hoo-dilly in your cha-cha?"

[sakabatou]

17. Oy vey...

It's a freakin' medical term >_<

[Horse with no Name]

18. Hmmmm

It's a damn good thing they didn't utter the words "arm" or "leg".
You know those darn body parts can be a real controversial thing.:eyes:

[unpossibles]

23. I wonder what their sex ed classes are like there

maybe they only say "hoo hah" and "devil berries"

[Reverend_Smitty]

28. I was wondering that myself

[Bandit]

40. Sex Education Class

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Where the hell do you think you live in some enlightened country or something?

[Ian David]

24. They were supposed to say "hoo-hoo" or "The Dark Pit Of Evil That Caused The Fall From Gracce." n/t

[Occulus]

35. .

:rofl:

[ContraBass Black]

They shouldn't have agreed not to say it.

That might weaken their case against the school.

[Squatch]

29. So, they changed their minds. Not like it was a contractural

obligation.

[ContraBass Black]

34. If the school allowed the play on the basis of that agreement, it is a contract,

And they violated their end.

[Squatch]

37. So, the school is the authority that "allows" free speech nowadays?

I, for one, welcome my school overlords.

[ContraBass Black]

41. Not just nowadays.

As the Supreme Court ruled during the era of Vietnam War protests, the administrations of schools and other "special institutions" can supersede First Amendment rights.

[Squatch]

43. Oh, really?

On what grounds?

Here, let me help you to the natural conclusion of this conversation:

- On the grounds that such speech is deemed disruptive.

- So, the word "vagina" is disruptive?

- Yes

- Why is that?

- Because kids giggle at it.

- Well, then EDUCATORS aren't doing their job in EDUCATING their students that a vagina is a medical, anatomical term that describes a part of the human body, are they?

- Um...it's disruptive! Leave me alone! Mommy!!!

[ContraBass Black]

57. Not the conclusion of this conversation.

I don't agree with the school's decision or the punishment, nor am I suggesting that I do. I am speculating about the school's reasoning, and trying to recall the relevant ruling on free speech in schools.

Do not insult my intelligence or maturity.

- So, the word "vagina" is disruptive?

- Yes

- Why is that?

- Because kids giggle at it.

Sad and ridiculous though it may be, that seems to be their reasoning exactly. That, and preventing parents the trouble of answering "Mommy, what's a vagina?" etc.

[kath]

48. No, they didn't - they ruled, in Tinker v. Des Moines in 1969, that

"First Amendment rights, applied in light of the special characteristics of the school environment, are available to teachers and students. It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate. This has been the unmistakable holding of this Court for almost 50 years."

[ContraBass Black]

54. I may have mistaken the specific wordings of the majority and dissenting opinions,

Or a misleading summary. I will respond if I find the specific text I am looking for.

[riderinthestorm]

32. No doubt they should never have agreed to the restriction in the first place

bit the real issue is why the school would censor their use of the word "vagina" in the first place?

[heidler1]

62. Adults promote devious methods in children by demanding

conformance before allowing the kids to present the play and then the adults over react when the kids trick them. All of this stuff is even on public TV, get used to it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

70. Au contraire.

If they hadn't agreed, they wouldn't have gotten on stage, if they hadn't gotten on stage, they wouldn't have exposed their school's admin as utterly incompetent.

[endarkenment]

72. It was the only way they were allowed to read the material.

it was a coerced agreement to begin with. These brave women's acts of civil disobedience should be saluted, (phallic connotations not intended) not nit-picked.

[wicket]

27. What's so offensive about my vagina?

:shrug:

[Squatch]

31. You should be ashamed that you even have one.

:sarcasm:

[Occulus]

38. Do you really want to ask THIS crowd THAT question?

:evilgrin:

[TahitiNut]

64. Well, some of us don't venture an opinion without examining the evidence. So ...

:evilgrin:

[wicket]

66. LOL

Too true :D

[krispos42]

77. I've seen some of your vagina's posts in the Lounge

It's like listening to Andrew Dice Clay AND Sam Kinison!

:rofl:

[wicket]

80. LOL!

Stop it, you're killing me!!! :D

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Forkboy]

42. So I guess "c**t" is right out then?

Fucking idiotic school.How dare they use correct terminology.

The nerve of kids today with their fire and their wheel!

[Oeditpus Rex]

44. Breaking: School board president Peter Breslin heard saying to female board member

"Nice funbags."

:eyes:

[NashVegas]

45. It IS Insubordination

And good for them!

This is a positive example of people standing up to silliness.

[kestrel91316]

46. "Vagina" is not a dirty word. "Vagina" is not an epithet.

What "vagina" is, is a MEDICAL AND ANATOMIC TERM.

God, I hate stupid, ignorant people people. This is where "Christian" homeschooling and burying your face in the bible and praying to Jebus to the exclusion of all other productive activity gets you - school administrators who think "vagina" is a dirty word.

[shain from kane]

49. Suspended for saying it? What's the punishment for using it? What's the boyfriend's punishment

for using it? And who's keeping track? Mandatory examinations by Homeland Security?

[Orsino]

53. Not just for using the word! They were in POSSESSION of vaginas...

...on school property. We can't let this sort of misbehavior go unpunished, or all the girls will be bringing them.

[GreenPartyVoter]

55. They should have used a Harpo Marx style horn instead of the word

It would have been so over the top and absurd I think it would have made the point as well as saying it outright. LOL

[babylonsister]

115. The image in my mind! I was about to get all p.o.ed about the content

of the OP, and you DUers talked me down! :rofl:

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[youthere]

58. They were supposed to call it a "bajingo". LOL.

[Initech]

60. Why am I suddenly reminded of Maude Lebowski's speech in TBL?

"Vagina. Just saying the word makes some men uncomfortable, whereas without batting an eye, a man will refer to his dick or his rod, or his johnson."

[trumad]

61. In Old School we called it Beaver?

These kids today....

[aroach]

63. Good grief

My eight year old has know what her vagina is for several years now. Just last night at dinner she said she was going to adopt a baby when she grows up because she doesn't want to squeeze one out of her vagina. I guess we should ban her from the dinner table -- her little brother was present.

[aikoaiko]

67. Mulva? Delores?

hehe.

[LizW]

78. LOL! n/t

[lectrobyte]

93. Too funny!

[sinkingfeeling]

69. Any suggestions of what they should have called the piece of a woman's anatomy correctly

called a 'vagina'?

Goes hand in hand with people wanting to take back the Newbery Medal from "The Higher Power of Lucky" for using the word “scrotum”.

[aikoaiko]

71. If the school ok'ed the monologue's substance then I can't see how they canban the word vagina

I mean, I can understand, not agree with, but understand how they might not think the monologues are not appropriate for school, but thats not that they did. Apparently, they ok'ed the substance of the excerpt, but wanted one word changed.

They don't have a labia to stand on.

[Zodiak]

73. Insubordination

That was what got me into trouble in high school. I wear the insubordination monniker like a badge of honor. Who the hell wants to be subordinate, anyways?

Good on the girls. If they carry that attitude the rest of their lives, they will go places.

[TreasonousBastard]

74. Sooo.... if they coiuldn/t say it, how did...

they credit the work?

We now have a reading from "The (censored) Monologues"

[niyad]

76. Just got off the phone with the assistant principal --Lisa Kor. apparently a few things were left

out of the article, which might make things look just a little less horrible for the school (or not)

As the article said, this was an open mic night--a poetry thing to which the whole community is invited. Ms. Kor said that they did not know that the young women intended to read from the VM until noon of the day of the event. Her concern was that there was not time to let the public know that there might be some material that people who might be bringing younger children might find a bit adult. She told me that had the event not been community wide-or had they had enough time to let people know, that she would have allowed it without any problems. One of the other concerns was that the event was being filmed, for local access cable.

She told me that she applauds the girls' moral compass, their willingness to do what they think is right, and to accept the consequences of their actions. She is proud of them.

She also told me that there is going to be a press conference later today to talk about this. (She also wanted to know how a person in CO had found out about it, didn't enlighten her.)

So, I don't know if this makes things any better or not. I explained that my reaction was based, in part, on living here in fundieville with all the little "sex is evil, sex is dirty" morans, and that was what it looked like to me.

By the way, she also indicated that she is a liberal.

[Forkboy]

79. The local access channel on Cape Cod showed wet t-shirt contests

I hate this fucking "we're afraid to offend the delicate sensibilities of closed-minded twits" mentality.

Liberal? Maybe. Cowardly? Most certainly.

[endarkenment]

81. Which part of 'open mic' does Lisa Kor not understand?

I find her explanations dubious at best. And the part where these women are to be disciplined for 'insubordination', does Ms. Kor have a position on that?

[Hosnon]

86. Even though the forum is "open", it is reasonable to assume that there are

still some restrictions, e.g., non-artistic, pointless strings of curse words, threats to the audience members.

Put another way, the term "open mic" could be used within a preexisting set of perimeters. Open Mic Night at a bar and Open Mic Night at church seem to have different sets.

I think her explanation was quite credible.

[endarkenment]

89. Well indeed had they run off a "pointless strings of curse words"

you would have a point. Instead they read from a very well known play that has been performed all over the world. So I am still missing the part where they overstepped any obvious bounds of propriety at an 'open mic' night. Instead church lady syndrom struck again (and no offense indended to those women who both attend church and are strong civil libertarians, nor are church ladies necessarily women, in fact a majority are likely men.) When are we going to grow up as a society? When are we going to stop see-sawing between hedonism and puritanism and find a rational balance?

[Hosnon]

100. I think the examples I gave were examples of the situations in which

the vast majority of us would agree could be limited. This particular example is a bit more difficult. Was the speech appropriate for the venue? It is a judgment call.

[Goblinmonger]

101. So doing a scene from Equus

would have been fine with you. It is a well known play that has been performed all over the world.

[endarkenment]

107. I wouldn't have a problem with that at all.

It is a well known play that has been performed all over the world, a respected work of art, a movie that was well reviewed.

Why are you so afraid of discussions about sex?

[Goblinmonger]

110. At a school-sponsored open mic

where the public is invited and routinely brings young children? With no mention to the public that there might be subject matter not appropriate for young children?

That's not a problem talking about sex. That is common consideration of other people's feelings. Given warning, fine. But that wasn't the case and that is what the asst. principal has said is the issue.

[riderinthestorm]

126. So you don't think "young children" should hear the word vagina?

Why do you believe saying vagina would be such a problem that it would cause anyone to have to consider "common consideration of people's feelings"? Why would anyone need a "warning" that they were about to hear the word vagina?? How could this possibly be an issue?

[Goblinmonger]

135. Do you really think this is just about

using the word vagina in a clinical sense? There is some content in that play that some parents might not want their young children to hear. There was a thread in here just a few days ago about parents bringing their kids to R rated movies and a whole hell of a lot of people flipped out about that. Vagina Mononlogues would probably be R rated. Or are you arguing for a complete free marketplace where all literature is shown to all people regardless of age?

There are some parents that may not want their young (remember this was open to the community--we may be talking 2, 3, 4 year old children) kids to be exposed to this. Are we just supposed to shit on what those parents think because you think differently? Is that the role of the school in society? Shouldn't schools be teaching tolerance of other people's viewpoints and if someone doesn't want their 3 year old hearing a discussion about using the word vagina wouldn't it be tolerant to not force that 3 year old to hear that? Shouldn't a progressive web site be advancing the notion that people think differently and those differences should be respected? The Principal clearly said that it would not have been an issue if they would have had advanced notice so they could let community members know and decide for themselves. That seems to be a reasonable position and I can't believe people are popping a gasket because of it.

[riderinthestorm]

138. The principal did not forbid their selection from VM, he forbid them to use "vagina" from the play

This isn't about the girls' selection from the play, it was about the word "vagina", period.

It is about using that word in public, this is not about the play or it's content. Re-read the article.

Children as young as 2,3,5 - hell pick an age, should be taught about their bodies using appropriate vocabulary for their body parts. If you have children you know that ALL of them LOVE to play with their genitalia from the time they are freed of diapers, and questions about their anatomy fly fast and furious - especially for toddlers (eschatalogically obsessed that they are). If a parent is using hoo-ha, or cootchie snorcher, or (insert your pet name here), they are instilling the first seeds of shame - and there is nothing shameful about "vagina". Frankly I am aghast that any progressive takes THAT position and believes that word needs "advance notice", a "warning" to the public that they were about to hear the word.

And remember, this is a HIGH SCHOOL event: yes, it may have been open to the community but this was put on by the high school, with high school students. Vagina is more than age appropriate here.

[Goblinmonger]

140. Just so we are clear

I am a high school English teacher. I think the suspension is crap. If it were at my school, I would go to bat for the girls.

My point is that this is a community event and the principal has a better finger on the pulse of the community. Principals are ultimately responsible to the community. It was the decision of the principal that the community would want some indication that this was going to occur. I can understand that to some extent. Funding comes from the community and the principal needs to worry about that. Sad but true.

I get what you are saying, believe me. I coach speech at the high school and have been "talked to" because of some of the wording in selections that my students have been doing for competiton and then did for a high school talent competition (A duo team of mine that got 4th at the state tournament did their selection which included the term "spread-eagle slut" and you would have thought they killed someone live on stage).

I know it seems like I am jumping around here, but my point is that so many times on DU people hop on the bandwagon of saying that school districts and teachers are shitty for whatever reason when we really don't know what is going on in that local. The discussion that someone posted with the principal made it seem like the administration was reasonable. I think (and the principal thought) that what the girls did was the right thing. Maybe I'm just sick of public education being dumped on, I don't know.

[NiteOwll]

133. Open mic night at a high school suggests to me

that there's probably not going to be a lot of Barney songs and Sesame Street skits. I'm not so far out of high school that I don't remember what high school age kids are interested in. They're always testing the limits. Why would anyone even bring young kids?

I think the school overreacted.

[Goblinmonger]

136. How do you know what this open mic was like?

It was an open mic night that the whole community came to at the local high school. That indicates to me that there was some history of the content being aimed at society at a whole and not edgy. If this had been an open mic at 9pm at the local coffee shop, I would agree with you. But is wasn't.

Plus, the principal said this would not have been an issue is they would have had time to let the public know. That seems only reasonable to me.

[Turn CO Blue]

82. Thanks for calling the school and clarifying it a little...

[Solo_in_MD]

120. This sounds somewhat reasonable

And I generally despise educrats...

The students agreed not to do X, but did it anyway. One can argue that they should not have made the agreement, but having done so they should have stood by it.

[riderinthestorm]

128. Thanks for calling. I also called and got an answering machine. Still waiting for a call back

(which I doubt will happen). I guess I am wondering why mentioning the word "vagina" at a public forum would be such an event that it would need advance "warning"? And how in the world can the word "vagina" possibly be categorized as "adult material"?

And why would a community access channel need to censor anyone saying the word "vagina", and why would anyone saying the word "vagina" in a public forum be in any way cause for consternation?

I don't understand this asst. principal's response. at. all. I'll keep you notified if I hear back from anyone.

[Megahurtz]

83. That's Ridiculous.

Too many Religious Whackos :crazy: in this Country.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

84. The day they learn Canadian geography

they have to skip the city of Regina

:rofl:

Just like the city Nantucket never gets mentioned in poetry class.

[endarkenment]

85. They should have discussed Uranus instead. nt

[progressivebydesign]

87. God, I hate our puritanical neurosis in this country.

It's a freakin' body part folks! It's not like they used a slang term for it.

Hmmm... Elbow! Yes, I've said it. Suspend me fuckers! :grr:

[verse18]

88. So a student can get suspended

for using the medically accurate term for a female body part?

I have the opportunity to do basic sexual education for children who have been sexually abused. One of the first things we do is teach them the medical terms to help them separate the medical term from the slang.

[in_cog_ni_to]

90. Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina

Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis, Penis

Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina, Vagina


HOW STUPID CAN THEY BE???!@#$% What else were they suppose to say? What choice words replace body parts in the RW, wacko, freeperville's world?

[Ignacio Upton]

92. Kinda weird that this is happening in my back yard

Usually this shit happens in some other random state.

[Vinca]

95. Okay, if they're reading from "The Vagina Monologues,"

what the heck are they supposed to call it? The "C" word? The "P" word? The "S" word? How about the accepted, anatomical term: VAGINA. What freaking morons.

[BoneDaddy]

97. You have to be kidding me

un-freaking-believable.

[BillOfLefts]

98. High School is precisely when Health Education teaches kids about vaginas and penises.

The Health Education teacher at that school uses that very same word in class to the students in attendance.

I think this principal is a bit confused.

[onethatcares]

116. hehe, you said "penises"

this is out of the world bullshit, They should suspend the principal for stupidity.

[Edweird]

99. Fight the power.

Good for them.

[Quantess]

106. I never understood the "hype" over the Vagina Monologues.

I always thought it seemed corny and trite to have a stage production about the subject of vaginas. :boring:I mean, who cares, right? Snoozefest. This has has always been my take on "The Vagina Monologues": I'm not impressed to see some repressed broads on stage, getting over their big fear of the forbidden taboo subject. A body part that you've lived with your whole life. :boring:Big deal. I mean, I thought society had gotten over this.

But apparently, a lot of people haven't gotten over the idea that it's a forbidden topic! Oh, the irony. Those school officials need to grow up.

BTW, this isn't subordination, this is censorship.

[endarkenment]

108. "I thought society had gotten over this"

Which society is that?

Actually VM is a pretty damn good work. Have you ever seen a performance of it?

[Chovexani]

112. Clearly it's not meant for him

Just dumb "broads". :eyes:

(And VM is awesome, I went to a performance of it put on by the women's studies department at my best friend's school. Anyone who thinks it's "just" about vaginas completely missed the point of it.)

[Quantess]

134. I knew someone would get tripped up on my "broads" word usage.

"Clearly it's not meant for him"
:rofl:

First, nobody I know uses the term "broads" in a serious manner, male or female. Okay, this must be a Pacific NW thing, where the word "broad" is instantly taken as a joke. Second, no, I already said I have not seen any "VM" performance, and I explained my reasoning why I haven't. Third, anybody who can search my posts can figure out which gender I am.

[Quantess]

114. No, I haven't.

I explained my impressions of what it's about, and why I never had an interest in paying money to see it. I don't see myself as being part of the target audience. I'm sure it's a great show.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

119. Because a part of the body is soooooooo baaaaaaad!

[ScreamingMeemie]

123. I know!

I'm considering having mine removed.

[ScreamingMeemie]

122. Why couldn't they have just gone with HooHa and be done with it??

I mean that word is a much better, more mature description. :sarcasm:

[Joe Chi Minh]

124. For crying out loud, it's a medical term! What were theys upposed to say?

The "bleep" monologues?

[AtomicKitten]

125. hoo-haw

... is the way they pronounce it in the red states.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

127. This is like the nonsense that went on in my high school forty years ago

We were doing Bye Bye Birdie, and in one song, Rosie asks, "...What's he got, that I found so damn appealing?"

The director insisted that the girl who played Rosie change "damn" to "darn."

Well, she did, but the night of the last performance, she sang the "damn" version. The audience literally gasped. (It was 1966.)

This same director made the students in another play change "bitch" to "wench."

[peekaloo]

129. Can't say scrotum, can't say vagina yet we live in a country ruled by a Dick and Bu$h

it's crazy I tells ya.

[HuffleClaw]

132. "...if you make an agreement with the administration to do something...

...and then you don't do it, there's going to be consequences for that...

- seems to me they deserved their punishment.

AND there's this.

"...We are very committed to free expression and we do not tolerate censorship in our district."

so, NOW the board should punish the school officials who censored the girls. that seems fair to me.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

137. They ought to charge them with possession while they're at it.

N.T.

[DuaneBidoux]

141. Reminds me of the recent "Scrotum Diaries" incident in the children's book.

[Warren DeMontague]

143. Between this and the "Scrotum" book...

What is the world coming to?