'Dixie' field trip angers parent

[scone]

'Dixie' field trip angers parent
Richmond Times-Dispatch, Thu, 05 May 2005 9:27 PM
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet...=1031782561427

A decision in Hanover County to send a group of elementary school students to a Sons of Confederate Veterans-sponsored event today has a Mechanicsville family up in arms.

[dadaken]

On even the most innocent of occasions, someone has to complain or generally make trouble and ruin what might be enjoyable and educational outting.
Would people buycott or complain about a trip to Colonial Williamsburg? Schools have sent fieldtrips there forever. Colonial Williamsburg is heavily
advertised. I wonder why any one wouldn't complain about that, the people
who lived there in that portrayed age were all generally slave owners. Wouldn't that it an example of historical rascisim?
Many Sons of the Confedrate Vetrans are re-enactors...simply that re-enactors.
I have portrayed as a living historian Henry VIII, that does not make me a mysoginistic, overbearing king with a God complex and fetish for procuring a
male heir. Nor does it make the Son's of the Confederate Vetrans racists.

[sockknitter]

First of all, I can't believe any actual fourth grader would NOT want to go on ANY field trip. The article didn't make clear what the activities at Dixie Days are but certainly if any particular family doesn't want its fourth grader exposed to them, there is an option to stay at the base school while the rest of the class leaves.

Second, regardless of one's opinion of Confederates, I would think a reasonable person would understand that a war between Confederates and the United States actually did happen, in and near Richmond, and it would be profitable to an understanding of today's world to learn something about that war. What an advantage these kids have available! Most fourth graders, I believe, don't get such an opportunity.

Third, as Brag Bowling, the national correspondent for the SCV said of the outraged parent, "If she went, she'd be probably surprised at how she'll be received and welcomed." And if she did have a bad time, she at least would have given the event an honest try.

[rbenne]

even more interesting for me was the linked article about a teacher holding a mock slave auction. there response?

"One thing Wilson suggests is mandatory diversity training for Chesterfield's teachers.

"We don't have a course called Diversity 101," Cannaday said, adding that teachers are free to seek courses outside the school division whenever they wish. "But one of the best ways to learn about diversity is being in the presence of people who are different."


when the teacher is sent out of town for that training can we finally start calling them "reeducation camps" since thats what they are?

It worked for Hitler, it should work for them.

[larry_cockerham]

Maybe her child could drive by the statue of Arthur Ashe on the same boulevard as General Lee and Traveler and ask what these folks have in common. He might be surprised.

[scone]

My SCV camp has a Progam every year for the area schools We set stations have the kids learn how to march learn about the common soldierm, civilian life, hospitals during the war , and of course demos relating art , Cav and the Inf.

We just call it Civil War Days although most of us dress as confederates we do have one or two dress out in union blue. that way we can can explain the diffrences in the unifors etc.. And fun is had by all in the 4 years I have been helping them do this. I have yet to hear one complaint..

Perhaps it the wording of Dixi Days that triggerd the problem.


Jost show how ignorant some of thje people in this word really are.

Steven