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February 08, 2006
Add It to the Dictionary
So the Eskimos have a great word -- "aimerpok" -- that means "visits expecting to receive food." That's a succinct description of many a trip to my grandparents' house!
Or consider a husband and wife conversing about whether or not the neighbors should be invited over: "Honey, I've had a long day, I'm not up for an aimerpok tonight."
Now and then I like to introduce useful words into the lexicon, and this seems a prime candidate. I'd go so far as to say that young children, while being taught the alphabet, should learn "A is for aimerpok," a strategy that would make its spread both rapid and inevitable.
Unfortunately, I don't think the California Teacher's Association will go for it. Among some mostly sensible guidelines for teaching indigenous Americans: When teaching the ABCs, avoid "I is for Indian" and "E is for Eskimo."
Now I understand that Indians has become a loaded term, and a confusing one at that--imagine trying to explain that "Indians" were indigenous to North America one day and that outsourcing sent daddy's software analysis job to an Indian in Bombay the next.
But I fail to see what is offensive about "E is for Eskimo" (unless the letter has sponsored a racy segment on Sesame Street I'm unaware of)*.
Sometimes we're so needlessly erksiwok about being insensitive that it makes me want to erealarpok!
*(You be the judge)!
Posted by Conor at February 8, 2006 12:36 AM
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Comments
"But I fail to see what is offensive about "E is for Eskimo""
http://members.aol.com/xpus/Eskimo.html
The above URL points to a page that explains (and debunks) the logic behind the California Teacher's Association's decision. Granted, the page is made by the crackpot US Expansionist Party, but they seem to be right about the term "Eskimo." After all, an idea isn't respoonsible for the people who believe in it.
Posted by: Larsen at February 8, 2006 06:16 PM
I think its ridiculous that a teacher would be banned from saying something like "I" is for Indian or "E" is for Eskimo when teaching the alphabet to young children. There just words, as far as the little kids know. If used in a different context or if the words were chosen intending to be cruel, then maybe I'd reconsider my opinion. However, given the audience it would be used on and the object its would be used for (to learn the ABC's)I would say that teachers would be acting way too sensitively to not use either.
Posted by: Mfoster at February 8, 2006 08:09 PM
I do not find anything remotely offensive about using the examples “I� is for “Indian� or “E� is for “Eskimo.� And besides, why would the California Teacher's Association exclude these particular nationalities? If these ones, why not others? Young children should be regularly introduced to new vocabulary. These references are by no means denouncing any race. It would be beneficial for kids to associate letters with more real-life references, rather than predictable, simples ones like “I� is for “ice cream.� Is this usage of ice cream really contributing to their preparation for the real world? With more sophisticated, multi-dimensional examples such as different nationalities, children can expand their knowledge of various cultures.
Posted by: LOhta at February 9, 2006 05:30 PM