A bit shocking. He did tell me that HE also had the same assignment last year - in other words she had used this before. I can imagine a decent intellectualized discussion about the subject, focused on language and the way that word has evolved to be considered more horrible today than perhaps 50-60 years ago and yet how some people attempt to "own" it with use among themselves (like hip hop artists). But still . . . putting the word up next to his picture could so obviously be taken as just about calling him that. How could she not see this? My son's take last year was that it's a good thing that it has evolved to be less acceptable to use, but he also challenged the orthodoxy and relative "acceptableness" of its use in hip-hop culture.
Further, for something that incendiary, why not run the idea by the department head or principal fist? (The principal is African-American, by the way, and is a GREAT guy. My son really likes him, especially compared to their prior guy, who was fired last year).
