I was shopping with my 8 year old daughter today, and she wanted to carry a dress I had picked out, we were walking through the store and I told her, "Oh E, becareful, the dress is dragging on the floor."
She then told me, "Cause I'm short mommy, Ms. B always called me a midget."
WTF.
Ms. B was her grade 2 teacher.
(She had 3 grade 2 teacher's last year, due to teachers going and coming back on mat leave,
she had Ms. B cover September - November of her school year. Ms. B is now a grade 6 teacher
in the same school.)
"What do you mean she calls you a midget?"
"Because I'm short."
"How does she call you a midget?"
"She tells me and C, and A in the morning, 'Good morning my little midgets!' like that,
cause we're the smallest ones in her class."
Seriously, what the fuck.
I was in shock. We went home and I made her promise me to NEVER, EVER use that
word midget. I don't care if someone is short, don't ever call anyone a midget. I had to tell her
it's a bad word so she doesn't use that word. And I could tell she was confused to this word
her teacher's been using, is a bad word.
I don't care about her size, and if anyone tells me or her that she's short, whatever. She's short, then she's short.
But I find that word 'midget' so offensive, and I wouldn't want my daughter using that word or calling someone else that.
How can a teacher be so friggin stupid.
Am I overreacting?
Would you bring this to the attention of the principal?
Would you let your kid use the word midget openly?
Do you think the teacher should stop using the word midget on her students?
Did you have any teacher say anything you now realize is inappropriate?
My grade 5 teacher used to call us Dingbats, lol, I now realize that's the softest way of
calling us idiots.
Comments (27)
Little people find that to be an offensive slang term.
I've always found the connotation of "midget" to be a pleasant one. I never understood why people have issues with it.
@SerenaDante - to be honest, i don't know why i feel it's offensive either.
@SoullFire - i think because they do, ppl have always linked it to be offensive and inappropriate... i honestly don' tknow why i think it's offensive. i just dont' like the idea of the teacher showing my daughter it's okay to use that word. i wouldn't want her to.
I always find "little people" more offensive and condescending than midget. They also accept the word "dwarf." So, why not midget? It doesn't mean that I use it, but I don't understand why it's offensive in the first place. It's just a word after all. People get so defensive and strung up so easily. People use words to hurt others. If you don't let the words bother you, well, it removes its negative connotation and we can move on from trivial matters.
@Joanna_said_SO - The teacher really shouldn't be using that term due to it's offensive connotation: Link
I think it's only bad if they are offended by it. There seems to be no negative connotation tied to it from the teacher. The teacher would have stopped calling them that if the other kids are making fun of them for it. The teacher wouldn't call someone a midget if they do, in fact, have dwarfism or is a midget. It's your call.
But she's confused now, so you could explain to her when it's okay and not okay to use in the proper context and situation.
I was 3 years old when I learned the Cebuano word (Philippine dialect) for "hunched-back." After getting out of pre-school, I saw a short person who had dwarfism. I got my nanny's attention, pointed at the person and said "is she a hunched back?" in a really loud voice. My nanny let my arm down. A few parents also pointed out to me that it's bad to point at people.
I had a teacher Mr. Hebert that would rag doll students in 4th grade. He picked up a classmate Derrick by the shirt and choked him. Also threw Andrew who was seated in his desk against the wall. Besides that I did have a graphic arts teacher call me a gook and a jackass haha :*)) To be honest I would provoke him by making fun of his wife and son's car accident. We almost fought in the library break room after he shoved me into a trashcan.
I don't doubt it's offensive connotation, nor am I debating it, but really, if the person being called that doesn't find it offensive, it's just like any other word. As long as there's no malice or degrading intent behind it, I don't think it's a problem. I'd turn it into a bit of a lesson for E, saying that there are things she should be aware of and their connotation. It's certainly not a license for her to use them, but it's more for her edification. (My parents used Arnold Schwarzenegger's name to teach me about the N-word. I never forgot that one.)
I bet the teacher doesn't realize she is hurting anything. She is probably being playful.
I remember in fifth grade I took some sort of standardized test and the teacher telling me she was surprised I did so well. I remember thinking in the moment that I could tell all year long that she was underestimating me. But I am sure she did not mean it in the wrong way.
that's offensive.
NOW CHOP THEIR LEG OFF!
I think there are worse things in the world but if it bothers you it bothers you
No. If your daughter doesn't think it's a bad thing, then obviously the teacher said it in a playful, endearing way. It's similar to how black dudes call each other "my nigga," or how I call some of my friends "faggots," or how some girlfriends call each other "bitches."
I would talk to the teacher first just to let her know how you feel about it. Going to the principal can get her in trouble, which Im sure you don't want either. I don't think she meant any harm to the kids in the first place. I agree she is probably being playful with cute nicknames and did not realize it can offend parents. I would be pretty offended if I was in your shoes. But then again, I've always been the little runt of my classes. I don't make a big deal out of it but I am annoyed when people call me midget or shrimp or make joke about me being so little.
Depend on the tones... it could be an endearing term.
How do you feel if people call you sugar lips, or honey pie? In the south, they do it all the time. At least it's nicer than the terms women call each other B8tch or h03 .... (even in a nice way). Seriously, there are a million of nice words in the English language and they have to reach to the bottom and pick those out.
Parents are always protective of their kids and I can see where you're coming from. Bringing it up to the principal is a bit drastic.
Hmm if the teacher had called them "munchkins" (ie. the term Full House's Jesse calls Michelle) then it would sound more endearing. Yeah, I'd say it is a bit offensive. Maybe the teacher is an immigrant who's just learning proper English?
Nothing like midget, but there was this guy in high school who called us "dumasses" when we did something stupid.
I wouldn't bring it up to the Principle, unless it's really bothers you. I think letting your daughter know it's an offensive word is enough. The teacher probably meant it playfully.
i had a gym teacher that used to pinch us by the back of our necks when we did something that he felt was not right. i did not realize until i told my mother that he did it that it was wrong. from her reaction and the other reactions from other mothers tht she called and talked to he was in the wrong. he did eventually get fired, if i am not mistaken.
If you don't like being called something, it is offensive. Little people as a whole are offended by the term midget, because it used to denote and call up things like freakshow entertainers. I've almost never heard it used as a term of endearment or in a positive fashion, and was often called that myself when I was a kid (I was really short!). I didn't like it then and wouldn't use it now.
That teacher should know better, even if she doesn't think of it as an offensive term. She's singling out your daughter and the two other kids for their height. I wonder how long it will take other kids to pick up on it and repeat it, if they haven't done so already.
That's one way to remind me that a teacher should be an example of grace.
@chocodawg_ld - I had a teacher who would whip chalk at us. I also had a drafting teacher who got fired because he was making advances towards his female students, myself included.
My grade 5 teacher called me a pathological liar and once said to my mom "I bet she wouldn't swear on her grandmothers grave that she is telling you the truth" in regards to missing assignments(the principal got called in and the teacher had to transfer schools because I was found to be telling the truth)