One would think that at my age I wouldn't be all that shocked at something that comes from a kids mouth but guess what? I'm sick of us fighting this battle over and over and it just doesn't seem like we make a dent in the ingorance factor tossed about on the people and culture we descend from. I was subbing for a 3rd grade class. 8 year olds. The 'language lesson/reading text' was on the Jackie Robinson story. Ok, I'm ok with that. When I asked the 'text' question on "Why Pee Wee Reese was brave to befriend Robinson" the answer I got almost made my cry on the spot. From the back of the room, a little petite voice, blond little girl said "because he wasn't in the Klan". I had to ask her how she even knew what the 'K' was and she said they'd talked about it before in another class. I did get on a bit of a rant and told the entire class that segregation was not just a Southern thing and the Klan wasn't all located in the South either. I mean, how far does one need to go with these little kids? They shouldn't even know the word.
Sorry Jim, off my soap box, packed it up and now I'm shuttin up. Had to let it fly somewhere. If nothing else can ever change, at least someone may lurk at a site like this and get a better picture of what the entire 'episode' was about and why 'change' took so long.
Pam