School Project Displaying Marshmallow 'Peeps' Wearing KKK Regalia Causes Stir

[tekisui]

Video From MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30068884#30068884

Source: kare11.com

A high school history project featuring hooded marshmallow Peeps has caused a sticky situation at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia.

The white-coned Peeps display depicts a Ku Klux Klan march on Washington.

"As a parent, I think it's ridiculous," school parent Alfred Benton said. "I don't think it should be at the school or the front office."

Some students support their classmates' right to make such a controversial display.

"People who take offense need to accept it is a part of history whether they like it or not," said Osbourn student Calla Feucht.

"I hope most people would look at it as a piece of history. We can't deny history, but I can see some people being offended," added Osbourn senior Jonah Higgenbottom, who took the class last year and made his own Peeps project.

That's not the point, according to parent Vicki Henderson, who called the display "despicable."

"Some people want to know that part of their history, but it's degrading to others," she said.

The school system said that the Ku Klux Klan Peeps are a part of a history class project, a presentation using cardboard and Peeps that is done every year at the school.

They also said that they have not received any complaints about the display and that there are no plans to take it down.

http://www.kare11.com/news/whatsup/whatsup_article.aspx?storyid=592196&catid=333

[tekisui]

1. The peeps were "recreating" the 1925 KKK March on Washington:

[doctor jazz]

2. We must expunge any historical records that make anyone in the world

uncomfortable.

[rcrush]

3. Whats the problem here?

Marshmellows with little hoods makes the old people nervous? Sheesh.

[Kerrytravelers]

4. "Some people want to know that part of their history, but it's degrading to others,"

So... we only teach the parts of history that don't offend anyone? Good luck with that.


Maybe the Peeps are a bit tacky. But that statement just shot out at me. Shouldn't we all understand American History so we know how we got here and where we should be going? Isn't it better to not repeat mistakes and repeat successes?

Well, I guess I'm just one of those book-learning liberals. *sigh*

[NYC_SKP]

9. I can't put my finger on it, but I think the use of "Peeps" is the problem.

WTF with high school teachers wanting to use Easter candy characters to teach about important historic moments?

It's the Peeps that make it offensive, IMHO, because it automatically cheapens (or cheep-ens) the subject.

It's not funny, and using cute marshmallow candies to tell this kind of story is just not quite right.

High School? Get real. :wtf:

[Kerrytravelers]

15. I'm certainly not defending the use of "peeps."

The only thing I think is that they're cheap and there is a lot of them in a box. Not a great reason, but maybe that is it.

The thing that stuck out is no one said the use of peeps was offensive, just the history it was representing.

[NYC_SKP]

19. Certainly not going off on you...

This kerfluffle is a great example of a "crisis" that can go off in different directions unnecessarily.

Use of Peeps= cool idea!

Teaching about the Holocaust or KKK= profoundly important!

Combining the two= just not right!

:patriot:

[Kerrytravelers]

21. Oh, no, I didn't think you were at all. No worries there.

Personally, I wouldn't use Peeps, either. I think it is pretty tacky.

I just think it's so insanely marvelous how some (in the story) are offended by the topic, but not by the use of Peeps. I can't help but laugh about that. You'd think they'd hate Peeps being used for such a serious topic... but, oh, no! It is the telling of an ugly part of American History that has their panties in a twist.

[No More Bushbots]

5. Klan members are offended

That they are being compared to marshmallow.

[EFerrari]

6. Imagine how the WaHo editorial board feels!

[mitchum]

7. It's an apt comparison; they are both puffy and very white

[rucky]

8. If they haven't received any complaints, then what's the story

other than artificial, partially hydrogenated controversy?

[NYC_SKP]

10. To me, high school teachers using Peeps to teach history is a problem.

I'd like to talk to them and find out WTF they are thinking.

Peeps would be fine for younger one's and less serious historic topics, but post-pubescent high school students fucking around with Peeps, it's just not age appropriate and it makes ANY historic subject look too much like a joke, regardless of the intent.

:wtf:

[rucky]

12. Correction. There's been one complaint.

They will never forget this research project.

just sayin'

[NYC_SKP]

22. This is true!

I think I'll use a pair anatomically correct hand puppets at my next job interview! :P

[EFerrari]

13. I don't know. I had my college aged business students juggle oranges

to loosen them up while memorizing a "30 second me" pitch. The dean did walk by my windowed classroom, twice. lol)

Sometimes humor is a great lubricant for learning.

[Miss_Underestimated]

11. It's Ingenious! It's Provocative Art! Taking traditional candy everyone recognizes

and sees as sweet and harmless, and then dressing it in a KKK costume - I'd say it hits the metaphor right on the nose. You never know whether the seemingly innocuous people you interact with or pass on the street are the same people who are members of the KKK or other organizations of similar ilk.

[EFerrari]

14. Bingo!

[customerserviceguy]

17. What if they had them

burning jelly beans on the lawns of chocolate bunnies?

[EFerrari]

18. Some neighborhood dentist would be counting his money.

[customerserviceguy]

16. Using humor to ridicule bigotry

is very risky. Prince Harry found that out.

[NYC_SKP]

20. Probably an unexpected outcome of this lesson.

I think high-schoolers don't really need the Peeps device to make presentations.

The teacher might want to re-consider how to do this next year.