Spanish Teacher Fired- for the word "Negro"

[violiav]

http://news.yahoo.com/fired-word-neg...135016980.html
And from the Post
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/b...SLCBUv65MXEeGJ

I'm not even sure what to say. This is just really bizarre, and I don't see what the issue is. Maybe the administrators need to take a Spanish class. :/

[Panacea]

As soon as I read the title of the post I knew there was no racial slur . . . and I don't even speak Spanish.

Sounds like the typical zero tolerance overreaction BS to me. The kid who originally reported this lied according to his own parents about what really happened.

Meanwhile, this lady hasn't been able to get another job.

[Ginger Tea]

At this rate there wont be anyone but administration left in schools.

Spanish and Mexican Spanish differ by the lisp introduced to placate one Spanish king, but having said that, the pronunciation can vary yet keep the spelling.

I have heard it pronounced kinda like Knee Grow and Neg row (as in leg), I'm not sure, but I think a similar spelling and or pronunciation is found in another European language describing the colour of ink, paint etc, but not a persons skin.

There are many words out there that sound like something they shouldn't in another language, you can almost hear falco say cunt in Rock me Amadeus but he is saying something in German that we hear differently.
But when a word that has been in use for hundreds of years to describe colour in the light spectrum don't expect them to change it just cos it has been used as the base for a slur, what happens to the next Spanish teacher hired, then the next, it's bad enough baa baa black sheep is getting stick, now we cant sing the rainbow without accidentally causing WW3 (OK black isn't in the song).

And the kicker, the teacher her self is black (or enter PC term of the week)

[Andara Bledin]

So, are we no longer going to be able to talk about John Negroponte, now, lest we give someone with an axe to grind something to overreact about?

[Greenday]

This is so ridiculously stupid. What's to review?

[wolfie]

As soon as I read the title of the post I knew there was no racial slur . . . and I don't even speak Spanish.

Same here (took a couple years of it in high school, but would have a hard time ordering a beer in Mexico). To someone who speaks Spanish, "negro" means "black" - when they're talking about paint. I've got 2 words for whoever fired that teacher - "muy tonto".

[mikoyan29]

This seems like the flap over someone saying Niggardly....

[Pixilated]

Same here (took a couple years of it in high school, but would have a hard time ordering a beer in Mexico). To someone who speaks Spanish, "negro" means "black" - when they're talking about paint. I've got 2 words for whoever fired that teacher - "muy tonto".

I don't speak Spanish but when I read this that was the first thing I thought of ... doesn't "Negro" mean the colour "black" in Spanish? So, what, are we now supposed to rewrite entire languages to avoid offending idiots??

[bex1218]

Most of the Spanish languages doesn't even pronounce it in the "offending" way.

[crashhelmet]

Most of the Spanish languages doesn't even pronounce it in the "offending" way.

None of the Spanish languages pronounce it in the offending way.

[PepperElf]

that's just silly.

There are many words out there that sound like something they shouldn't in another language, you can almost hear falco say cunt in Rock me Amadeus but he is saying something in German that we hear differently.

And even some in English. "Niggard" comes to mind. It's not commonly used these days because it sounds so similar to a racial slur. I myself wouldn't even know about the word except it was in LOTR. It took me by surprise until I looked it up. And yes there are some who still swear that it must mean that Tolkien was racist.

[Ginger Tea]

I used to use niggle a lot, think it was one of my mums words, she was not one for swearing so I never put it as a softer version of anything, especially as it was never in the context of race.

"Botheration Badger" was probably the worst thing she ever said and I at one time made calling someone a person sound like the worst thing ever.

[bara]

... and we wonder why we have a shortage of qualified teachers.