Clarke Resigns..... right?

[Bentley Bullet]

Blackboards were replaced with Green ones when I was at school, but they were still called Blackboards. It was after I'd left school that the name was changed to Chalkboard for PC reasons.

[Hounslowrover]

Late into this, but I retired as a  junior school head twelve years ago, we were still using the term blackboard, though they were being replaced by whiteboards, they’d often be side by side in the classroom.  Never had a missive banning the name, can’t even remember calling it a chalkboard either.

[BillyStubbsTears]

BB

I've never used the word "chalkboard" in my life, nor heard anyone use it before this thread.

Why do you think the biggest University online teaching software system in the world is called Blackboard if there has been a concerted PC attempt to not use that term?

[IDM]

As far as I can remember there was never anything official or formal about not using “blackboard”, but I certainly heard the argument that it was non-pc for the reasons I described before.

I didn’t then and don’t now agree with that argument about white chalk being empowered over the black board, because it is b*llocks..

But it was around, f not formally.

[Bentley Bullet]

BST. I don't think I've used the word Chalkboard either, but it has been and is still used nowadays.

As you know, the use of the word Blackboard is no longer taboo and hasn't been for probably 30 or 40 years, so the biggest University online teaching software system in the world is quite within political correctness to be called Blackboard.

[BillyStubbsTears]

So let me get this right.

The word "Blackboard" was offensive in the 1980s, but it isn't now. Because...

Somebody help me out here.

And both of us have never used the word chalkboard and I've never heard it used before. But it IS used and it replaced "blackboard" because PC sensibities demanded that we accept "blackboard" was offensive then. But it isn't now. And neither of us, nor an ex-hesd teacher in this thread, nor the several people I know who work in education can find any example of anyone not using the word "blackboard" because it was offensive then. (Even though it isn't now.)

Good. That appears to have cleared things up. Looks like you talking b*llocks again and taking what was actually a generally very intelligent and nuanced discussion into the cess pit.

[Hounslowrover]

BB I can’t think or remember when blackboard was ever taboo in my teaching career, starting around the 1970s.

[Bentley Bullet]

So let me get this right.

The word "Blackboard" was offensive in the 1980s, but it isn't now. Because...

Yes, because it was back then, but it isn't now.

Somebody help me out here.

And both of us have never used the word chalkboard and I've never heard it used before. But it IS used and it replaced "blackboard" because PC sensibities demanded that we accept "blackboard" was offensive then. But it isn't now. And neither of us, nor an ex-hesd teacher in this thread, nor the several people I know who work in education can find any example of anyone not using the word "blackboard" because it was offensive then. (Even though it isn't now.)

I'll help you out. Yes, some deemed it offensive then, but they don't now. Chalkboard is still used today, but not necessarily instead of saying blackboard like used to be the case.





Good. That appears to have cleared things up. Looks like you talking b*llocks again and taking what was actually a generally very intelligent and nuanced discussion into the cess pit.

Funny how it always finds you when it enters the cesspit.

[wilts rover]

Chalkboard is the American word for blackboard.

Like hallowen trick or treat (became popular here after ET) and offense instead of attack for football commentators, it is part of the Americanisation of our culture. Watch any 80's American high school film - they have chalkboards.

It was never banned. It is a myth.

[scawsby steve]

I'm sure I can remember my daughter coming home from school reciting "Baa baa green sheep", but of course I don't have the proof that you all crave for.

Anyway, that's enough of that. Our club needs every penny it can get at the moment, so those of you without season tickets, make sure you buy your match passes for our next 2 home games against Sunderland and Bluepool.

[IDM]

Some folks took the pc thoughts of the late 80s and early 90s too seriously, hence dropping blackboard in some contexts.  Then most folks realised it was a total toss idea.

[idler]

Like a lot of complaints and causes the extremists push it too far and then it is counter-productive and does more harm than good.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Like a lot of complaints and causes the extremists push it too far and then it is counter-productive and does more harm than good.

That's a fair point, but it does need some context.

When I was a kid, there were comedy programmes on the telly every week which freely used words like "nig-nog", "coon", "sambo" and "darkie" for comic effect.

It took people pushing to make that unacceptable. If some pushed too hard on some aspects of that struggle (and no-one ever seems to come up with convincing evidence, but leave that aside) it's a pretty small problem in that context.

[IDM]

I remember in the mid 70s the “N word” was still included in one of the Rev Awdry books for kids (wasn’t themed on Thomas the tank engine then)..

[i_ateallthepies]

On the theme of counterproductive, the report into (might have been the Toxteth riots all those years ago) listed many findings and recommendations to improve, one of which was that 'there needs to be a period of positive discrimination' and whilst I'm sure it was never the intention I remember thinking at the time there couldn't possibly be a more ready-made excuse for those with racist agendas to keep the racist pot boiling than discrimination in favour of non-whites.

[drfchound]

Like a lot of complaints and causes the extremists push it too far and then it is counter-productive and does more harm than good.

That's a fair point, but it does need some context.

When I was a kid, there were comedy programmes on the telly every week which freely used words like "nig-nog", "coon", "sambo" and "darkie" for comic effect.

It took people pushing to make that unacceptable. If some pushed too hard on some aspects of that struggle (and no-one ever seems to come up with convincing evidence, but leave that aside) it's a pretty small problem in that context.

Another word that was used regularly for comic effect was of course “honky”.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Aye Hound. Dozens of black comedians, there were, in the 1970s, using derogatory racist terms against whites on telly. Dozens of 'em.

[drfchound]

Aye Hound. Dozens of black comedians, there were, in the 1970s, using derogatory racist terms against whites on telly. Dozens of 'em.

Who said anything about black comedians.
Did you ever watch Love thy Neighbour.

[Axholme Lion]

I remember in the mid 70s the “N word” was still included in one of the Rev Awdry books for kids (wasn’t themed on Thomas the tank engine then)..

Do you know that you can buy reprints of the original Rupert Bear annuals from the fifties and sixties. I'm not sure which one it is, but one of the years is unavailable because Rupert visits Coon Island! I had never really the friendly little bear with the chequered scarf and trousers as a closet NF member.

[IDM]

The railway series book was reprinted to say the “boys ran away as black as coal” (they got blasted with soot).  It was originally the N word..

[Axholme Lion]

The railway series book was reprinted to say the “boys ran away as black as coal” (they got blasted with soot).  It was originally the N word..

I believe Agatha Christies 'And then there were none' was originally titled 'Ten Little N***ers'. It was just a different era then.