Wednesday, April 01, 2009



Wisconsin school says 'fellow' is a bad word: Too sexist

We read:
"The principal at Waupun High School has had the school's fight song rewritten because he feared its use of the word "fellow" could be construed as sexist.

Principal Jeff Finstad says most people didn't know the lyrics to the song, so students wanted to paint them on the gymnasium wall. That's when he read the words, which included the line, "Fight fellows, fight, fight, fight." He told students he wouldn't allow those words on the wall.

Finstad asked junior Bridget Nickel to rewrite the words. She came up with a version that removed gender-specific terms.

The school has dealt previously with an issue of political correctness. The school logo used to be a "W" for "Warriors" but it's been replaced by a character that looks like a knight.

Source

13 comments:

OldGreyBob said...

That offending line is also found in the University of Wisconsin fight song version of “On Wisconsin”, (a rather liberal institution!) That principal needs a dictionary and reality check. Please note that in an example given in the definition, that even Dickens used fellow in referring to a woman.

Definition of Fellow

Fellow \Fel"low\, n. [OE. felawe, felaghe, Icel. f[=e]lagi, fr. f[=e]lag companionship, prop., a laying together of property; f[=e] property + lag a laying, pl. l["o]g law, akin to liggja to lie. See Fee, and Law, Lie to be low.]

1. A companion; a comrade; an associate; a partner; a sharer.
The fellows of his crime. --Milton.
We are fellows still, Serving alike in sorrow. --Shak.
That enormous engine was flanked by two fellows almost of equal magnitude. --Gibbon.
Note: Commonly used of men, but sometimes of women. --Judges xi. 37.
2. A man without good breeding or worth; an ignoble or mean man.
Worth makes the man, and want of it, the fellow. --Pope.
3. An equal in power, rank, character, etc.
It is impossible that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow. --Shak.
4. One of a pair, or of two things used together or suited to each other; a mate; the male.
When they be but heifers of one year, . . . they are let go to the fellow and breed. --Holland.
This was my glove; here is the fellow of it. --Shak.
5. A person; an individual.
She seemed to be a good sort of fellow. --Dickens.
6. In the English universities, a scholar who is appointed to a foundation called a fellowship, which gives a title to certain perquisites and privileges.
7. In an American college or university, a member of the corporation which manages its business interests; also, a graduate appointed to a fellowship, who receives the income of the foundation.
8. A member of a literary or scientific society; as, a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Note: Fellow is often used in compound words, or adjectively, signifying associate, companion, or sometimes equal. Usually, such compounds or phrases are self-explanatory; as, fellow-citizen, or fellow citizen; fellow-student, or fellow student; fellow-workman, or fellow workman; fellow-mortal, or fellow mortal; fellow-sufferer; bedfellow; playfellow; workfellow.
Were the great duke himself here, and would lift up My head to fellow pomp amongst his nobles. --Ford.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Stan B said...

And aren't Knights all associated with that most egregious of sins - "The Crusades?"

That mascot is living on borrowed time.

I, American said...

If the sheeple weren't so weak and mindless, they would realize that political correctness is a bigger threat to what little freedom we have left, than is terrorism. They also need to understand that PC is not simply some cute attempt to make everyone do and say what "someone" else thinks is right. It is nothing more than a "quasi-official" program meant to control our lives. While the people sleep, PC is becoming the unwritten law of the land!

PC is a very specific (and deliberate) part of the Left's political agenda. PC is about control. It is meant to "guide" us in how we're supposed to live, speak, and think. It is also designed to mock, insult, intimidate and humiliate, all those who disagree with it's principles. And if the left can't make you conform, they'll tax you into submission.

Anonymous said...

Knights should not be associated with the crusades, but more with social class prejudice. Knights were landowners wealthy enough to afford armor, and a mount, while most fighting men were farmers with no more protection than the shirts on their backs.
To be knighted was to gain social position (and still is to an extent) above the poor people.
The feudal system was set up so that only the firstborn son (unless he died) could inherit land, which meant that second, third, etc born were left to fend for themselves. The main two courses for them to take was military or clergy. The crusades were partially determined by too many "disinherited" sons and too many joining the clergy. Sending the sons to a "holy" war was one way of dealing with the issue. Only a few who went could be called knights, who elected (like Richard the Lionhearted) to go because of religion.

So, I shouldn't sing "for she's a jolly good fellow" anymore?

If we look hard enough, we can find something in history that can be construed as bad with almost any mascot, or even descriptive term. In fact mascot "1881, from provincial Fr. Mascotte "sorcerer's charm, 'faerie friend,' good luck piece" could soon be banned as well.

Anonymous said...

Does this useless waste of flesh principal have anything to do than worry about a fight song? Maybe fucking obama should require him to resign.

Anonymous said...

Why not substitute the Limey term: Lad?

That's a harmless designation, since "lad" can be used to address either gender.

Anonymous said...

"And aren't Knights all associated with that most egregious of sins - "The Crusades?""

A historically inaccurate association, though people who get their history lessons from Hollywood might be excused to think so on claims of insanity. However, knights invariably were men.

Anonymous said...

"lad" is only for males, and "lass" for females, and comes from Scotland and the north of England. A neologism in the media is "ladette" signifying females who behave as "badly" as males.

Anonymous said...

How about Y'all or All y'all

Anonymous said...

'lad' can also be used to mean a guy with the typical behavior of a boy/youth - ie. implying being a bit "naughty"; and expressions such as "Jack the Lad" emphasize that, with the sense of being very self-promoting, especially towards the opposite sex.
Other variants like "laddish" and more particularly "laddie" should not tbe confused with "lady"!!

Stan B said...

Had another thought on this subject last night:

I think it ironic that it is out of ignorance that a school is trying to dump yet another word on the ash-heap of history!

Niggardly has nothing to do with the "other" N-word, and yet our government schools have so neglected our children's education that to use the former is to risk a race war.

Now another word, which through the same sort of ignorance is thought to be "gender specific," is facing the same fate.

And it is the very institution that should be educating the children on the facts of the matter that is moving to promote the ignorance!

The irony is just astounding.

Prof. Erwin Corey said...

The irony is astounding only because you don't understand todays process of education. Once you understand that the goal is no longer education, but indoctrination, it all becomes clear.

Flu-Bird said...

Free speech for all liberals but not conservatives just like all intolerent liberals practice