Mrs. H is BFF’s with the local third-grade teacher here in our little Missouri Ozarks town. Every year she does this thing where the kids research and do a presentation on a famous Missourian, and then participate in a “wax museum” where the kids dress as their quarry while doing their presentations. Followed by cute pictures on Facebook of kids in suits with pencil-thin mustaches (Walt Disney) or in pioneer garb (Laura Ingalls Wilder) or what have you.
Though Missouri has produced plenty of “good” people who gained fame (though all humans are flawed) - Walt Disney, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mark Twain, Omar Bradely, Edwin Hubble, etc. - we also have our share of people who gained notoriety for, shall we say, other reasons. And both last year and this year (the only years I’ve paid attention), at least a few kids have chosen “other” famous Missourians. Last year, for example, a kid dressed as Bloody Bill Anderson, a murderous Confederate sympathizer. This year we had both a Frank and a Jesse James, also murderous Confederate sympathizers. Next year, I’m hoping a kid will just say “Fuck it” and dress as Ken McElroy. And I’m gritting my teeth in anticipation of the day a kid dresses as Rush Limbaugh.
What are your thoughts on this? On the one hand, I really think Mrs. B—— should be guiding the children towards admirable people whose actions and accomplishments should be emulated (though maybe not Walt Disney’s union-busting). On the other hand, history is history and ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. And hey, maybe learning about villains and murderers teaches the kids a moral lesson in some backhanded way. Or something.
What are your thoughts?
Apropos of nothing: I think Mrs. B—–’s definition of “famous Missourian” is a bit … fluid. Walt Disney wasn’t born here (he was born in Illinois) and only lived here for about 15 years. Mark Twain was born here and lived here until he was ~23, but was long gone before he was first published, and he spent his most productive years in places not called “Missouri.” Of course, if we’re limiting our choices to only people who were born here and lived their entire lives here, the list is going to be quite short.
Could the teacher even pick and choose who to include without facing an anti-woke backlash? In today’s America, it’s not like different households share the same heroes…
If you cancel a few historical figures that you dislike, what’s to stop conservative parents from exercising power at the country or school board level and forcing every teacher to honor the confederate heroes instead?
Even aside from the notoriety issue, some kids’ families are going to have a lot more difficulty than others in putting together costumes. Not everyone can afford to buy a costume, and not everyone has a crafty mother with the time to make one.
I don’t really know what her criteria are. She mumbled something about the Hall of Famous Missourians in Jefferson City being a jumping-off point, but at the same time she’s allowed people whose connection to Missouri is tenuous at best (and who aren’t enshrined in Jeff City). Last year, for example, she allowed Mark. McGwire, who only lived here for a few years while playing for the Cardinals.
They could dress up as ‘Mama’s Family’ - Thelma, Vinton, Naomi, Iola, and Bubba. They’re fictional characters living in Ray Town, Missouri, I am informed, lol.
Would it be too controversial to let the kids pick whoever, but they have to come up with (say) three things they like about that person and one thing they don’t? They’ll probably end up asking parents for help (or rather, brainwashing), but at least it’s less one-dimensional…
I like it!!! Of course, I won’t be telling Mrs. B—– how to do her job, since she’s forgotten more about teaching third graders than I’ll ever know. But philosophically, I like it.
Tell me, Cletus: What are three things you like about Jesse James and one thing you don’t?
CLETUS: Well, I like that he was a good leader. He was crafty. He stood for what he believed in. I don’t like the, uh, murdering and stealing.
CLETUS: Well, I like that he was a good leader. He was crafty. He stood for what he believed in. I don’t like the, uh, murdering and stealing. getting caught part.
The idea of a third grader dressed as Ken McElroy has me in stitches. I’m picturing a little kid dressed like Brian Dennehy.
History is full of notorious people who did bad things and made a name for themselves. And quite frankly, getting kids interested in history is hard enough, but a lot of them find the likes of Jesse James or Bloody Bill Anderson interesting at least. The project isn’t about famous Missourians we like. Like or not, bad people played a part in shaping our present.
It’s not just kids, either! Outlaws and serial killers fascinate people way more than some bland vanilla paragon of virtue. Nobody likes a goody two-shoes…
Yeah, this. With the caveat that I do think there are some historical figures it would be inappropriate for children to dress up as (like Hitler, or the Columbine shooters) but nineteenth-century outlaws and raiders don’t really fall into that category, even Confederate-aligned ones.
Last year a little (white) girl did hers on some Missouri Black woman of some significance (her name escapes me). She did not wear blackface, thankfully.
My kids had to do that for famous Virginians. We dressed up my son in a conservative suit and bow tie and got him a haircut to portray Booker T. Washington. I was delighted.
