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Century-old Hutchinson High School chant abolished <Freep these Nuts!>
Focus on Freedom ^ | 02 feb 2003 | cjonline

Posted on 02/02/2003 7:38:31 PM PST by steplock

alt

Century-old Hutchinson High School chant abolished

Topeka Capital Journal
Principal: Ronn Roehm

HUTCHINSON -- A 102-year-old Hutchinson High School chant made up of apparent nonsense words was yanked after the school board deemed it potentially offensive.

The school board voted unanimously Monday night to do away with the chant after Superintendent Wynona Winn said that at least one phrase
-- "hoe potatoer" -- could be considered offensive.

The 28-line chant of apparent nonsense words was created by two students in 1901.

It became an issue at the Dec. 9 school board meeting, when parent Lorie Norris noted that at one time it contained a racial slur that was replaced more than 60 years ago by the words "Higger, Bigger."

The district immediately suspended the chant, which usually is led by cheerleaders at football and basketball games.

Winn then searched the Internet and books, and talked to those who might have knowledge of the chant's origins.

In a book about slave songs, she found terms from the chant: "chicka," "rat trap," "bulligator" and a reference to slaves hoeing potatoes.

She also determined that the words "Higger, Bigger," could be viewed as a mask for the original terms.

No students spoke at Monday's meeting, but some adults suggested the chant should be changed instead of tossed.

"I'm a big believer in tradition," said Cindy Knox, who graduated from Hutchinson High in 1980. "Tradition is very difficult to get, very difficult to keep, very easy to let go."

Gary Carson, the district's associate superintendent of operations, however, suggested the district build a tradition of "integrity and respect and tolerance."

"Tradition is bigger than a chant or a cheer or a song," he said. "Tradition has to be something from within that people embrace and believe in as a whole, as a group."

Hutchinson High School
1401 N. Severance • Hutchinson, KS 67501 •
620-665-4500
Principal: Ronn Roehm  mailto:roehmr@usd308.com


This article comes from Focus on Freedom
http://www.gohotsprings.com/focus/

The URL for this story is:
http://www.gohotsprings.com/focus/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=225


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: education; freedom; highschool; hoepotatoer; hutchinson; hutchinsonhigh; kansas; publicschool; publicschools; school; speech
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1 posted on 02/02/2003 7:38:31 PM PST by steplock
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To: steplock
hoe potatoer

Sounds more like a slur on the Irish.

2 posted on 02/02/2003 7:41:43 PM PST by weikel (Your commie has no regard for human life not even his own)
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To: steplock
In a book about slave songs, she found terms from the chant: "chicka," "rat trap," "bulligator" and a reference to slaves hoeing potatoes.

They found that in a book? Burn it!!! Destroy anything with words we don't like. get rid of the chant, and then destroy all printed materials people could see those words in... < /sarcasm here, but reality on liberal boards >

3 posted on 02/02/2003 7:44:18 PM PST by chance33_98 (Freedom is not Free)
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To: steplock
She also determined that the words "Higger, Bigger," could be viewed as a mask for the original terms.

Oh well, if they could be viewed as a "mask" then we should ban them, of course.

Anything that rhymes with "digger" should be banned from the English language.

4 posted on 02/02/2003 7:46:04 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: steplock
"hoe potatoer" -- could be considered offensive

Abortion is an offensive word to me, I will freep them later on tonight after i get some coffe and some of them thar french fried hoe taters.

5 posted on 02/02/2003 7:46:44 PM PST by chance33_98 (Freedom is not Free)
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To: weikel
I propose we eliminate the following words from the english language:

Bigger, Cigger, Digger, Figger, Gigger, Higger, Jigger, Kigger, Ligger, Migger, Pigger, Quigger, Rigger, Sigger, Tigger, Vigger, Wigger, Xigger, Yigger, Zigger.

Because they are just wayyy too close to sounding like "Nigger."

6 posted on 02/02/2003 7:47:42 PM PST by Lunatic Fringe (I drank what?)
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To: mhking
Higger, Bigger, hoe potater ping
7 posted on 02/02/2003 7:47:49 PM PST by chance33_98 (Freedom is not Free)
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To: steplock
Allagaroo, garoo, garoo;
Wah, hoo, bazoo;
Hicer, Picer, Dominicer,
Sis! Boom! Bah!
Hutchinson High School
Rah! Rah! Rah!
La shoo, La shoo
La Shoo, Li Roo,
La shoo, Li Ishabacka,
Ishabacka Boo,
Hutchinson High School
Hey Roo.
Boom skit a rat trap
See si Boom!
Higger, Bigger Hoe potatoer
Half past Alligator,
Rom, Bom, Bulligator,
Chika! Saw! Dah!
Hutchinson High School
Rah! Rah! Rah!Ala Bago, Ala Bago,
Ala Bago, Baga Bum,
Boom skit a rat trap,
Bigger'n a cat trap,
Boom skit a rat trap,
Bigger'n a cat trap.
Chicawaw, Chicawaw,
Hutchinson High School
Rah! Rah! Rah!

8 posted on 02/02/2003 7:48:00 PM PST by js1138
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To: steplock; Xenalyte
integrity and respect and tolerance

Welcome to tolerance camp.

9 posted on 02/02/2003 7:48:54 PM PST by weikel (Your commie has no regard for human life not even his own)
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To: js1138
I like it! It's rather catchy datchy sis boom!
10 posted on 02/02/2003 7:50:00 PM PST by Lunatic Fringe (I drank what?)
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To: Lunatic Fringe; Sir Gawain
There a lot of other words we can eliminate stop being so niggardly with your ideas of words to be eliminated.
11 posted on 02/02/2003 7:50:07 PM PST by weikel (Your commie has no regard for human life not even his own)
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To: Dog Gone

Flippin' Jiggers

12 posted on 02/02/2003 7:51:05 PM PST by blam
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To: weikel
BTW, do you know what is an Irish seven course meal?
13 posted on 02/02/2003 7:51:55 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin
No what?
14 posted on 02/02/2003 7:52:32 PM PST by weikel (Your commie has no regard for human life not even his own)
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To: js1138
Silly, but fun. What is wrong with people today?
15 posted on 02/02/2003 7:53:20 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin
Mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, stewed potatoes, baked potatoes, raw potatoes, potato milshake, and potato pie
16 posted on 02/02/2003 7:54:03 PM PST by Lunatic Fringe (I drank what?)
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To: steplock
This nonsense sure does trigger a snigger. I'll have to pour myself a bigger jigger. She's quite a rigger, I figger.
17 posted on 02/02/2003 7:54:30 PM PST by Loyalist (Ceci n'est pas un tagline.)
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To: js1138
"Allagaroo, garoo, garoo;
Wah, hoo, bazoo;"

Well I'M offended!
How dare you post that to a forum that celebrates uh, "Freedom", er,...
<sarcasm>

18 posted on 02/02/2003 7:55:27 PM PST by Redbob
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To: Lunatic Fringe
But where's the Beer and Whiskey in this equation?
19 posted on 02/02/2003 7:55:58 PM PST by weikel (Your commie has no regard for human life not even his own)
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To: steplock
This nonsense sure does trigger a snigger. I figger I'll have to pour myself a bigger jigger.
20 posted on 02/02/2003 7:56:35 PM PST by Loyalist (Ceci n'est pas un tagline.)
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