Robert Pratt
If the leaders of our public schools are themselves ignorant or otherwise not very bright, what are the odds that the education provided to students is less than stellar?
In Texas we once again have a story in which we are told that the chant of USA!, USA!, USA! at a sporting event between two area teams was “racist”. The chief of Slaton ISD schools, one Julee Becker, claims such. Becker told the Lubbock newspaper about the chant: “I believe that we are a microcosm in schools of greater society. That’s what we are. The symptoms of racism, they run deep.”
Ms. Becker appears ignorant of what is racism. Racism is the belief that a particular race (widen it if you want to ethnicity) is inherently inferior to another. For example, if black basketball players at Slaton said that they are automatically superior to other players by virtue of their race, being black, that would be racism.
It would seem to me that she is the one imputing bigotry into the students chanting USA! at a game.
Slaton’s Becker doesn’t seem to know the difference between “racism” and bigotry or prejudice. It would seem to me that she is the one imputing bigotry into the students chanting USA! at a game. How in the hell is it racism or bigotry to chant USA! when all present are USA’s – Americans?!
A screwed-up liberal with any education would call it nationalism if anything but again, how does that become any sort of bigotry when all present are of the same nation?
The very fact that the Slaton ISD school-intendent [there seems little “super” about her] doesn’t know what words mean and is quick to impute into the minds of others the nastiness of racism, or any other “ism” for that matter, says much more about her, negatively, than it does about any students at a Slaton versus Idalou ball game.
Why would she even note or mention this?
https://www.facebook.com/julee.becker.9
Appears to be very shy and short of friends.
You are too old to be creeping on people’s Facebook. Ew.
Oh no you did not talk bad about Mrs. Becker. She is a wonderful,kind and an awesome person. Ignorant is the last thing she is. I know her personally and professionally and I am proud that she is the leader of our schools.
The reason why the idalou students were chanting USA was because slatons team has a majority of Hispanic players on their girls basketball team. slaton also has girls who are also African American. why the kids said we dont know
They said it bc they were in a game against Canadian as a joke and it just carried over. Nothing racist about it and the funny thing is half of the student section was Hispanic.
The concensus seems to be that, because the Slaton team is predominately Hispanic, that the students were chanting to imply they, the Hispanic students, were not American. A far reach, I know. I doubt the Idalou students were this clever. Instead, it seems that USA was a euphemism for ” U Suck A$&”. This I can believe, as it seems to be on par for high school humor and intelligence.
Thank you Robert Pratt! This started last year in Idalou, when our girls team beat a very tough Candian girls basketball team. It was kind of a “Canada” vs. Idalou thing and our kids chanted “USA”. It took off after that and is usually only chanted after our girls win a game. All students do it-Hispanic, white, and African-American. It’s not aimed at anyone other than our girls. The superintendent is making a huge deal out of this, for nothing. Our students have been told they can no longer chant or even say “USA” in the halls of school. Is this even America anymore?
Mrs.Howard-Nobody wants to hear the real story of USA USA USA because its way less dramatic than the story that has been made up to slam kids as racist. Oh and to sell newspapers @lonestarvarsity.
Either meaning… It shouldn’t have been chanted ever….. Why not chant something else? Using it for what ever meaning other than what it is (United States of America) thought maybe you needed to be reminded] is disrespectful I think!!!!
You need to be reminded that you live in America, and we have a little thing called free speech. or is it only free speech if liberals approve of it ???
The point is, whether I agree or disagree, that they were most likely chanting USA because our high school is majority Mexican/Latino/Hispanic…
They chanted it to bash Mexicans. So, yeah, if that is in fact why they did it, it was pretty crappy, immature, and racist and called for reprimanding… It was stupid.
How do you know this?
How do you even know they were bashing Mexicans really that’s ridiculous and y’all took it to far saying that our kids are racist for saying USA
What Do I think? I think this guy is halarious! What a waste of our oxygen.
Your comments are ridiculous, Robert Pratt.
How so? I explained my position, back up your assertion with reason.
Some people have nothing better to do than create drama and/or stalk FB pages! If you don’t know Ms Becker personally, you’re missing out! She’s an outstanding SUPERintendent, role model & FRIEND! An all around fantastic person who truly cares about our schools, community and above all, our kids. Oh, by the way, she has many that call her friend. Slaton is lucky to have an overall fantastic woman leading our school system. It’s a shame when a person might say something in a harmless comment and it becomes open prey for the vultures to pick apart!
Good grief. The criticism is specifically about her position on the USA chant.
Very demeaning to Ms. Becker!!
Demeaning how? How is her soft bigotry of labeling others as racists with no evidence other than the chant of USA! not demeaning? Are you really blind to this or just tribal in defense of the woman?
Interesting you say “the criticism is specifically about her position on the USA chant”. And I quote you Mr. Pratt, “If the leaders of our public schools are themselves ignorant or otherwise not very bright, what are the odds that the education provided to students is less than stellar?” That would seem to be more of a personal attack on Mrs. Becker’s character. And there are other “personal” attacks…”there seems to be little that is “super” about her” for instance. This is what seems to occur when people outside a situation take a position on something and/or someone they know nothing about. Mrs. Becker is a wonderful women, superintendent, and person.
What OTHER context do you find in yelling out “USA, USA, USA” at a high school competition where ALL competitors are American? Are you honestly going to lie to yourself and say that this was yelled out in support of both American teams?? I will grant you that there was ignorance in this situation…in a bunch of kids who yelled out something out of context without recognizing what this could imply.
No, your article wasn’t just about her position- you included comments like “(she’s) ignorant or not very bright”, “there seems little ‘super” about her”, “appears to be ignorant of racism” – smear or bullying tactics, rather than just disagreeing with Mrs. Becker’s position, you did your best to demean her as well. Talk show host tactics to impress an audience rather than a more substantive argument about the merits of your (or her) case. Your link to the AJ article is an abbreviated article of the fuller AJ article. Nowhere did you mention that Jim Waller, the superintendent of Idalou immediately apologized for his students actions and promised that would not be repeated- apparently he thought something was wrong with the chants. There was an explanation in the article about how the same thing had happened in basketball games in San Antonio- which Mrs. Becker referenced. Finally, and very importantly, you also performed a time honored tactic by attacking Mrs. Becker’s explanation without explaining just why a bunch of high school kids at a rival schools basketball game would chant USA USA rather than say Idalou or a dozen other high school yells. You really think they were saying we are all wonderful inhabitants of the USA? Who’s being naive or ignorant now. At the end of the article, Mrs. Becker is quoted as saying “We’re all USA. All of us are”. It is truly disappointing that you use your position of the bully pulpit to bully and blame instead of trying to shine a light on truth and maybe just a bit of truth that there are still some kids and adults that need to “get it” about bigotry or racism.
Me. Pratt and Mr. Moore yall are pure idiots
Wow, that’s an intellectual argument. Very impressive.
Unlike yours
Mine is written in full form above or can you not read? Also about 15 minutes of full explanation was given on the air covering many other points.
Oh I read it and it was a waste of my time that I will never get back. You have no idea of situation and just needed something to write about I’m sure.
I think its dumb how slaton isd is acting about this. I go to idalou and I know for a fact the guys were implying racism towards the other school. They were just being dumb and cheering on our team to get them motivated. Sorry that’s a crime to y’all . like for real we are all from USA. Slaton needs to stop taking it up the butt just because we beat they’re team! If slaton would’ve beat us I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be making such a big deal about this so… Sorry we beat yalls team!
Weren’t*
Really litte girl they were being Racist!! Why else would they say it! And hat is taking it up the butt. Really! That is really childish!
How do you determine that people were being “racist” AND how do you figure that USA! is in anyway racist? Being an American has zero to do with race or ethnicity so how is such a chant offensive to anyone who is American? Seriously, how do you figure such – do you just “know it” to be true? That would imply that you see much through a bigoted lens.
It is interesting how the people commenting presume to know why, and with what intent, these kids chanted “USA”. Are they all psychic? I find this to be a mob mentality. Are Slatonites to be judge and jury for these teens without even knowing the facts about where the chant originated? I find it offensive that one cannot chant USA anywhere and at anytime.
Mr. Pratt, in analyzing your deceptive poor quasi Fox News journalism, you left out key elements of the news story. Notably that the Idalou school district apologized to Slaton Isd for the chant that was perceived as a racial slur to the Mostly Hispanic Slaton team. It was the context of the chant, not the chant itself.
I’ve nothing to do with Fox News and my piece is not “journalism” it is opinion, or commentary. Second, the fact that Waller apologized doesn’t provide evidence of anything other than that he sent a letter of apology. You’ll might also note that Waller did not discipline any students? Is that because he too is a “racist” or, could it be because of the fundamental point that there is no evidence that the chant of USA! is in anyway bigoted?
Don’t understand how you could call it racist when the idalou team has 3 Hispanic players of there own and a Hispanic assistant coach. The “intendant” as mr Pratt says was very unprofessional in the matter when se immediately concluded that the students of idalou were making a racial chant out of ‘USA’ . Racism is an absolute zero tolerance at idalou. I would know I’ve been attending my whole life and am both African American and Hispanic
If you are supporting your hometown team, why would you not chant your team name? We are all from the USA they were not playing another country; so why would you ever think of chanting USA!!! The instance quoted above that it started when they played Canadian, TX and referred it as “Canada” against Idalou is even more proof for me that there is a deep rooted bias in the school and community that is being allowed to be promoted at your athletic events!!!! Ms. Becker is a fine example of a women supporting everyone in her community not just the select that Mr. Pratt thinks should be supported!!! Wildcats! Wildcats! would have been a much more acceptable chant until you play on an international field; then you can chant USA! USA! and be appropriate!
I bet Mrs. Becker voted for Obama
http://m.kcra.com/news/usa-chant-at-tokayst-marys-game-was-not-a-patriotic-cheer/30831388
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/07/10602066-racist-texas-high-school-apologizes-for-fans-usa-chant-after-basketball-game?lite
It seems to be a growing problem with schools that have a majority of white students. Used against schools with a more diverse group of students.
It is only a “problem” if one places in the minds of others bigoted intent. To find the chant of USA! bigoted is to subtly suggest that Hispanic, or other non-whites, are somehow less American. Thus it is those who find the change offense who are guilty of soft bigotry. If one is an American, one cannot be insulted by being called such.
You just said it yourself! Idalou placed in the Minds of the Slaton’s team, staff and fans bigoted intent. That is a problem. That implication or racist slur gives Mrs, Becker every right to stand up for her students. Idalou chanted USA calling themselves (IDALOU) USA implying that Slaton is not. Which would make them not American. I have no problem chanting USA – when and where it is appropriate. Not when it is obviously being used as an acronym. And if you think teenagers do not do such things, you are very naive.
What? I did not claim that someone, or a group, put bigotry in the minds of others. That is the point, you can’t know someone’s intent unless the action is overt (which USA! chanting certainly is not). If you claim that you know it was coming from bigotry, prove it. How would you know such of strangers in a gym unless you are projecting onto them the bigotry. There is no question that teenagers or adults for that matter engage in bigotry but short of it being overt who are you, or any other thought police, to simply declare that others are acting from bigotry? Why is this simple concept so very hard for you to understand?
In your first paragraph, you refer to her being “ignorant”. You made a broad insult about her over one topic.
The perception is that the USA chant is in regards to the opposing teams ethnic make up. If it’s not, then they should be aware of how it’s going to be perceived.
My criticism of her was specific and directly related to what she said as reported in the newspaper.
I gradated from slaton & I hate idalou but she is an idiot
IF she felt her students were being attacked in a racist manor her stand against the “USA” comments is perfectly acceptable, and if students were using it as an acronym for something inappropriate, again she has every right to stand up for her school. It is always better as an administrator to stand up for the integrity of your school district than to let something pass and for a student to feel attacked. Even if Idalou was using it as a joke for another school district, they are still targeting the Canadian culture and degrading it, as funny as it may be. People have to be aware of what they do, with how fragile society has made adolescences lately there is no telling what could set a child off. I’m not saying it’s right to coddle them by any means, but using a phrase that is so controversial is never a good idea. Use it as its intended, to support the United States, not in jest of another school.
I was at the game Tuesday night between Idalou and Slaton . It was a great game between two great schools. The yell at the end was in honor of Idalou girls winning. In no way is our school racist we have same % Hispanic as Slaton . The yell started last year no other school has been offend by it. We all live in USA ,do not understand why we cannot say it or yell it.We all need to get over this support our kids not bad mouth them after all we are proud of our students in both schools..,.
I believe you should do more research on this matter before you write a story such as this. If you knew the whole story behind everything and the history of how Idalou treats people from other schools maybe you’d think twice before saying such unkind words about a person you don’t know at all. A person who defended her community and school. Who stood up for them when she felt they were treated unfairly. Everyone knows the true meaning behind the chant and the students intentions with it. They were not being patriotic. They were demeaning Slaton because they feel they are better than them. Live around this area. Go to a rival school near them (Idalou). You’ll feel it too. I for one am proud that someone has finally called them out on their behavior. I hope it makes Idalou wake up and realize how they and their youth are treating others and they use this as a positive and make a change.
The issues of this case stand upon their own as reported by other media. Prima facia.
Does anyone from slaton realize that Idalou has chanted USA at other games and no one said anything, perhaps the slatonites are sore losers and needed something to complain about. Oh, and there is a giant difference between nationality and race
Just so you know. I was at this game. No one understood why they were chanting, “USA! USA! USA!” It wasn’t until a Slaton student informed me a student from Idalou told them it was being chanted due to the different races on Slaton’s team. The Idalou superintendent chose to apologize to Ms. Becker and her school district, because he too decided the behavior of these students was inappropriate. If you want to stir things up, maybe you should chose a subject that doesn’t involve the future of our society. These children need a leader and Ms. Becker is the prime example of one. You should be ashamed of yourself for bringing others down and critizing a women who stands up for what is right. Prayers are coming your way, Mr. Pratt. I’m sorry you weren’t blessed with a kind heart.
If there was evidence of racial or ethnic motivation why then did Idalou’s chief, Waller, not discipline students? Did you miss the comments indicating that they’d been chanting such all season with it starting as good-natured fun playing Canadian? Again, in each case it is others simply deciding that “USA!” is somehow bigoted.
Oh my gosh. I can’t stop laughing at your comment. I can promise you an Idalou student did not say that! HA. Idalou has plenty of minorities and there were some chanting USA too. I wish Mr. Waller wouldn’t have apologized because the kids did nothing wrong.
Idk Mrs Becker and she may be a great lady but she is very wrong about this! This had nothing to do with racism! Like Kristie said it started last year when the girls played Canadian and has carried on. It has been chanted many times this year and never been an issue! There were just as many Spanish kids in the student section chanting as white kids. Are they prejudice against themselves? That’s ridiculous!!! Maybe Mrs Becker should worry about the things her kids are yelling at ours! And whoever said that it stood for ‘u suck ass’ I promise you it doesn’t!! Our kids have way to much respect for their country to turn USA into anything else!!! Even most of the people from Slaton have said the whole thing is stupid! It just needs to be dropped and personally I think Slaton needs to apologize!
I know people from Slaton and feelings like this are NO surprise. They always think the world is out to get them and that anything said is in some way a “slam” on them or their background. It is kind of sad really..
Mr Pratt is entilted to his opinion just like
Ms. Becker had an opinion to spout or spew or whatever u call it. She may be a wonderful person but she made a mistake on this one … yes, that is MY opinion.
As always… Its great to be an Idalou Wildcat!
I think Pratt is ignorant. It’s you Pratt that doesn’t know the difference. if the chant of USA is being chanted, then yes, it’s racist. That tells me that ‘you’ think you’re better than me and that I belong in The USA. That’s really what they are saying with that chant. Call it what it is Pratt….. Ignorant and it needs to be stopped!!!!!
I must respectfully disagree with your article Mr. Pratt. When I read the article in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal this morning, I never got the feeling that Ms. Becker was trying to impute bigotry into the minds of other, as you stated in your headline. What I took from the original article, was that 2 Superintendents took steps to ensure a chant that may or may not have an underline meaning, doesn’t get out of hand and cause problems. Unfortunately, in todays society, some chants, initials, words, etc., have a different, negative or less flattering meaning then what was originally intended when these items were created. I hope that the students chanting USA! USA!, didn’t mean it in the way some people feel.. It would be so sad to know that a chanting USA! USA! is now being interpreted as a racist remark. As for the labels, you used to refer to Ms. Becker, they seem a bit unfair. Disagreeing with her comment is one thing, but labeling her as ignorant or not very bright, especially if you don’t know her, is just as wrong as being racist is.
If the USA chant was against Slaton Hispanics, why has this chant been going on for over a year after the Idalou girls basketball games? It was started after beating Canadian-a team that is predominantly white! And why do the Idalou Hispanic kids chant it as well? Are they racist against themselves? Lots of schools in this area that Idalou plays have a lot of Hispanic kids on their teams and in their schools. Slaton is the first team/town to utter one word against the chant. I don’t really understand why people want to make this into something awful. It’s not, at all!!
So glad Ms. Becker is standing up for her students! Proud of her and sad for your interpretation and negativity.
Exactly how is Mrs. Becker “standing up for her students”? She didn’t stand up for her students in the newspaper story, she called the students of another school racists with no evidence.
Once again, the paparazzi didn’t do their research. You have no right making the rude comments about Mrs. Becker. Do you even know her? Have you taken the time to get to know her? Then you haven’t done your research, Mr. Pratt. I am a retired teacher from Slaton ISD and I know firsthand how well respected and hard working an Administrator Mrs. Becker is – to the staff, students, citizens, and whomever she meets. She is a great protector and voice for our students and District. She does her research and calls it like it is. In this case, she was a Heroine for imputing this wrongdoing. If you had done your research, you would have learned the true meaning of USA, and that it had nothing to do with being an upstanding American citizen… Do your research, Mr. Pratt! You owe Mrs. Becker and our district an apology.
Everything commented upon was on-the-record and from Mrs. Becker’s own mouth. Did you miss that part?
Paparazzi is related to photographs. “A freelance photographer who pursues celebrities trying to take candid photographs of them to sell to newspapers or magazines” is a dictionary definition. Is the misuse of language contagious in Slaton?
Once again, you didn’t do your research, Mr. Pratt.! Paparazzi is defined as any person or group who gathers news. (This was researched by an educated former Slaton ISD retired teacher.) Your responses are rude and offensive and obviously grasping at straws. You show no class by not apologizing to Slaton citizens and our very capable administrator. Evidently, you are not aware that the superintendent of Idalou gave a public apology to Slaton ISD and citizens. Now that man has class. Do your research, Mr. Pratt!
You are ignorant and quite wrong. No wonder you know little of what you write. The Oxford definition of paparizzi is: A freelance photographer who pursues celebrities to get photographs of them.
Quick definitions from Macmillan
American English Definition AND British English Definition
noun ▸ photographers who follow famous people in order to take photographs of them that newspapers and magazines will buy
Quick definitions from WordNet
▸ noun: a freelance photographer who pursues celebrities trying to take candid photographs of them to sell to newspapers or magazines
Read: https://prattontexas.com/2015/01/24/usa-are-non-anglos-less-american/
It is your see-racism-everywhere school chief who should apologize to all those she unfairly labeled as engaging in racist behavior.
Look at all these Idalou moms defending their ” Innocent little kids.” Give me a break. Maybe before you start pointing fingers at how ‘crazy’ this superintendent is You should do some research on the history of how ‘classy’ this Idalou student section is. I’m all for American pride because we live in the best damn country on this planet. That being said, this isn’t Idalou’s first go-around. They heckled a kid even worse last year during the Abernathy Vs. Idalou basketball playoff game. One of the stand outs on that team had suffered some serious burns and the whole student body knew it. Not only did it probably demoralize that young mans confidence but it was also a very classless thing for them to do. Get to know this “Great group of respectful? kids” before bashing on Slatons administration. There is definitely more to the story than just a good ol USA chant.
I was at the Abernathy game when this took place. There were only a few students yelling that at him, and the rest of the students were telling them to stop. I know this because I was in the student section. Since you brought up the incident, don’t you think if the Idalou kids wanted to yell something racist they would have? The USA chant has been going on for quite sometime now and it was not just at the Slaton game. No other school has complained or cried racism over this. Idalou is very strict and has a high standard for their students. This is nothing more than kids celebrating a victory and Slaton getting butt hurt about a loss.
David. I’m an idalou Dad, and I’ll give you a break, if you need one? FYI , during the Idalou vs Slaton game some Slaton fans were calling one of our girls a Big Fat B—h. In any group of people,of any race, there are going to be nasty people like that, you wil NEVER change that. But don’t call an entire school one or the other racist . I have personally witnessed our school officials have talks with students and parents they thought weren’t being respectful of teams, referees and opposing parents.. So you give me a break.
Well Mr. Pratt your little article really made me think. If kids are shouting USA to a predominately Hispanic team; with all the talk about the Immagration Law and in light of what happened in San Antonio, makes me believe that there was a fine line crossed. And that fine line is that you are telling or predominately Hispanic team that you are better than them or that they don’t deserve to be there. Why not find something else to chant.
Yes the meaning of rac·ist
ˈrāsəst/
noun
1.
a person who believes that a particular race is superior to another
adjective: racist
1.
having or showing the belief that a particular race is superior to another.
Maybe you are the ignorant one. Name bashing is not very intelligent.
classy Tiger Nation Mom/Fan
Being Hispanic is not being less of an American than an Anglo. Those who feel it is are the bigots. Do you think that in counties with 96 to 98 percent Hispanic residents that the American flag is not flown and that USA! is not chanted? (Guess what, they have big veterans’ parades too!)
This is an interesting idea that those who are not Anglo should be offended by a chant which is prideful of their own country – unless of course this is the Left’s ever-present soft bigotry that says these folk are indeed lesser Americans.
Pratt, you got it right. Cannot fix stupid. Leadership at Slaton.
i think the problem is this….we are forced to separate each other by “race”….when there is only one race…the human race…We all are Americans…. We are Americans by the grace of God…we all live in the USA and no one person is better than another….One would hope that all would have better things to do than tear down another…United we stand…divided we fall…one nation under God with liberty and justice for all….
It’s obvious that some, if not most, people these days have lost all ability to see things clearly. As noted before the chanting started a long time ago and was a USA vs. Canada reference. Just a fun little chant. NO racism involved. Is it racist to chant USA at a USA vs. Canada hockey game? Just kids having fun with a common rivalry. Afterward that game the chant became a common thing. It Has been chanted at many games involving teams with and without different races. No complaints from anyone until Idalou beat their rivals Slaton. By the way, my daughter was at the game and on the court and was witness to several Slaton parents calling one of our bigger players a big fat “B” word. The player and her mother were very upset about that, but I guess as long as you dont say USA around any Hispanic players it’s okay. Can any of you Mrs Becker defenders not see this as common sense ? I’m sure that on most days Mrs Becker is all you that know her say she is, but not on this topic. She has acted without checking the facts and now the damage is done. Could she not have called Idalou superintendent and discussed it before attacking innocent students. I myself never considered Slaton school to be so thin skinned,that you have to tiptoe around them so that no one gets feelings hurt. even if it’s only in their own minds. I’ll be honest, I deeply resent being labeled racist from a woman that knows nothing about me. If a certain race accuses you of something false , enough times to the point that you begin to dislike that race in general, does that make you racist??? I guess either way people like Mrs Becker gets what they are after, attention. Some people go out of their way to be the Victims. I’m just so so sick of hearing it, and this time it’s hit too close to home.
Some of the kids are laughing at all the adults, because of how this issue has been so blown out of proportion and how the adults involved have no idea what the letters U.S.A. stand for among America’s teens these days, which is “U suck a_ _.” So I guess in this case Mr. Pratt, we were all ignorant.
Good point but, it is not offensive unless one knows the intended insult. It wouldn’t bother me even with it because I would simply decide it meant pride in our country. Too many are looking to be offended at every opportunity!