Midwest
Free speech org torches Iowa classroom’s banned words list featuring ‘Ohio,’ ‘rizz’ and Holocaust references
Free speech advocates are crying foul after they say an Iowa social studies teacher banned the use of a lengthy list of words and phrases in her classroom, including the name of an entire state. But officials from the school now say students helped create the list, and that it’s no longer on display.
On Tuesday, the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) wrote to officials at the Fremont-Mills Community School District, warning that a seventh-grade social studies teacher’s alleged speech ban is unconstitutional.
“Everyone agrees that teachers have a duty to prevent classroom disruption, but a blanket ban on specific words and topics, regardless of the context, goes too far,” Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy for the civil liberties group, told Fox News Digital in an email.
An Iowa social studies teacher’s list of “Banned Words” in her classroom, drew criticism from a free speech group, but the school says the list was made with student input. (Courtesy of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)
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The list of “Banned Words” in the teacher’s classroom spanned more than a dozen individual words such as “Ohio,” which can mean “weird,” “cringe” or “dumb,” among Generation Alpha circles; “rizz,” which is short for “charisma”; and “skibidi,” which refers to a series of videos featuring animated talking heads that emerge from toilets.
“Diddy party,” “baby oil,” “brain rot” and “rage quitting” also made the viral list.
The poster further includes a blanket ban on meowing, barking, curse words, racist comments, LGBTQ+ and fat jokes, and references to drugs, Nazis or the Holocaust.
School administrators told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement Thursday afternoon that students helped craft the list “as an important lesson of civic responsibility … promoting empathy and awareness of how language affects others.” They added that the “chart has not been displayed since the first quarter.”
“Our goal is not to censor or stifle student speech, but to guide students toward language that fosters a positive and inclusive learning environment,” officials from the rural district located in southwestern Iowa added.
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Saying “any of these words listed” was punishable by a 30-minute detention, according to a note at the bottom of the poster. A parent told FIRE that at least 10 students have been disciplined, but school administrators said “consequences are not based solely upon using particular words, unless they are considered vulgar, lewd, threatening, a substantial disruption of the school environment, or bullying toward another student.”
FIRE acknowledged that schools have a “legitimate interest in preventing actual classroom disruptions,” but said categorically banning a list of terms — including common words like “Ohio” and “chat” — without regard to context violates students’ free speech rights.
“It is well-established that public school students do not shed their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate,” Terr wrote to the school’s principal and superintendent, citing the landmark 1969 Supreme Court decision in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District.
A rural Iowa school district says a teacher’s list of “Banned Words” was created with the input of students during a civics lesson. “We acknowledge that evolving language and slang from social media platforms plays a tremendous role in students’ interactions,” the district wrote in a statement. “While these expressions can be creative and accepted, they may also carry meanings or connotations that may disrupt the classroom or negatively affect peers.” (iStock)
FIRE called on the district to remove the list, “stop censoring non-disruptive student expression,” and respond by Dec. 23.
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“Students and parents are right to speak up when speech rights are threatened, and we think this can be a great teaching moment for all involved about protecting student expression in our public schools,” Terr told Fox News Digital.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated with a response from the school district.
Fox News Digital reached out to FIRE for additional comment.
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Johnson pleas for “something” to be done about gun violence
Mayor Cavalier Johnson makes a plea for “something” to be done about gun violence after a Milwaukee shooting that left police and suspect injured.
One person was injured in a shooting Tuesday morning, June 9, near a day care center and two schools, Milwaukee police said.
The shooting occurred just before 8 a.m. on the 2700 block of North 44th Street. A 31-year-old suffered unspecified injuries in the incident and was transported to a local hospital, police said.
No additional information about the victim was immediately available. Police are seeking unknown suspects.
The location of the shooting is blocks away from Washington High School of Information Technology, Milwaukee Math and Science Academy and Gregory’s Little Helpers child care center.
Washington High School did not go into lockdown, according to a WISN-TV (Channel 12) report. However, principal Jose Frias sent a note to families saying the school was safe and classes would continue normally, the news station reported.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies were fired on while serving an arrest warrant, leading to a large police presence in Minneapolis Tuesday afternoon.
South Minneapolis large police presence
What we know:
According to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were fired at while trying to serve an arrest warrant in the area of West 28th Street and Nicollet Avenue.
Deputies and officers from the Minneapolis Police Department have secured the scene. The roads around the incident have been closed, and authorities are asking the public to avoid the area.
FOX 9 crews at the scene have been told by police that the suspect is barricaded in an apartment building and has a long rifle and explosives.
Authorities say there are no reported injuries currently.
As of 1:30 p.m., law enforcement reports that the suspect is not yet in custody. The apartment he is in has been evacuated and crisis negotiations are ongoing.
What we don’t know:
It is not known what the arrest warrant was for. Suspect information has not been shared.
This is an ongoing incident. Check back for updates.
The Source: A Facebook post from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Scattered storms remain possible over the coming days. Some could be strong with heavy rain and gusty winds. Less humid air returns for a few days starting Friday.
TUESDAY EVENING/NIGHT:
The warm and humid air mass in place will support a continuing chance of showers & storms. Not everyone will get one… but if a storm forms it does have the potential to produce torrential rainfall, gusty winds, and perhaps some hail. Muggy lows in the lower 70s can be expected again.
WEDNESDAY:
Some morning showers, storms, and clouds are possible but the afternoon is looking like it’ll be downright sultry with highs around 90 and heat indices near 100. Southwesterly breezes 10-20 will ease the burden a bit, but be sure to take extra steps to stay cool and hydrated. The 30 year average date of the first 90 in Indianapolis is June 19th.
Model data suggest a storm complex or two may graze northern Indiana in the later part of the afternoon and evening. It’s too early to tell if this will affect Central Indiana or not.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
Warm and very humid conditions stick around. Look for another night with lows in the 70s. Once again, some data suggest that a batch of gusty storms could roll across Northern Indiana. That will be something to watch.
THURSDAY:
Warm, breezy, and very humid conditions hang around one more day. Highs near 90 with heat indices around 100 appear likely. While a shower or storm could pop anytime in the muggy air, most of the daylight hours should remain dry.
A cold front will push in from the west during the evening and overnight hours. This front will likely spark a line of strong to severe storms in Illinois. These storms will move towards Central Indiana, but they may be in a weakening phase prior to arrival here. We’ll just have to watching things evolve. The main severe threat in this setup would be damaging wind gusts it appears.
FRIDAY:
After an early day rain & storm chance, the majority of the day should be pretty nice with partly cloudy skies, warm highs in the 80s, but lower humidity levels. Any outdoor plans for Friday evening look great!
WEEKEND:
The pick day will be Saturday with plentiful sunshine, warmer temperatures, light winds, and reasonably dry air for a change. Humidity increases again for Sunday and that will lead to another chance of scattered rain & storms.
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