Kindergarten Kansas St. Fan Causes Stir

32 Comments

The Kansas-Kansas State rivalry even has made a kindergarten class heated.

Click the link below to read the blog of Julie Burton, an Olathe, KS, mother who writes what she describes a “stay-at-home mommy blog” – needless to say, not something that one would think could stir up the Internet.

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However, Burton’s blog now has gone viral thanks to her daughter, Emma, who made a stink in her kindergarten class about coloring a Jayhawk – the famous mascot of Kansas University.

Her mother’s blog described the young girl’s encounter with her teacher: “Emma would not color this Jayhawk today with the rest of her class. She told me she would not color it. She told me she does not like KU and her family likes K-State. She asked me for a K-State picture instead but I told her this was her only option.

“She took the paper, crumpled it up and threw in the trash can. I asked her to get it out of the trash can and she told me no then refused to speak to me the rest of the day. I told her I would have to have a chat with you about this and she will need to color this tomorrow during recess.”

But why was the class coloring the Jayhawk anyway? It was a celebration of Kansas week for the state’s birthday, during which students learned about the state bird, tree, animal and, yes, the mascot of the state’s unofficial favorite college sports team.

Little Emma, though, stayed loyal to Kansas State. Once her mom was notified, Emma colored K-State’s Powercat and the Jayhawk and wrote an apology to the teacher for being rude (below).

She has since shot to Internet fame as the Kansas State president wrote her a letter and jokingly offered Emma a scholarship for the fall of 2025. Emma was also honored Monday night at Bramlage Coliseum when K-State faced the Jayhawks. She was named Fan of the Game and her colored Powercat was shown on the big screen.

Unfortunately, the Wildcats fell to No. 5 KU, 59-53.

Stay strong, Emma.

[Julie Burton's Blog]

10:25 AM on 2/14/2012

mej4ksu

The teacher needs to understand that the “Jayhawk” that she asked the student to color is not the same as the “Jayhawkers” she should be teaching about. When celebrating Kansas day, probably neither the PowerCat or the Jayhawk should be used. (See this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayhawker. ) My first grade granddaughter let it be know that she was NOT a Jayhawk either!! If we are going to teach history to our students, it should be done accurately. Also . . . . KU is not “the state’s unofficial favorite college sports team.” Many seem to forget other teams because of the success KU has had in basketball, but that is not the only sport in Kansas. Ask a Jayhawk how successful their football, volleyball, baseball and other teams have been against Kansas State in recent history and he/she will probably switch the subject to basketball quickly. It is time for others – especially reporters who are supposed to research their subjects – to remember that (1) Kansas, the state, does not stop at Kansas City, and (2) Residents of Kansas do not all support the same school. GO WILDCATS!!
- Allan
  
  Well said — I also believe in things being taught accurately.
- Lou Gagliardi
  
  It’s a kindergarten class. Regardless of Kansas Day or not, they try to keep things simple. Kindergartners are going to know the cat and the bird.
  - Anonymous
    
    obviously they did.
- Anonymous
  
  unofficial means just that…unofficial!!! this doesn’t indicate that that it is the state’s mascot…duh!
- Anonymous
  
  I am sure a lot of people who read the article applauds Emma for standing her ground-It is not easy to say she is a Kindergarten-say put her in the 6th or 7th grade, her determination and maturity will then be on the same page-put the teacher back to Kindergarten if she can’t teach any better.
- spartanmark05
  
  mej4ksu, thanks for the info about the origins of the term Jayhawker. I had no idea of the historical significance behind the nickname. Very interesting and very cool.
mej4ksu

I just re-read the article. Just to clarify – the Jayhawk is NOT the mascot of Kansas (the state). It is the mascot of the University of Kansas.
Unbelievable

It’s not funny, cute or clever when a 5 year old child shows disrespect for authority. That is the sad state we are in today and it’s not getting better. I wish they would take all shows off of TV that show smart alec kids getting rewarded for being disrespectful and downright hateful. Sad.
- Awesome
  
  No, it’s not funny, cute, or clever. It’s simply what this country was founded on. It’s also not funny, cute, or clever for teachers to abuse their authority and fail to recognize diversity (even among sports teams) in their classrooms.
  
  Also, not sure if trolling… if so, 10/10.
- State of Kansas Fan
  
  no maybe if more kids had the guts to not just accept whatever is told to them we would have a more intelegent populace that didnt rely on the government
- Flying Grandmother
  
  Respect is earned, not demanded. Our current school system is designed to make everyone “fit in” and “follow the leader”. This new generation is ready for and deserves something better. It’s time to empower each child’s unique gifts, not fight with them over an insignificant picture that had no place in the classroom in the first place. Emma is a leader and there are many more her age and coming up behind her who will change schooling for the better. The sooner the “adults” in the system figure this out, the faster we can move on to true education rather than the “robot factory” we have now.
- Believable
  
  Shut up or I’ll throw you in the bin.
James Mathews

Ha.Ha go back about 15 years and you will find the worst Div 1 football team…That’s loses…KSU! worst ever
you will have to have a winning record for 30 years to to catch up. The child is a mirror of her family if they are K staters so be it! it not my fault.
- Mr. Spell Check
  
  I believe the word that you were looking for is “losses.” Come on now…If you’re (or you might spell it your) going to be petty you have to bring your A game!
badgerfan

The girl wasn’t being “hateful.” She asked for a wildcat to color. It’s a good sign she won’t do everything adults ask her to just because they have “authority.” Read the news or have some common sense and you’ll know that kids have more reason to question adults everyday. I think KSU should offer her a real scholarship, not a “joke” one while they can. This kid has a bright future.
- Marion Virginia Bechtel
  
  THIS! Too often people simply become sheep, following along blindly without questioning things. It’s what we’re taught in public schools. This little girl expressed her strong feelings and individuality – both of which are frowned upon by public schools, and, inevitably, our own government.
  
  Personally, I applaud her. She DID ask for a Wildcat to color – she was willing to color, just not the picture chosen for her. I have to admit, the apology written on the Wildcat was epic. Good job!
  
  The scholarship should indeed be real. This little girl is going to be a strong, smart woman one day, and KSU should be proud to offer her a real scholarship.
David Stover

I say good for her and I would check with a lawyer to see if your daughters civil right were violated!
- Vernon Riggs
  
  Doug,
  Most of the lawyers in Kansas were trained at the only Law School in Kansas, The University of Kansas. I am an Alum of Kansas University and very PROUD of Emma. I wouldn’t have colored a Powercat; Emma shouldn’t have to color a Jayhawk. Good for Emma for being an indepentent, stick-to-your guns young lady. I congratulate her parents for raising a young lady that will think for herself and go against authority figures when they are wrong. Way to Emma!
  
  Emma, Kansas University would be lucky to have you. Rock Chalk Jayhawk. Maybe when you get older, you will see the light…. If not, EWAW!
  - Anonymous
    
    Don’t be so smug Sir. KU is absolutely NOT the only law school in the state of Kansas. You need only turn to the college in your state capitol.
    
    http://www.washburnlaw.edu/
Anonymous

1. Just another example of a teacher using her position to bully a child into doing whatever is convenient whether right or not.
2. The child stood up for herself and her beliefs. I don’t call that unruly or disrespectful; I call it courage.
3. Some adults are threatened by innocent “loyal opposition” especially if it comes from a child. I’ve had elementary school teachers who called my Mom to the school because I was “a discipline problem” when I asked a teacher why there were no “Colored People” other than slaves in my history book.
4. why is this such a big deal anyway?
Mike

The teacher is out of line. KU is one of many schools in the state University system and is no way a representation of the entire state. In addition to K State there is also Pittsburg, Emporia, Hays…

The Jayhawk is a school mascot and should have nothing to do with Kansas week.
M Mitchell

The real lesson here is an important historical one. Kansas is known as the Jayhawker state and for good reason. A Jayhawker was a person who voted to make sure that Kansas entered the Union as a Free state. Something all Kansasans should be very proud of, even K-State fans. The Jayhawk resembled the one young Emma was ask to color but a little more like a real bird. Teachers and parents and university officials need to get their facts straight.
- Ben
  
  The jayhawkers were a group of people that set out to wreak havoc on Missourians. Thats all we need to know.
Ben

Well, would you touch that paper??? HELL NO! that birdie is POISON! Okay, on a more serious note, The teacher, let’s be honest, probably had no idea this would be a big deal. She probably just connected the two thoughts, understandably. Honestly I don’t think anyone is really AT FAULT here, but I do however think that if I was that teacher… I would have turned around the next day and given them a picture of a tiger, and said… “Okay kids, this is who Destroyed the city of Lawrence and burnt it to the ground.”
AwesomeHistoryTeacher

As a teacher, this situation does not surprise me in the least. The legislature probably passed some resolution to teach the history of state on a certain week which all the state’s schools must follow. The school board probably then instructed the administration to purchase packets and give them out to the appropriate teachers to cover the material. The teacher then had to stop whatever meaningful instruction she was working on and change gears to teach this “forced” material. School is NOT difficult! The students show up, sit in their chairs, listen, and do the work. Teachers are not entertainers, comedians, or performers. They are EDUCATORS! Students will eventually become adults (most of them) and realize that life is not like a video game or reality TV. Real life requires hard work, innovation, and respect for authority. Everyone is going to have a boss at some point in life.
- Ben
  
  So you are saying she should have colored it? Or the teacher should have had a sense of humor about it? You said it yourself. Teachers are educators. Real life requires hard work, innovation, and respect for authority, unless authority tells you to go jump off a bridge. I understand SPORTS may not be important to some people, and rivalries mean nothing, but for a kid like me, or a little girl like her, HER ATTITUDE gives her the competitive advantage over the rest. Our country was founded on people that went against the grain, and risked persecution for their decisions. This little girl, while on a much smaller scale, stood up against something that her family had ingrained in her for life. Its a hilarious story, that actually has lessons that can be learned. No doubt she will be successful.
  - AwesomeHistoryTeacher
    
    Attitude (good or bad) does not predict future success. So describing a five year old as a “hero” for disrespecting a teacher’s direction is ridiculous. I agree that there are times to “go against the grain”, “speak up for what’s right”, etc. But the blog entry is talking about a coloring sheet. And please notice the parent did ABSOLUTELY the right thing in making the student complete the assignment and write a note of apologize ( and yes, also turning in a completed KSU sheet was funny). Kudos to the parent! A successful civilization cannot exist without leaders and followers. I’m not quite sure our civilization is quite ready for a 5-year old leader. Let’s let her “leadership” get her a H.S. diploma and a college degree before we turn over the White House to her.
    P.S. – The KSU scholarship offer was hilarious. Perfect timing.
Grandfather

My Grandson solved the problem by coloring his Jayhawk purple and naming it Willy before he turned it in.
MU Fan

Nice job Emma!
M-I-Z
Z-O-U
2/16/2012

K-States mascot is a WILDCAT not a powercat!!!!!
Anonymous

I think the issue here is a child that young being rude, we are so consumed with loyalty to sport teams we are missing the point of her unacceptable behavior. It amazes me how we idolize atheletes and universities and yet they have no consideration for the working class with ticket price increases player salaries in professional sports. Maybe if the teacher and school system was appreciated financially it would be a better teachinng environment

Kindergarten Kansas St. Fan Causes Stir

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