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November 23, 2009

Massachusetts school triggers firestorm over 'meeping'

Ethan Forman, CNHI News Service

DANVERS, Mass. - Theodora Michaels, a New York City attorney, sent an impulsive one-word email to Danvers High School officials recently: "Meep."

The reply was swift and a bit more wordy: "Your email has been forwarded to the Danvers Police Department."

Michaels said her email was intended to support students who have been told that if they use the word "meep" they could be suspended from school.

She said the school's response implied there's something illegal about "meep" and she could be prosecuted for using it.

School officials have banned the slang word because they said students were using it in a pattern of disruptive behavior.

Such conduct is called "meeping" or muttering gibberish. It was popularized by the goggly-eyed Muppets character Beaker.

Principal Tom Murray said the school does not intend to pursue charges against attorney Michaels for her email objection to the school's policy. He said outside emails are routinely routed to police resource officers assigned to the school.

Michaels said she was not advocating students break school rules but was "vigorously defending" their right to use the banned word.

Michaels shared her exchange with the school in an open letter posted to the Internet, triggering a deluge of comments directed at school officials.

Superintendent Lisa Dana acknowledged the controversy has ignited a firestorm of protest from across the country but said the school has no plans to discontinue the ban.

"We have managed the situation," she said. "Our school system is moving forward."



Ethan Forman is a reporter for the Salem, Mass., News. Contact him at www.salemnews.com.

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