Ping Pong the Panda of Perseverance in Race Row

A headteacher has been accused of being racist after naming a cuddly toy he brought back from China 'Ping Pong'.

Kevin Gaiderman of Chellaston Academy in Derby says he had 'no intention of insulting anyone' when he named the stuffed panda.

He said it was an affectionate name which referenced games of table tennis he played with students on a half-term school trip to the country.

But his choice has upset some parents at the school who have called his actions 'offensive'.

The headteacher brought back the stuffed toy which he intended to give as an award to any student who show resilience in the face of challenges and named it Ping Pong.

But an anonymous letter sent to local media claimed the name was an act of 'poor judgement'.
It said: 'What made it particularly offensive is the name he gave it. He called it 'Ping Pong the Panda of Perseverance'.

'When he mentioned this in a staff briefing, the majority of the staff couldn't believe what they were hearing.'

Mr Gaiderman said Chellaston Academy had been working on developing 'growth mindset and resilience' in its pupils, with reference to a book by ex-table tennis player Matthew Syed called 'Bounce'.

The head, who has been in charge at the school which has more than 1,800 pupils aged 11 to 18 since 2015, said the toy was purchased during the week-long Chinese trip in October.

He said staff and pupils had played sports with Chinese students at the school, including table tennis, which is the national sport and is often known as ping pong.

He claimed he did not intend to insult anyone when he named the toy panda, it was just a reminder of the fun they shared playing table tennis on the trip.

'Indeed we told the leaders of the school that this was what we were calling our panda due to the resilience and sporting connection we had enjoyed,' he said.

'We have an equal award we give to staff on a Friday briefing that is based on 'inclusion' and going the extra mile for students and the school.

'This is received with delight and all staff that have received it have stated how much it means to them to be recognised.'

One parent, who asked not to be named, said: 'I can't believe it, this is obviously someone out to make trouble or someone who's not got enough to worry about.

'How can calling a stuffed toy Ping Pong be racist? I mean, really. It's just madness!'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6392643/Headteacher-accused-racism-calling-schools-Chinese-cuddly-toy-panda-Ping-Pong.html

Dear God....whatever next will they find to get outraged about.

Poor man. Perhaps they should ban table tennis/ping pong next in case anyone thinks it's racist.

Raggamuffin wrote:Poor man. Perhaps they should ban table tennis/ping pong next in case anyone thinks it's racist.

I'm wondering if the outrage has something to do with that other ping pong type activity practised in certain East Asian bars? (asking for a friend).

HoratioTarr wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Poor man. Perhaps they should ban table tennis/ping pong next in case anyone thinks it's racist.

I'm wondering if the outrage has something to do with that other ping pong type activity practised in certain East Asian bars?   (asking for a friend).

I know nothing about that.

Raggamuffin wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:

I'm wondering if the outrage has something to do with that other ping pong type activity practised in certain East Asian bars?   (asking for a friend).

I know nothing about that.

My mate's hubbie, who was in the army out there many moons ago, told us tales of women smoking fags with their nethers. I was like....how does that work? Never been tempted to try it out either.

HoratioTarr wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:

I'm wondering if the outrage has something to do with that other ping pong type activity practised in certain East Asian bars?   (asking for a friend).

I know nothing about that.

My mate's hubbie, who was in the army out there many moons ago, told us tales of women smoking fags with their nethers.   I was like....how does that work?  Never been tempted to try it out either.

It's sadly common in Bangkok - the skills extend to firing razor blades which then pop balloons - the height of high culture, I'm sure you'll agree...

I never went to such a show (really not my thing on any level...) but I have friends who have, usually with a relative who came and wanted to go. They said the women look totally miserable and don't appear to enjoy doing the show at all. As with many things here (and in other developing countries) it is a case of needs must. Tourist cash in a huge draw for poor people coming to the city; tourists don't tend to ask questions about to ethical practices behind what they see; and poor women (and men) know that being exploited is likely to fetch the cash they need to send to their parents in the provinces

As to the OP. Fucking moronic to call him racist over that. Some people just look to get upset over everything and need to sort their shit out

Eilzel wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:

My mate's hubbie, who was in the army out there many moons ago, told us tales of women smoking fags with their nethers.   I was like....how does that work?  Never been tempted to try it out either.

It's sadly common in Bangkok - the skills extend to firing razor blades which then pop balloons - the height of high culture, I'm sure you'll agree...

I never went to such a show (really not my thing on any level...) but I have friends who have, usually with a relative who came and wanted to go. They said the women look totally miserable and don't appear to enjoy doing the show at all. As with many things here (and in other developing countries) it is a case of needs must. Tourist cash in a huge draw for poor people coming to the city; tourists don't tend to ask questions about to ethical practices behind what they see; and poor women (and men) know that being exploited is likely to fetch the cash they need to send to their parents in the provinces

As to the OP. Fucking moronic to call him racist over that. Some people just look to get upset over everything and need to sort their shit out

I'm halfway through your book, BTW. Great stuff.

HoratioTarr wrote:

Eilzel wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:

My mate's hubbie, who was in the army out there many moons ago, told us tales of women smoking fags with their nethers.   I was like....how does that work?  Never been tempted to try it out either.

It's sadly common in Bangkok - the skills extend to firing razor blades which then pop balloons - the height of high culture, I'm sure you'll agree...

I never went to such a show (really not my thing on any level...) but I have friends who have, usually with a relative who came and wanted to go. They said the women look totally miserable and don't appear to enjoy doing the show at all. As with many things here (and in other developing countries) it is a case of needs must. Tourist cash in a huge draw for poor people coming to the city; tourists don't tend to ask questions about to ethical practices behind what they see; and poor women (and men) know that being exploited is likely to fetch the cash they need to send to their parents in the provinces

As to the OP. Fucking moronic to call him racist over that. Some people just look to get upset over everything and need to sort their shit out

I'm halfway through your book, BTW.  Great stuff.

Glad to hear it, thanks!

Hope the rest continues to be as enjoyable

In Nam there was a woman who'd fire Table Tennis balls into your mouth from her Vagina, a Dollar a time !

nicko wrote:In Nam there was a woman who'd fire Table Tennis balls into your mouth from her Vagina, a Dollar a time !

Oh for fuck's sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There was one who'd pick up Dollar Coins off the bar the same way. Some spiteful bugger warmed one up with his Fag lighter, it was something to see !
,

nicko wrote:There was one who'd pick up Dollar Coins off the bar the same way.   Some spiteful bugger warmed one up with his Fag lighter,   it was something to see !
,

You know, that's really quite vile, on both sides. But as has been pointed out, these poor women don't do this for fun but often because they have families to feed, and this very sad. The problem is men treat women like this in the worst possible way. But they're still human beings.

HoratioTarr wrote:

nicko wrote:There was one who'd pick up Dollar Coins off the bar the same way.   Some spiteful bugger warmed one up with his Fag lighter,   it was something to see !
,

You know, that's really quite vile, on both sides.  But as has been pointed out, these poor women don't do this for fun but often because they have families to feed, and this very sad.   The problem is men treat women like this in the worst possible way.  But they're still human beings.

Meh...there's always that element, on both sides, men and women. A woman thinks of it; then men pay for it. It's genderless, really.

Christ, look at Donald Trump and his pussy-grabbing. There has been a severe downturn in morality and decent taste since he took office.

Original Quill wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:

You know, that's really quite vile, on both sides.  But as has been pointed out, these poor women don't do this for fun but often because they have families to feed, and this very sad.   The problem is men treat women like this in the worst possible way.  But they're still human beings.

Meh...there's always that element, on both sides, men and women.  A woman thinks of it; then men pay for it.  It's genderless, really.

Christ, look at Donald Trump and his pussy-grabbing.  There has been a severe downturn in morality and decent taste since he took office.

Unless memory fails me, didn't an American President and one of his junior female staff do something quite extraordinary with a Havana cigar once?

All these tales of women performing strange acts in far flung places to titillate the men make our own exotic clubs look very tame in comparison.

Though when I worked in town I did know of a stripper nicknamed Skidmark Julie if that adds anything to the debate.

Well, you'd surely call a panda a Chinese name, there's nothing wrong with Ping Pong, Ping is a popular boys and girls name and means peaceful it can also mean level. There's a take away near here called Pong's, don't know what the translation is but I doubt it's anything bad.