What's wrong with 'meep'? It's all in how you say it By Ethan Forman Staff writer
DANVERS It's no surprise that using bad language in school can get you into hot water. But "meep"?
Danvers High parents recently got an automated call from the principal warning them that if students say or display the word "meep" at school, they could face suspension.
Meep doesn't mean much, unless you are Beaker the hapless, orange-haired assistant to Dr. Bunsen Honeydew on "The Muppet Show."
While meep may be nonsense, what it represented was no laughing matter to the high school's administration. High school Principal Thomas Murray said students were using it and other words to disrupt school in a particular part of the building on Cabot Road. The term later became part of a disruption some students were planning online.
"It's really not about the word in particular," Murray said. "The reason for the message (was) a group of students were instructed to refrain from that language and other language in a particular part of the building."
Murray gave students "a reasonable request" not to use the word to disrupt school in a hallway, and to stop other behaviors, but they did not listen, Murray said.
"Students were not going along with the direction or refraining from a particular type of language," he said.
Murray did not elaborate on how the students were acting out. But he did say the phone call home was an attempt to head off a disruption being planned on the social networking Web site Facebook.
The disruption never happened, and Murray credited students for heeding his warning.
Murray said the school must react when online activity crosses paths with the school day. To that end, some students Murray did not say how many were suspended, but there were additional factors involved in their suspension unrelated to simply saying "meep."
"There were multiple reasons why students have been disciplined," Murray said.
And, he said, the matter was not about banning meep at Danvers High.
"It has nothing to do with the word," Murray said. "It has to do with the conduct of the students. We wouldn't just ban a word just to ban a word."
Murray said he called parents via the automated message phone system warning students not to use the term because "it would be seen as going against the request of the administration and cause a disruption to the school day."
Murray said students were not using the term to harass another student or a teacher.
"It's really about language and conduct," Murray said. "For me, it boils down to respectful conduct."
It's unclear what meaning "meep" has, other than it is a popular thing for kids to say when they are at a loss for something to say, according to various Web sites.
A group on Facebook called Meep has 370 members, for instance, and lists three Danvers High students as members. The category heading is: "Just for Fun Totally Random," and it involves people just typing the word "meep" in various ways and expressing their fondness for the word.
Entries for the word "meep" in the online Urban Dictionary include "ouch," "uh-oh," a substitution for a swear word, a greeting, an exclamation or "a random expression of happiness used to fill gaps in conversation."
Some Danvers High students said yesterday they were not sure what "meep" means.
"No one really knows," said sophomore Melanie Crane, who said some freshmen used the term, but she has not heard the term used herself.
Other students outside Danvers High who declined to give their names said they got the phone message from Murray saying they risked suspension if they uttered the word.
They said the term is meaningless, comes from the Muppet Beaker or is a sound Japanese anime characters make. One student said nearly all the students think the whole thing is ridiculous.
Murray said the matter should be a wake-up call to parents about how kids are using social networking sites.
"I'm not sure parents are aware of what students are getting into on the Facebook sites," Murray said.
In the near future, Murray is planning a student-and-parent forum on the pitfalls of Facebook.
Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673 or by e-mail at eforman@salem news.com.
They never say how "Meep" is disrupting. They do say, "Murray said students were not using the term to harass another student or a teacher." It sounds like the issue, if there is one, isn't about the word at all. So banning meep doesn't seem like the right solution to the problem.
My impression is that students were using it to annoy the principal, perhaps by saying "meep" to him whenever they saw him, and he's feeling bullied.
Personally, someone tells me not to say an innocent word like meep, the awnry part of me will kick in, and I'll use it every chance I get.
In addition, I propose that random meeping is funny.
When I read the title of this thread, I thought it was about the Roadrunner, but yes - Beaker will do nicely if you just say it in a higher voice.
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"Tell me, does it move you, Does it soothe you, Does it fill your heart and soul with the roots of rock & roll? When you can't get through it you can listen to it with a 'na na na na', Well I've been there before" -"Been There Before" by Hanson
I wonder if a couple kids just decided to see if they could get a word or trend started. That way, they could someday say "You know that 'meep' thing? We started that!"
I don't think its right the school can suspend students for saying an innocent word in school. If they are being disruptive with any word or action, then that is different, but just walking down the hall and saying "meep" can get a suspension? That is not right.
MzHartz wrote:I'd be tempted to wear a Beaker or Roadrunner shirt, just to cause trouble. That's not saying Meep, just inferring it.
You rebel, you! I like it, I like it!
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"Tell me, does it move you, Does it soothe you, Does it fill your heart and soul with the roots of rock & roll? When you can't get through it you can listen to it with a 'na na na na', Well I've been there before" -"Been There Before" by Hanson
Probably what happened is that when the kids were told to knock it off, they wouldn't. Which I agree is disrespectful. I think the point that the principal is trying to get across is that it's not the word "meep" in and of itself. Rather, it's that the kids are being brazen and disrespectful. For the most part, the schools hands are tied as far as discipline. It has come to the only solution for everything is expulsion.
On the other hand, if he would just let then have their little diddy, eventually the novelty would wear off and they'd quit. But he is actually the one making it drag on by trying to prove that he is stronger willed.
When someone wants to argue with me and I don't, I just let them have the last word. Then it's done.
meep meep meep meepity meep. meeping is funny.
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Probably what happened is that when the kids were told to knock it off, they wouldn't. Which I agree is disrespectful. I think the point that the principal is trying to get across is that it's not the word "meep" in and of itself. Rather, it's that the kids are being brazen and disrespectful. For the most part, the schools hands are tied as far as discipline. It has come to the only solution for everything is expulsion.
On the other hand, if he would just let then have their little diddy, eventually the novelty would wear off and they'd quit. But he is actually the one making it drag on by trying to prove that he is stronger willed.
When someone wants to argue with me and I don't, I just let them have the last word. Then it's done.
meep meep meep meepity meep. meeping is funny.
Exactly! That's what I meant by banning the word "meep" doesn't help anything, except make kids want to say it. If the problem is that the kids are being disrespectful, that's what he should be addressing.
"Tell me, does it move you, Does it soothe you, Does it fill your heart and soul with the roots of rock & roll? When you can't get through it you can listen to it with a 'na na na na', Well I've been there before" -"Been There Before" by Hanson
OMG, they have nothing better than this to suspend kids over?? What a waste of time. If I were a parent of one of the suspended kids I'd be right down to the board of ed asking them to show me in the student handbook where saying the word "meep" is an offensive term and punishable by suspension. I'd be willing to bet the "certain part of the building" where this was occurring was right outside the principal's door when the kids found out it annoyed him.
Too bad this didn't happen in Michigan. Our kids have to take the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test every 3 years. Everyone, including school administrators, calls it the MEAP (pronounced MEEP) test!!
When I was in high school, the administration decided it was time to crack down on inappropriate t-shirts. They made a warning announcement and then began sending kids home to change shirts.
Our principal was pretty cool though . . . one day, he hollered my name to get my attention and said "You gotta go home and change that shirt!" I looked down to see what shirt I even had on. I was wearing a shirt that in small letters said "Class Of" with a big "84" like a football jersey number. I was standing there trying to figure out what was wrong with my shirt when he added "When you get back, we'll have a talk about your grades", then he started laughing and walked away.
-- Edited by WebGuy on Friday 13th of November 2009 10:01:03 AM
ghostdancer wrote:Too bad this didn't happen in Michigan. Our kids have to take the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test every 3 years. Everyone, including school administrators, calls it the MEAP (pronounced MEEP) test!!
__________________
"Tell me, does it move you, Does it soothe you, Does it fill your heart and soul with the roots of rock & roll? When you can't get through it you can listen to it with a 'na na na na', Well I've been there before" -"Been There Before" by Hanson
You rebel, you! I like it, I like it! 
