Meep You! Muppet Language Not School-friendly

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Everybody has a favorite Muppet (if the love the Muppets), not counting the Sesame Street ones. For me, the one besides the glamorous Miss Piggy and the frog who reacted irrationally to a shock video, Kermit, is Beaker. That nutty assistant of scientist Dr. Bunsen Honeydew has his misfortunes, his talents, and yes – his language – consisting of communicable “meeps.” The latter trait of he who first appeared in the second season of The Muppet Show makes him my favorite Muppet, as much as he creates quite a stir and rage in the high school curriculum – at least in Danvers, Massachusetts.

In Danvers High School, a student-run Facebook group tested their stunt to use Beaker’s communicable “meeps” I’ve grown to love, and it succeeded as planned – it disrupted school. That move irked Principal Thomas Murray (as well as other faculty), causing him to send automated calls to parents about the scientist apprentice’s characteristic language. Consequently, students who mouthed “meep” would face suspension.

So why is “meep” like saying the vulgar synonym for having sex? Is it a said synonym? Does it alternatively describe human feces as much as the s-word? Is it another term for a buttocks? The Urban Dictionary defines it as:

The most versatile word in the English language, or in fact any language!

Can mean whatever you want it to mean, but the most popular uses are:
1. An exclamation akin to ‘ouch’ or ‘uh oh..’
2. Filling in the blanks where other (rude) words would go.
3. A greeting! I personally say meep instead of Hello…
4. A random expression of happiness used to fill gaps in conversation.

The first definition is clearly understandable, meaning that there’s no harm in using it as an alternative to the f-word, but Principal Thomas has his reasons for phoning his students, fussing about it in the first place:

It’s really not about the word in particular – 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.

I have heard instances in non-English language almost everywhere, in the health club, at Walt Disney World, and at school, and most of it is predominantly Spanish. When I was doing my work during lunch in my senior year, I overheard two girls conversing in that language. A teacher broke up the conversation, telling her students to speak English because “this is America.” Well, Principal Thomas might’ve felt the same way too, thinking that Beaker’s language is the neo-Spanish, reminding people to speak English. Also, he sent an email to the parents too, and also annexed a new dress code: all attire should be free of my favorite Muppet’s only communicable word. With “meep” not to be seen and heard on campus, a new dress code would be in store for the entire school, if not the entire district – solid-colored, school-logo-only, tucked in dress shirts or polos, black, khaki, or navy non-denim slacks, and so forth, and it’s not just for the cleanliness of the learning environment and the increments of MCAS scores. (I’d roll with it, yes, but the verbal and written usage of “meep” should stay.)

I think it’s just too plain ludicrous to expunge “meep” from casual language outside class on campus, or as an alternative to the f-word. It’s not OK to say the f-word because it’s affiliated with sex or the s-word because it defines human solid wastes, yet the principal thinks that it’s offensive. In my humble opinion, as far as First Amendment rights go, that move to ban “meep” can lead to banning other nonce words used to substitute profanity. I predict that Donald Duck’s signature “Ah, phooey!” will soon face the chopping block, as do Goofy Goof’s “Gawrsh,” Winnie the Pooh’s “Oh stuff and fluff!” and “Oh bother,” and my coined phrase “Holy Handel!” Of course – during the Yuletide season, some schools already treated “Merry Christmas” as the neo-f-word and prompted their student and faculty bodies to instead say, “Happy Holidays,” and, “Season’s Greetings,” anyway.

Sources:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=meep
http://salemnews.com/punews/local_story_313233045.html