HS Teacher Investigated for Leftist Classroom Rant

[Daisy]

I remember the days of the Cold War when we would decry the Commies for encouraging students to turn in teachers, children to turn in parents, neighbors to turn in neighbors for incorrect political thought & speech.

 

[carpro]

Liberals aren't very happy that an effort has been launched to reign in the indoctrination of students by teachers and professors.

No taping allowed.

What are they afraid of? That they can't freeely indoctrinate their students or that parents will find out how incompetent they are as teachers?

Would anyone like to see our educational results improve?

 

[The Galatian]

Taping is discouraged mostly because of privacy issues for students. Most teachers would love to have a video camera in their classrooms, as long as it covered the whole room.

I know one who actually did it. Momma knew little Susie just couldn't be acting and using language the way the teacher said she was. So the teacher quietly installed a video camera.

Now it can't be done in that school any more. The problem wasn't Susie; it was the teacher who violated her rights by taping her.

Or so the parent said.

 

[rbell]

Originally posted by Daisy:
I remember the days of the Cold War when we would decry the Commies for encouraging students to turn in teachers, children to turn in parents, neighbors to turn in neighbors for incorrect political thought & speech.

Just because there was might have been an overreaction in the 1950's in some instances does not justify unprofessional behavior in 2006.

By the way: if we have a generation of students who are convinced that inalienable rights, constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, and free enterprise are reprehensible ideals, our country will implode with that generation.

I'm less concerned about this guy's view on the war in Iraq as I am with his assertion that our system of rights and government is inherently inferior.

No one has yet answered the question: "Exactly when was this guy planning on teaching some geography?"

Thank God for Christians in our educational system who serve as examples of excellence in teaching...who present ideas, foster discussion, and show respect without chucking the idea of absolute truth.

 

[billwald]

The difference is that Bush is building the prison camps before he takes control.

 

[Scott J]

Originally posted by Daisy:
I remember the days of the Cold War when we would decry the Commies for encouraging students to turn in teachers, children to turn in parents, neighbors to turn in neighbors for incorrect political thought & speech.

If the roles were reversed would this have been your position?

If a politically conservative teacher had made the case why no one should vote for the Dems because they didn't protect the most fundamental right... Would you be opposed to those who protested the teacher?

 

[Scott J]

Originally posted by The Galatian:
This is why teachers shouldn't bring their personal beliefs to class.

How would liberals have felt if some ditz of a teacher compared Hillary Clinton to Pol Pot?

It's completely out of line. And unprofessional.

I disagree. This is why teachers should not be government employees or at least government employees subject to federal restrictions.

In the current system, this teacher was wrong... but his offense pales in comparison to the system that made his speech an offense.

I disagree with him but in a free society we should never seek a guarantee that no one will ever offend us. If the schools were private and/or local only... then this would only be an issue if his speech was not according to the values of his employer... as it should be.

 

[Scott J]

Originally posted by carpro:
Liberals aren't very happy that an effort has been launched to reign in the indoctrination of students by teachers and professors.

No taping allowed.

What are they afraid of? That they can't freeely indoctrinate their students or that parents will find out how incompetent they are as teachers?

Would anyone like to see our educational results improve?

Isn't it interesting that the same people who go nuts over a program to spy on people who would potentially exercise terrorism against our children are opposed to private citizens holding gov't employees accountable for their behavior if the employee is liberal? Nothing that goes on between students and teachers in a public school should ever be considered a "private" matter... especially not when being withheld from parents, governing bodies, or administrators.

 

[The Galatian]

As I said, most teachers would be delighted to have cameras in the classroom.

It would make discipline a great deal easier.

But it's not going to happen.

 

[here now]

Originally posted by The Galatian:
As I said, most teachers would be delighted to have cameras in the classroom.

It would make discipline a great deal easier.

But it's not going to happen.

The school where I used to work had video cameras installed in many of the classrooms.

 

[The Galatian]

Lucky you.

 

[Filmproducer]

Originally posted by carpro:
Of course you wouldn't care! You agree with his rant. A "rightie" rant might not set so well with you.

It's a geography class. Not political science.

He was only interested in getting students to think about "his" point of view or he would have presented alternative views.

Indoctrination. Pure and simple.

To a captive and impressionable audience. [/QB]

Interesting. Is that the best argument you could come up with? First of all, you have no idea what my political views are. Secondly I would not have a problem with any kind of political view a teacher espoused, if they challenged the students to think critically. That includes hyper-conservative and conservative. I am perfectly capable of holding a civil discussion of differing political views. I also have no problem defending my views against any "attack", if there is really such a thing. In fact, you know what, I am also perfectly capable of listening to different views, researching them, and then adjusting my own views accordingly. I am not a political puppet. These are 11th graders we are talking about, they have to learn about the real world at some point. In the real world you are not going to agree with everyone all the time, especially not politically. Besides by that age, they should be able to start logically thinking about what they believe, and how to debate different viewpoints. Jimmy C was right the students will only be stronger for it.

As far as the subject of geography is concerned, it is perfectly acceptable to be teaching the relationships between different countries, and our own. What do you people think geography is? It is not just about how to find a country on the map. Geography entails location, as well as relationships, physical characteristics, arrangements, and distribution of human, plant, and animal life. Look it up.

As I said earlier, some of you are REALLY overreacting.

 

[carpro]

Originally posted by Filmproducer:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by carpro:
Of course you wouldn't care! You agree with his rant. A "rightie" rant might not set so well with you.

It's a geography class. Not political science.

He was only interested in getting students to think about "his" point of view or he would have presented alternative views.

Indoctrination. Pure and simple.

To a captive and impressionable audience.

As far as the subject of geography is concerned, it is perfectly acceptable to be teaching the relationships between different countries, and our own. [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]You have a point and after reading the transcript a second and third time, I am convinced that was not what he was doing.

Political indoctrination is a poor substitute for actually teaching the required subject, geography.

 

[Hope of Glory]

Stating that the US and Iraq were at war, and the US is now at war with insurgents within Iraq, would be teaching the relationships between the countries. Stating that Bush and the US are slaughtering Iraqis is propaganda.

BTW, all our school busses have cameras in them, and I think it would be good to have them in the schools. Then again, I drive a bus in a district in which a kid can get kicked off the bus for using vulgar language without fear of "racial" reprisals.

 

[poncho]

Originally posted by Enoch:
His comments were completely inappropriate, misguided and atrocious. When I hear people use Hitler as a comparison to our President IMO it absolutely discredits them and demonstrates their ignorance.

There are too many whacks like this teacher educating the youth of our country. Lord have mercy on the outcome.

"Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship."

"Speaking the Truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act."

"To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle."

George Orwell

 

[Daisy]

Originally posted by Mike McK:
The second is that this was a geography class. What did any of this have to do with geography?

Geography is more than elevation and rainfall. It's also who live where and why.

Originally posted by The Galatian:
How would liberals have felt if some ditz of a teacher compared Hillary Clinton to Pol Pot?

If he made a case for it and allowed discussion, great!

It's completely out of line. And unprofessional.

I disagree. US politics and policies as a major power does and did affect other cultures for better and for worse.

Now, if he graded the kids according to whether they agreed with him or not, that would be out of line and unprofessional.

Keep controversy out of the classroom and bore the kids into apathy.

 

[LadyEagle]

3-page warning: This thread will be closed no sooner than 3:15 p.m. ET by one of the moderators.

Lady Eagle,
Moderator

 

[Squire Robertsson]

As it past 200603041500ET, this thread is closed.