Posted on 05/31/2012 10:12:23 PM PDT by Mackaywarrior
Today, walking by my hometown's Middle School I noticed that the Californian Flag was upside down. I asked a teacher walking by why the flag was flying upside down and her answer was “Because the state is in distress.” Intrigued I asked why and I got a long explanation about how Administration was cutting teachers and that it is not fair that they are being cut. She concluded her rant with “If it weren't for those Tea Radicals in administration schools could actually teach.” These people were never taught that life is not fair and after hearing their whines, it became clear that the state was not in danger, Academia was. But does this unionized corruption just stop at pay cuts or is it rooted deeper into the ideological stands schools make? This is what I experienced in High school and decide for yourself who are the real villains.
My freshman year I had to take Health/ Tech which became my first real taste of bias. Along with being taught that guns are bad for our health and that people should not have the choice to smoke, we were also told to find articles online and research current events then write papers expressing how we feel about the issues (the only rule was we could not go on Fox to get our information). I wrote a paper on Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attacked neighboring Israeli cities. I said that I thought Israel did have a right to invade because the Hamas attacked first but after I told my teacher my stance her response was brief: “It's people like you that kill people.”
Junior year was the next table spoon of how liberals think. In AP Composition we studied the feminist movement and read Malcom X's autobiography (a mandate for all students at our school to read if they take that class). One person asked the teacher why we read Malcom X's book instead of Martin Luther King Jr's. The teacher simply answered “because Malcom X is who really won the Civil Rights Movement for the African Americans.” Another class I had a problem with that year was Psychology (which was taught by a man with a degree in Soviet Union History). Plenty of times we clashed in ideas but I lost it when he told the class that the government should set the prices for commodities so average Americans can be better off. He was a perfect example of those who cannot do teach (he was a failed palm tree farmer before a teacher.)
My senior year was the ultimate proof of how the school really felt about Conservatism. In AP Government we learned about the flaws in the Constitution and why a bigger government is better for people because it keeps us “safe.” We were also told how we should vote on issues and about how to support our local Teacher's in keeping their jobs (by giving money to unions). I was in the process of forming my own ideas at this time and I became infatuated with what the Tea Party believed (the town had a very strong Tea Party group and their ideas resonated with my family and me.) When I wore my Gadsden Flag shirt to school I was told by security to turn it inside out because it may offend people (me telling an adult it is a free country and you do not want to hide your ideas did not help my case too much.)
The absolute worst part of my senior year was AP Environmental Science. We studied regulations and were taught every liberal idea you could think of. I was not the easiest kid to teach in that class because I always asked why the government did what it did and how it effected individuals. About a month into the year I heard teacher's in the teacher's lounge talking about me and how unruly I am. Then I had my friends ask me why I was so mean to the teacher and why I hated trees. It was clear that the entire school was alerted about how I was a “Renegade” (as my former psychology teacher put it when he approached me at lunch)and hated all teachers. One day we started to talk about oil and then my teacher went on a twenty minute rant about how our soldier's have no honor and Bush started an oil war. After enduring as much soldier bashing I could I spouted out “Are you kidding me? Our soldiers have a better grasp on honor then you ever will.” I was sent to the principals office (the vice-principal, a conservative and Texan, let it slide and was actually proud of me. From that day on (I believe) that my papers were all marked down because of the name on the paper.
Lots of other shameful things happened (my friend being suspended for winning a fight after three people jumped him after class) but in the end, the teacher's failed and I am very set in my beliefs (partly in spite of what they tried to force me to believe.) My fellow students took up my fight in my Environmental class and questioned everything that was worth questioning. My favorite teacher, A physics teacher who did so much for me that I would need a book to truly express my gratitude towards her, helped me gather facts and articles to show to students and faculty people to help better understand the Tea Party. I graduated and got the much needed escape I needed: A one-way ticket to Texas via Baylor University. I did not write this to be a hero (because I made plenty of mistakes to bring it on myself) but next time the Teacher's Unionize in your town, gather all the facts and ask yourself if all teacher's are worth keeping around your family and friends.
I’m glad you stood up for your beliefs in spite of the obstacles thrown in your way. You sound like an intelligent, well rounded young man. I’m sure you’ll do well in the future.
You should have asked Ms. Half-a-brain how the "Tea Radicals" could have set the curriculum for the last decade when they didn't exist back then.
Another Free Thinking American, using his given intellect to question why something is stated, and questioning the authority of those saying it.
Do NOT let them wear you down, or as it was once said to me, “Don’t let the b_st_rds win!”
Keep your faith, your mind, and your heart, and your head UP!
Always question with the veracity for seeking the truth.
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