Need FR Help - Child is Being Fed Pro-Kerry, Anti-Bush Propaganda - What Are My Options?

11/5/04 | Self

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I love it when our kids are brighter and more informed than these damn liberal teachers!

The tipping point usually comes at the beginning of third grade.

[Ciexyz]

I sympathize. I had a social studies teacher in the public school who would insinuate his liberal opinions into every American history issue. He even mocked me in front of the class when I said that Eisenhower was one of our greatest presidents. The child in the classroom is at the teacher's mercy.

Even if you fight, there will be repercussions.

[BienHoa69-70 RVN]

Here is another site for k-12 students:
http://www.psaf.org/

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah - OK - well, the point is not politics, the point is professionalism. That teacher is not there to intimidate students into parroting her politics, but to inspire thought and learning and particpation in the political process. Legal and deeply held political beliefs held by over half the people in this country should be explored and debated in the class... And if letter writing to particpate in the process is a part of that, OK, fine. . but the teacher has no business mandating which candidate the student wishes to congratulate on a good campaign.

[Alberta's Child]

OK. In that case, I'd recommend a different approach. You have to be less confrontational, since the school administration isn't likely to be overly sympathetic to a relative who isn't a custodial guardian. The student's mother should initiate any contact that might result in a contentious dispute.

If she's not likely to do this, then you should work through the student himself. Someone here suggested that you meet with the school's board of trustees, but since you are not the child's parent I'd suggest that perhaps your nephew should go with you. In the meantime, have your nephew send you any writing assignments for review before he hands them in -- and YOU become his "instructor" for the term.

[girlangler]

As I was driving through Knoxville Tennessee this morning I heard on the radio about two separate incidences (one in Knoxville and one in nearby Blount County) of public school teachers wearing Kerry buttons to class and lecturing on why Kerry was the best choice.

Needless to say this made major news here and these teachers are in some major trouble. East Tennessee is heavy Republican territory. The stories will probably be in the Knoxville News Sentinel today. I don't know how to post stories or I'd post them.

[valkyrieanne]

To give suggestions on your situation, it would be good to know what kind of private school this is. Is it a parochial Catholic or Lutheran school? Non-denominational Christian school? Secular private school?

What is the school's enrollment? Is there a waiting list, or are there lots of openings?

What is the tuition, approximately? Is that high for the geographic area?

Who runs the school - a church group, a board, one principal?

These things really matter, because all these kinds of private schools are very different from each other, and how to handle it depends on the nature of the school itself.

[rwilson99]

I love these stories and here's why.

It is natural for young adults to rebel against authority, and four years from know the young people who are indoctrinated by nutjob teachers will have all the evidence they need to rebel against them.

In the next four years...

-There will be no military draft.
-We will be successful in shifting at least one more Arab country into the family of free nations.
-Social Security will be reformed in a manner that creates a massive benefit for young workers.

As these young people enter voting age, and the 18-24 year olds enter the work force they will have a massive amount of data that discredits the anger and vitriol supplied by their liberal educators..

At the end of the day... A generation of conservative voters, rebelling against liberal oppression.

[Rebelbase]

This is the story from the Knoxnews.com site:

Teacher reprimanded after showing Moore movie MARYVILLE - A Maryville High School teacher says he made a mistake by allowing students to watch "Fahrenheit 9/11" during an after-school meeting of the Young Democratic Club.

The incident happened about two weeks ago during a meeting of the club, which teacher Mac Pickle sponsors.

The movie by Michael Moore was the highest-grossing independent film in history and criticizes President Bush's response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

It is rated R - restricted for viewers under 17 - for some violent and disturbing images and for language.

The school board does not have a hard and fast rule about showing R-rated movies, Principal Ken Jarnagin said. But teachers are required to go through proper channels before showing films, including receiving prior approval.

Pickle said he was placed on leave and sent home.

"It was a very humbling experience. I feel like I was treated fairly by Dr. Jarnagin and Dr. Dalton," Pickle said Wednesday. "I learned a very hard lesson, and I'm owning up to it."

Jarnagin said the movie wasn't shown during class time and that Pickle asked students under the age of 17 to leave the room.

"Still, they are students of ours, and procedures should be followed," Jarnagin said.

[Logophile]

My question to anyone that can offer advice... What recourse do I have? Is it an issue of free speech and the teacher can tout her Kerry/Edwards button at will, AND teach kids about this stuff openly, WITHOUT being objective? Am I jeopordizing his school experience (grades, etc) by complaining about this? Should I ask him to bite the bullet and ignore all that's going on?

Some have suggested that your nephew change schools. However, if he and his mother are generally satisfied with the education he is receiving at his school, he should not have to leave it because of one unprofessional teacher.

Nor should your nephew have to "bite the bullet" and put up with this kind of nonsense from his teacher.

I recommend that your nephew prepare to challenge the teacher's assertions in class. To do so successfully, he will have to arm himself with the facts and counter-arguments. (You can help with that.) And he will have to learn how to present his case calmly and rationally -- to disagree without being disagreeable. (You can help with that too.)

His purpose in challenging the teacher would not be to change her mind -- that is unlikely to happen. But he might convince the other students. (You should emphasize to him that they are his real audience, not the teacher.) And perhaps he might get the teacher to change her behavior in class.

You expressed a concern that the teacher might try to retaliate by giving him a bad grade. That might happen, but there are two things to consider. First, most schools have some kind of grade-appeal process -- be prepared to use it. Second, there are far worse things in life than getting a bad grade.

This could turn out to be the best learning experience your nephew ever has in school.

[goldfinch]

What I would do first is to sit him down and tell him to remember the predictions of a draft under President Bush. Tell him to think about that in 2008 and realize that he had been lied to.

I have done this with my nephew. I presented all the logical reasons that the draft would not be reinstated. He wasn't quite convinced that I was right and his teachers were wrong...so we agreed to look take up the subject again in four years...

[wardaddy]

Do a thread here naming the school with contacts....it works.

I got crap from a local bookstore here over the Swifties book and did a thread and the store got hammered.

Gets folks attention.

If they boot the kid, then you can sue...win big money, put the child in another school and buy a new co-op.

[mabelkitty]

You have options.
You can tell them that you are raising your child with traditional convervative beliefs, and this teacher is interfering with your authority as a parent.
Warn the board that you will take action if this teacher does not cease and desist.

You also might want to mention that Hitler got into power by using the children to turn on their parents and you see this brainwashing in similar fashion (or, if you aren't a crackpot like me, you can leave that last part out ; )

[NYC Republican]

Great idea Wardaddy. I'll give them until Monday to come back to me with a satisfactory response, else I'll start the process of slowly exposing their disgusting tactics.

Thanks

[Quix]

ABSOLUTELY STAND UP TO THIS IDIOCY!

FIERCELY!

But try and avoid acting in a way that brings ridicule unnecessarily.

AND condition the child to resist whatever ridicule and hassles come down. Role play and inform him of his options and various things he can say in response to probable assaults.

Time for him to join the real world, sadly.

No escape. He needs further educated and his backbone strengthened. Either one stands up to such idiocy or becomes mush as THEIR tank tracks roll over our backs!

GREAT GOING! PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

[Quix]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE,

GIVE MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS AND ADMIRATION TO YOUR DAUGHTER.

She shows great spunk and maturity to stand up to such tyranny. Especially so thoughtfully and forcefully. GREAT JOB OF PARENTING. GREAT JOB OF GROWING UP FAST! CONGRATS ALL AROUND!

THANKS for the encouragement of reading about it! It blesses this 57 year old a lot.

[NYC Republican]

Thanks to everyone for your comments, I REALLY appreciate them. This will provide me with plenty of ammo.

Again, thanks a lot!

[Quix]

PLEASE GIVE HIM 8 DOZEN BIG CHEERS FROM ME.

CONGRATS ON YOUR PARENTING. CONGRATS ON HIS INTELLECT AND SPUNK.

I'm deeply moved by his courage and persistence. He's demonstrating logic, maturity, persistence, sharpness etc. very early in the game and that's super impressive.

It's soooooooooooooo comforting that there are SOME like your son who will carry the banners of freedom and right into the future.

Bless all of you with God's richest blessings, protection, security, peace, provision, intimacy in His Love and great communications and times together.

You really blessed my day.

THANKS TONS!