SAUNDERS: An MP3 player for a teacher [Bennish]

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/7/6 | Debra J. Saunders

[SmithL]

COLORADO high-school sophomore Sean Allen couldn't convince his father that his geography teacher was as over-the-top as he contended. So Allen taped one of his teacher's rants on his MP3 player. Too bad for Jay Bennish: His 20 minute lecture ended up on talk radio.

As aired on Mike Rosen's show, Bennish said President Bush talks like Hitler: "I'm not saying that Bush and Hitler are exactly the same," but that the two share "eerie similarities." Peruvians and Iranians arguably have "a right to bomb North Carolina" because the state grows tobacco. On Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda operatives were "attacking legitimate targets, people who have blood on their hands, as far as they're concerned." Oh, and capitalism violates "human rights."

The Cherry Creek School District placed Bennish on paid administrative leave as it investigates whether the teacher failed to provide a balanced look at the issues. They won't find balance. I listened to the rant and what I heard was a semi-educated, self-impressed petty tyrant using the classroom as a soap box, secure in the knowledge that a bunch of teenagers couldn't out-argue him. Still, I hope the district allows Bennish to return to the classroom.

(District spokesperson Tustin Amole expects an announcement on Bennish's fate today or Wednesday.)

The school district policy sounds reasonable. The school board recognizes, "Each teacher has the right and the obligation to teach about controversial issues." The district also notes the teacher's obligation to present various views on issues. And: "Although he has the right to express his own viewpoints, he does not have the right to indoctrinate students to his views."

[SmithL]

Your tax dollars at work

[Atlas Sneezed]

All government school classroom discourse should be on the record, just like court proceedings. Those who are paying these servants deserve to know every word they are being paid for.

It would be simple and inexpensive to have a mic in each room, uploading to the Internet for parents, students, and taxpayers to listen to.

[JohnnyZ]

Maybe those little rats would actually behave in class.

[Freee-dame]

Each teacher has the right and the obligation to teach about controversial issues.

Each teacher....math teachers? I would prefer that my child have a math teacher who teaches math.

[IncPen]

It would be simple and inexpensive to have a mic in each room, uploading to the Internet for parents, students, and taxpayers to listen to.

Webcams. Sell commercials.

Genius!

[Kozak]

I would prefer that my child have a math teacher who teaches math.

That would require the Union lacky to actually have a mastery of the subject.

[CheyennePress]

"Each teacher has the right and the obligation to teach about controversial issues."

I assume that there will be no objections when I deliver my lectures on the history of early Christianity from a historical and Bibilical perspective, then? Or perhaps the perversion of the First Amendment?

But was we all know, some rights are more equal than others.

[SmithL]

I would prefer that my child have a math teacher who teaches math

So, what should geography teachers be teaching?

[Echo Talon]

mics should be in all classrooms and parents should be allowed
to listen in via in the internet with a password.

[Zeppelin]

There are plenty of good conservative teachers in public schools (my mother, for example), but they realize that the classroom is for education and not politics, so we never hear reports of teachers going on rants about the evils of the Left.

Prayers for those teachers who try to do what they're paid to do...

[edpc]

All government school classroom discourse should be on the record, just like court proceedings.

Yeah...and who knows...maybe the kids would behave themselves if they knew the classroom was being monitored. The Orwell crowd would freak over the idea, but what else is new. I just hope that the student doesn't get "Tripped" over the whole recording incident.

[Atlas Sneezed]

mics should be in all classrooms and parents should be allowed
to listen in via in the internet with a password.

---

I agree, but since they tell taxpayers who do not have children getting a free education that they pay because it is "for the benefit of all to have an educated society", all taxpayers whould be able to listen in.

Just like open courtrooms and open meetings laws. When the government forces people to pay and attend (imagine!) then there should be open public oversight.

[InvisibleChurch]

Game over man... Game over!

[Frank_Discussion]

I'll go beyond that: All class lectures should be recorded by students if they so wish. The instructor is being paid to teach by the students or their parents, taping should be viewed as quality control.

[BenLurkin]

"On Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda operatives were "attacking legitimate targets, people who have blood on their hands, as far as they're concerned." Oh, and capitalism violates "human rights." "

No wonder our kids are so screwed up.

[Carry_Okie]

An excellent education can be had for approximately 5% of what we pay now (if that much). If teachers' lectures were on the web, with transcripts and texts, we wouldn't need 10% of the bricks and mortar schools we've got. Those who get hits, get paid. Those that don't, don't get paid. A vew good teachers would get rich. Lousy teachers can clean toilets.

Without the need to fund the system with taxes, far more people could afford to stay home and teach their kids.

[dhs12345]

What liberals are most angry about is the fact that people found out.

If Sean had accused the teacher of the same without the recording, Bannish and others would have denied it and that would have been the end of it.

And the Liberals would have accused Sean of making up the story.

[BenLurkin]

That is an excellent idea!

[OldFriend]

My son's freshman highschool english teacher used Genesis from the Old Testament for the first semester. He was a defrocked Jesuit priest.....for whatever that matters.

That was over 15 years ago. That could never happen now. Sadly.

[Kenton]

Each teacher....math teachers? I would prefer that my child have a math teacher who teaches math.

Next in Math Class.... write an essay about how you feel about the number "zero"...