Ex-teacher learns the hard way (Attacks conservative student on blog, gets fired)

Philly.com ^ | Wed, Jun. 9, 2010 | Dan Hardy

[EDINVA]

“attack on a child.”

Would those quotation marks have been in the article had the political positions been reversed, with a conservative teacher and liberal student?

We all know the answer, the question was merely rhetorical.

[ebersole]

“If the essay had been entitled “Bush Lies,”

Well the article did mention that the teacher provided a model paper indicating the tone she wanted used, oh and yes, her model was essentially Bush bashing:)

[rlmorel]

I don’t think they are idiots, but there is something I find unseemly about the need to constantly shout out “ME! ME! ME!”

A lot of my friends use this stuff, and they insinuate that I am some kind of luddite because I don’t feel the need to tell people everything from where I go on vacation to the color, timing and frequency of my bowel movements.

I know, not everyone uses it that way...:) I just don’t need to be connected like that. Now, if I lost FR...

[rlmorel]

AGGHHHHHHHHHH! MAN HANDS! MAN HANDS!

[Maverick68]

delicious tears...

[pepperdog]

I believe most of today's public school teachers (and some private schools too) are so indoctrinated themselves that they don't even realize what they are doing. They just can't see it. Not giving them a pass, just saying that's how they were taught and they are only passing it on.

[Huck]

Why can’t they just leave politics alone? I’m a private music instructor, and I simply do not discuss politics. I know, why would I? It’s music. But why would you in a writing class? Leave your politics at the door. It’s good business. Why pick fights?

[AFreeBird]

Caveat: I have never found Gov. Palin’s Facebook postings to be boring.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

During a discussion of WWII, she said that Hitler “didn’t have anything against the Jews... It was a political move”

Wow, I didn't know Helen Thomas taught your boy.

[chris_bdba]

Ok so she points out and criticizes a student for their political view basically bullying them for it nd then has the gull to say she is the victim and fired for her view? What planet do thiese left wingers live on? Hypocrisy is thy name...

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Many of the teachers I know are way too impressed with themselves. The may be masters in a particular discipline but they are often very ignorant of anything else.

I dealt with a good number of professors from the local college when I was selling hardware, I wasn't impressed.

My favorite was a professor who came in on a Sunday. He needed a water heater element. We boiled it down to the type with a pipe thread, then I asked him "is it 110 volts or 220 volts". He said "yes".

[Frantzie]

Very egocentric. Who the h*ll cares if soembody went to the grocery store or they bought a new outfit.

[wintertime]

In private schools in particular, free expression can also clash with a school’s desire to protect its image and to respond to the concerns of the parents who pay the tuition.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Gee! Imagine that!...A school that responds to the concerns of the parents! Isn’t the free market great?

[chris_bdba]

Also her email is sheepandstars@yahoo.com

[Think free or die]

"I believe most of today's public school teachers (and some private schools too) are so indoctrinated themselves that they don't even realize what they are doing. They just can't see it. Not giving them a pass, just saying that's how they were taught and they are only passing it on. "

I tend to agree. I find the same thing in my church. Lots of well-meaning people who buy into the notion that liberals are the "nice people" and conservatives and Republicans are hateful, backward, racist, and generally intolerant warmongers.

[wintertime]

Loved your post!

Gee! What uppity parents! The nerve! ( /s) :-)

[Soothesayer]

Only a horrible disgusting human being uses impressionable children for political indoctrination.

I NEVER force my conservative views on my students. It stops at discussion of history and the constitution.

[sauropod]

It *is* a huge issue. I’m proud of your son also.

My son thinks along the same lines. He’s also not shy about expressing his opinion (wonder who he gets that from?).

[Cathy]

“On the one hand, it sounded like the student ignored the purpose of the assignment.”

This may be ture, so give the student the grade they deserve and don’t blog about it. The parent’s were complaining about the blogging, not the grade (from what I read).

[erkyl]

Agreed. My daughter was ridiculed by her English teacher, and by his blessing, by others in the class for her beliefs on abortion. Additionally, his Obama-adoring diatribes occurred almost daily in his classroom whenever the subject allowed. Captive audiences (ie public school students) should never be forced to listen to a teacher in a position of authority over them spout their personal political leanings. Kids can’t walk out. It’s a crime that teachers get away with this.

Even when she was in kindergarten, the school allowed a Muslim parent come in and give a “What is Ramadan?” lesson to the children (without parental notification or consent, by the way) in which she told children that Ramadan was just like Christmas, in that it was about gifts and parties. And asked the five year olds “What’s the best part about Christmas?” “Presents.” Thank you, but don’t define my religious holidays for my five year olds.

I’ve probably got a file in the administrative offices with my name on it, I’ve threatened them with lawsuits so many times...