Teacher resigns after having children create violent stories

Fauquier Times Democrat ^ | 4-20-04 | Anita Sherman

[ChatChocolats]

Tanya Strahin, a drama and Gifted and Talented science teacher at Marshall Middle School, submitted her resignation last week, according to School Superintendent Dr. J. David Martin. The announcement that her resignation had been accepted was made after Monday's closed School Board session.

Strahin's resignation has resulted in a division at the northern Fauquier school, between those in support of the teacher's departure and those against. Some parents at the school feel that a forensics project assigned in March may be at the center of the controversy. According to a student in Strahin's class, they were to design a crime a murder or kidnapping, for instance using the scientific method and applying forensic principles to solve the crime. As part of the unit, students were divided into small groups to create PowerPoint presentations. Titles included, "Who cares about a murdered cheerleader?" "The Murder of the Popular Children Entertainer," "Fast Food Forensics" and "Paris's Poodle Ignites." A few students in the class reportedly were uncomfortable with a "killing" theme and spoke to their parents about it. The situation escalated when it was learned that a teacher in the school was the victim of violence in one of the stories the children created. This teacher had not been asked, and had not agreed to be part of, any such assignment. Those parents who were critical of Strahin felt that some of the children's projects were inappropriate, particularly in light of recent deadly violence in schools around the country.

[ChatChocolats]

This happened in a neighboring county to me--I overheard the story from a friend who had a son in the class. According to him, the students designed power points with a "killing" theme and then proceeded to write another story involving killing a teacher in the school and another student. The science teacher LED the conversation and was in the room the whole time.

Obviously the topics were inappropriate, but is the method of writing a drama script a valuable way to teach forensics? Maybe the teachers in the forum have an idea. It just feels really, really creepy to me.

What just floors me are the supporters!!! Apparantly if one is 'gifted and talented' it is just peachy keen to write murder scenarios.

In the reader's opinions, one mother shared that one of the stories involved waiting for a student then stabbing him in the neck.

The kids in the school are in an uproar with passing aroung buttons and staging sit ins to get this teacher back.

I'm wondering who is crazier--the teacher or the parents and students protesting.

[SoftballMominVA]

Sorry, but this just doesn't surprise me. From the little bit I have seen of parents of "gifted" students in the public school, I have surmised that they think their child can do no wrong. Of COURSE other students SHOULD get in trouble for writing violent stories, but ours didn't mean it----so they get a pass.

[Marty]

Being the parent of gifted children who attended the public school in our town, I don't care for your attitude. Both my kids graduated with honors and have gone on to do quite well. I can promise you that had my children had such an assignment, and I'd have heard about it, especially given today's climate, I'd have raised all sorts of grief about it. Please don't surmise about such things from what little you know. Make a point of learning more--then speak up.

As for parents who don't have gifted students--so what? Kids are kids. Parents are parents. Some of us are very serious about our jobs.

[ladylib]

I don't think it's a question of "gifted" students getting a pass and other students getting screwed by the administration for writing a violent story on their own time. The teacher gave out the assignment. She should have known better, especially in these wacked-out idiotic zero-tolerance/zero-brains times.

There was a story a couple of years ago about a teacher who told students to write about murdering a famous person. Some poor kid wrote about murdering the president. Do you know what this jackass teacher did? She decided she had to report it to the Secret Service.

I can see why parents homeschool, if only to keep their kids away from these silly teachers who have the potential of forever ruining their children's lives. A teacher ignorantly and thoughtlessly gives out a an assignment that could put a kid's future in jeopardy, the kid innocently completes it, and the teacher has second thoughts and decides she just has to contact the Secret Service LOL.

Some people should become scriptwriters for Hollywood instead of teaching impressionable kids.

[Marty]

Okay, I screwed up--so apologies offered. My remarks were to have been directed to ChatChocolats. Again, sorry for my error.

I should have entered my reply to 2. I usually lurk, don't post her often. Oops.

[stands2reason]

bump

[ladylib]

I forgot to add that such teachers are a menace.

[stands2reason]

Hmmm, where would you get that idea? ;-)

A comment from the link:

 Name: Andrea Rogers Date: Apr, 22 2004
Isn't it ironic that some non-gifted small minded parents would stand in the way of thier gifted children's success. Both of my children are in the GT program and I fully support the teachers, and the creative ways they teach. I hope they grow up to be more smart, creative and open minded than any of us, in spite of our so called grown up predudices and ignorances.

I may not be "gifted" but I can spell "their" and know the meaning of the word "irony." And "smarter."

[SoftballMominVA]

Actually Marty, both of my daughters are labeled "gifted" and both are doing well in school--not out yet--and I certainly hope they will go on to be successful, make money, take care of their loving parents in their dotage.

However, that being said, it is in my experience that most of the parents of gifted kids that I know and have known are right a-holes. By no means did I say the kids are not smart, gifted, genuises, add your own title. My beef is with the parents, especially those who flaunt their childs designation with the "arch" grin and the statement of "well, Mary is doing sooooooooo well in the GIFTED program. How's your son/daughter doing down there in the basement?" I actually heard a mother say to a parent "Well of course your child is on the honor roll! He is in all special education classes. My son has to WORK for his grades." It was a very uncomfortable statement to listen to. I dunno, maybe there are just a lot of wierd people in my area.

I apoligize if you felt that I was attacking your children in anyway or yourself.

[gdc314]

I was in the dentists chair the other day and one of the administrative assistants in the office was upset because her son had been assigned to simulate "huffing" glue or paint fumes...as an example of "inappropriate behavior" for his drama class. The kid didn't even know what that process was, I guess he learned. I didn't hear what other students were assigned. Head shaking...

[Cicero]

Colonel Mustard in the Library with a Lead Pipe.

Oops, sorry! X-rated violence!

[zook]

In and of itself, this kind of assignment doesn't bother me one iota. Students should have had an option, and the teacher should have framed it in terms of a "crime," not specifically a murder or kidnapping. A key point here was that the assignment specified that the crime be solved, i.e., justice is done.

No wonder our kids drift toward TV and film (e.g., Harry Potter, etc.). They can't get any risk or adventure in their school studies.