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Story of Army Kids Harassment Hits National Level (Maine Schools Story Update)
WABI-TV Web Site ^ | February 28, 2003 | WABI-TV Web Site

Posted on 02/28/2003 1:22:59 PM PST by litany_of_lies

(Note: Don't Flame me--Original link is all caps and I don't have time to retype.)

THE STORY HAS BEEN PICKED UP BY SUCH NATIONAL MEDIA AS THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND C-N-N - NOT TO MENTION NATIONAL RADIO TALK SHOWS LIKE HOWIE CARR AND RUSH LIMBAUGH

AND THE STORY CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR TOPIC IN NATIONAL NEWS AND OPINION PROGRAMS EVEN AS WE SPEAK.

MULTITUDES OF EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT TO TV5 BY CITIZENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AMERICANS WHO ARE CONCERNED AFTER SEEING OUR REPORTS THAT THE CHILDREN OF DEPLOYING TROOPS ARE GETTING A HARD TIME FROM CERTAIN TEACHERS WITH ANTI-WAR VIEWS. THE NATIONAL GUARD HAS ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM ABOUT TWO DOZEN MAJOR MEDIA OUTLETS. HUNDREDS OF POSTS FROM AROUND THE NATION HAVE TURNED UP ON INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS. SO HOW DOES THE MAINE ARMY GUARD FEEL ABOUT THE AVALANCHE OF RESPONSES?

MAJOR ANDREW GIBSON, A NATIONAL GUARD CHAPLAIN SAYS, "I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT WE KNOW THAT THE TROOPS ARE SUPPORTED. WE KNOW THAT THE SOLDIERS THAT ARE GOING AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND WHO ARE GOING TO BE SEPARATED FROM FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE SUPPORTED WHILE THEY'RE AWAY. AND I THINK THE OUTPOURING FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTRY REFLECTS THE KIND OF LOVE AND CARING THAT THE PEOPLE DO HAVE FOR THEIR SOLDIERS."

MOST OF THE EMAILS THAT TV5 HAS RECEIVED FROM AROUND THE NATION ARE HIGHLY CRITICAL OF MAINE'S EDUCATION SYSTEM. THAT'S NOT A VIEW THAT IS NECESSARILY ENDORSED BY THE NATIONAL GUARD. THEY POINT OUT ONCE AGAIN THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF TEACHERS HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE AND TACTFUL WHEN DEALING WITH ARMY KIDS.

GIBSON RESPONDS, "MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESPONDED HAVE BEEN TEACHERS. AND IN FACT, WE DID KIND OF A LITTLE STRAW POLL OURSELVES. WE THINK THAT MAYBE TEACHERS ARE THE NUMBER ONE GROUP THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THE NATIONAL GUARD. WE KNOW OF SEVERAL TEACHERS WHO'VE BEEN DEPLOYED AND ARE GOING OVERSEAS. SO OF COURSE, WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT ALL TEACHERS ARE LIKE THIS SO THAT THIS IS EVEN ENDEMIC TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INCIDENTS AND THOSE INCIDENTS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED."

THE GUARD SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN THREE MORE REPORTS OF HARASSMENT THAT HAVE SURFACED SINCE THE STORY FIRST AIRED. THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO 15, FROM 15 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

THE NATIONAL GUARD IS WALKING A TIGHT ROPE ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO CASTIGATE THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE COMPLAINTS THEY'RE HEARING FROM ARMY PARENTS.

BUT THEY ALSO DON'T WANT THE PROBLEM TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: drlaura; kids; limbaugh; maine; oreilly; soldiers; teachers; wabi
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It's clear that the result of what I believe was a clandestinely organized attempt by some teachers and administrators to intimidate and hurt soliders' kids has backfired, and instead turned into a massive affirmation experience for soldiers and their families:

AND I THINK THE OUTPOURING FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTRY REFLECTS THE KIND OF LOVE AND CARING THAT THE PEOPLE DO HAVE FOR THEIR SOLDIERS.

Others who have picked up on this include Dr. Laura ("these people should be FIRED; this is CHILD ABUSE") and O'Reilly (who suggested when interviewing a Guard spokesperson that they should sue individual school officials over this).

Remember, this all started when a FReeper brought a WBAI TV report on the subject to everyone's attention. Free Republic made this a national story that could not be ignored. Good job, everybody.

It must be disconcerting for doctrinaire liberals to know that there are literally thousands of people monitoring their un-American activities and that they will be exposed when they step over the line.

I wish the Guard was more inclined to go for the jugular, but given that there are kids involved, I understand why they don't--that's all the kids need is to go through he-said-she-said interviews by lawyers, administrators, etc.). Stay vigilant, Mainers (and everyone else).

1 posted on 02/28/2003 1:22:59 PM PST by litany_of_lies
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To: litany_of_lies
Maybe we can use the Smith Act.
2 posted on 02/28/2003 1:27:11 PM PST by Publius
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To: litany_of_lies
These teachers and administrators should at least be publically reminded of the HATCH AMENDMENT LETTER.
3 posted on 02/28/2003 1:27:42 PM PST by MJemison
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To: Publius
Good thought on Smith Act. Enforcement requires higher testosterone levels than currently present in the government.
4 posted on 02/28/2003 1:29:55 PM PST by litany_of_lies
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To: litany_of_lies
Came across this story at the asmainegoes.com web site--maybe this rises to the level of a separate thread:

Now, a similar story in Colorado is getting media attention:Teacher's anti-Bush pin sparks debate

CONIFER, Colo. (AP) - Jefferson County School District officials have rejected a parent's request to bar a middle school teacher from wearing a button that says ''He's Not My President.''

The district said the teacher has a right to wear the button, which was spotted on her coat during a field trip, but she has not been wearing it in her classroom, spokesman Rick Kaufman said.

Parent Linda Fowler thinks it is sending the wrong message to her son and other students at West Jefferson Middle School in the mountain town west of Denver.

Fowler has relatives and friends in the military who have been deployed because of the possible war with Iraq. She said her son is now asking if his aunt is bad and what she is doing wrong.

''Both my husband and I were very offended by it. My son, who's in the sixth grade, had some very confused feelings, very hurtful feelings about the whole thing,'' she said. ''I'm trying to stress to my child that (President Bush) is the commander in chief and the armed forces are trying to protect us.''

Principal Jean Kelley told the Fowlers in an e-mail that the teacher ''has the right to wear any political buttons that she wishes, as part of her protection under the First Amendment.'' Kelley referred questions to Kaufman.

A joint statement released Wednesday from the district and the district's teachers union said teachers have the same First Amendment rights as all Americans. But they agreed that teachers ''must be judicious'' in expressing their opinions to avoid politicizing the classroom and must provide a neutral atmosphere.

5 posted on 02/28/2003 1:32:45 PM PST by litany_of_lies
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To: litany_of_lies
The man in charge of a branch of the local military in that area -- National Guard, I think -- was interviewed on O'Reilly yesterday. If he's a sample of our current military, we're in trouble. Wishy-washy. When Bill suggested that the military legal office get involved, he said that wasn't an option; the military is handling it with sensitivity training. How precious.
6 posted on 02/28/2003 1:39:38 PM PST by MayflowerMadam
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To: litany_of_lies
My mother taught public school for thirty years at a time that the Pledge of Allegiance and patriotism were the norm.

Now the communist anacephalics in Maine have tenure and their inbred comrades in the Ninth Circus rule the Pledge unconstitutional.

The schools and the courts need fumigation.


MAINE STUDENTS RE-EDUCATE UN-AMERICAN
TEACHER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PATRIOTISM

7 posted on 02/28/2003 1:40:47 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: MJemison
We used to shot traitors in time of war.........
8 posted on 02/28/2003 1:42:49 PM PST by MrLee
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To: litany_of_lies
We need names of these teachers - so they can be hauled on to "The Factor", so that they can fight somebody their own size...and get clobbered.
9 posted on 02/28/2003 1:42:55 PM PST by guitfiddlist
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To: MayflowerMadam
Nice hypocracy from the libs. They're always using the "chil'ren" to push through their socialist agenda. Now they're actually hurting the "chil'ren".
10 posted on 02/28/2003 1:44:39 PM PST by winner3000
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To: MayflowerMadam
I was also a bit disappointed in the response of the person O'Reillly interviewed. BUT...the important this is that teachers are on notice to watch what they say and do to soldiers' kids.

I've also seen how in the past two years W has "killed 'em with kindness" and it has generally worked. I don't know how he doesn't keep from just exploding sometimes.
11 posted on 02/28/2003 1:48:39 PM PST by litany_of_lies
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To: litany_of_lies
It must be disconcerting for doctrinaire liberals to know that there are literally thousands of people monitoring their un-American activities and that they will be exposed when they step over the line.

Yep, must be!


12 posted on 02/28/2003 1:49:26 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: litany_of_lies
A great job from everyone who got involved. I sent an email to lheaney@nea.org to let them know how I felt.

As this is my first reply on free republic, I would like to say hello to everyone! It is great to be here and be involved.
13 posted on 02/28/2003 1:49:49 PM PST by Owatamla
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To: Owatamla
Welcome aboard, Owatamla.....
14 posted on 02/28/2003 1:52:30 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: MayflowerMadam
The Chief of Staff of the Miane NG, I believe. Wishy washy. But the military doesn't do law suits. Weapon of choice by or against them is TV news air time.
15 posted on 02/28/2003 1:53:32 PM PST by RLJVet
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To: Owatamla
Welcome to Free Republic - you're gonna like it here.
16 posted on 02/28/2003 1:54:39 PM PST by Inspectorette
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To: litany_of_lies
Do students in that school have the same First Amendment rights?
17 posted on 02/28/2003 1:56:38 PM PST by ladylib
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To: litany_of_lies
A great job from everyone who got involved. I sent an email to lheaney@nea.org to let them know how I felt.

As this is my first reply on free republic, I would like to say hello to everyone! It is great to be here and be involved.
18 posted on 02/28/2003 1:56:56 PM PST by Owatamla
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To: litany_of_lies
I got a very good reply from the head of the Maine PTA, and I got a lousy reply from the Maine Educator's Association.

Kind of what I thought I would get out of the educators.

In God We Trust.....Semper Fi

19 posted on 02/28/2003 2:00:59 PM PST by North Coast Conservative (just a patriot, seeking to keep America free)
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To: litany_of_lies
Remember, this all started when a FReeper brought a WBAI TV report on the subject to everyone's attention.

There are 2 sources of information I utilize that provide me with information I will not find anywhere else, atleast for a few days... FreeRepublic and Neal Boortz.

I found out about this story on Nealz Nuze.

20 posted on 02/28/2003 2:04:48 PM PST by Phantom Lord (Distributor of Pain, Your Loss Becomes My Gain)
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