Our Public Schools

19 March 2003 | An aggravated student

[swaimh]

Hello all,

I'm a junior currently enrolled in the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, which is a residential school for academically gifted students who excel in the subjects of science and math. I've been a FReeper for maybe 2 months now. So please bear with me.

Over the past 2 days, as the war to oust Saddam from power seems to be inevitable, I have heard many things from teachers and students alike just tearing up our country, leaders and military.

Yesterday at lunch, while participating in a discussion where i was laying the case down for war, I was called a "damn republican." Not once had I even mentioned George Bush's name in this conversation. My physics teacher also remarked yesterday during class concerning the draft that we legally must sign up "in case another George Bush comes along and wants you to fight for oil."

Tonight at dinner, I overheard several conversations. Some were about Bush's remark to Iraqi commanders not to set the oil wells alight because "we want the oil." Others supported Saddam's remark that Bush should step down as President of the United States. Yet another said she would blame Bush if one of her relatives in the Army supply division was killed. Still another remarked that "if you are in the military you are disgracing the United States."

I have been blessed to have been born into a military family and have my parents do a good job of raising me. I like to believe that our public schools do an ok job of teaching us math and sciences (even though there's that whole social promotion and affirmative action), but I find the social studies, history and world geography departments very lacking. The entire social studies department is twisted liberally; liberals are seen as doing the best things for this country and the republicans are portrayed as anti-progress, at least in my social studies classes.

I've learned so much from this website. Many news articles that I would not be able to find on any other channel of media I've found by wandering through the posts that all of you put up.

Sorry to rant. I was wondering about your views on this issue. I believe that a major reform in the public school system is required in this country.

Thanks for hearing me out.

swaimh

[xrp]

Just two points you need to correct in your post:

I believe that a major reform in the public school system is required in this country.

This should read:

I believe that the government school system needs to be abolished and privatized.

[Amelia]

Fortunately, the social studies department at my school is rather conservative. Perhaps your parents should contact the local school board?

[GiveEmDubya]

The parallels between your situation and mine are notable.

I am a junior currently enrolled in a HS whose name cannot be mentioned online because of school policy, but I guarantee you, it is not a public school (thank God).

In the last month or two, I--and people like me--have been harassed by uber leftists in my school--both teachers and students alike. There are some teachers who agree with Bush, but most of them are silent. Indeed most STUDENTS agree with Bush, but they too are silenced by the arrogant, moral-high-ground liberals.

I've heard all too much about the "it's all about oil" crap, and lemme tell ya, I've defused that argument so many times that I'm getting numb, but still the libs don't listen. Don't listen to them. They are WRONG!

Be firm in your argument. We will win the day.

[Texas_Jarhead]

here's an easy tip

when your hear stuff like this, "My physics teacher also remarked yesterday during class concerning the draft that we legally must sign up "in case another George Bush comes along and wants you to fight for oil."

Politely inquire, "if the conflict is about oil then why didn't the US just take and keep control of the Irqai oil fields after the first Gulf war".
OR
if it's about cheap oil then wouldn't it be much cheaper and easier to ignore Saddam and remove the sanctions. Surely increased supply would bring down the price.

[Eva]

What you have described is brainwashing, just as sure as the brainwashing that was inflicted on Elizabeth Smart.

First of all tell your physics teacher that most of the wars that this country has been involved in have been started by Democrats, including Vietnam. Then you can tell him that it is highly unlikely that a recent draftee would ever be sent to the front to fight a war because war has become a very skilled high tech environment that requires a lot more training than could obtained in boot camp. If a draft was ever reinstated it would probably non-military for stateside support jobs. Anyone who shirked such an assignment does not deserve to live in this free country.

Then ask your teachers and friends why they have not been protesting against Saddam Hussein and asking him to give up his weapons of mass destruction so that we would not have to go to war. Ask them why they didn't protest the failure of the UN to back up their resolution to demand that Saddam disarm. All that may have been needed is the unified threat of forced disarmament to gain a peaceful settlement and yet the anti-war group backed down. It appears that they didn't really want to avoid a war, they just didn't want to be part of it.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Hang in there be tough. As I wrote you the other day "You are very worldly for a Junior in HS. Too bad your teachers are not". My kids made it and so can you.

[Teetop]

All I can say is, keep fighting for what YOU believe in & don't let the socialist left get you down. We know you are a free thinker, you decide for yourself what is right & wrong. This is nothing more than a tactic used to get you to think you are wrong & that their way of thinking is right.
The liberals have been "dumbing down" our schools for decades.
The best thing to do is to be knowledgable about issues, then you can rebute their ignorant "arguement" better. Good luck & god bless you!

[Coroner]

When they say its about oil. Tell them that if that were true; we currently have troops in Saudi Arabia and kuwait and why are we not taking their oil.
If they say there is no link between Saddam and 9-11. Tell them that Saddam was training terrorists to hijack airplanes in a 707 fuselage in Salman Pak. That Mohammad Atta met with Iraqi agents in the Czech Republic according to Czech agents. That Yousef Galan (a chief finance officer in Al Quaida) met with Iraqi agents in Spain.

[11B3]

Another thing you can do with any of the leftists you encounter is rather simple:

Take their position on their argument, and then extrapolate it through time to expose the final result of that argument. In all cases, when you do this, it ends up becoming evident that their position results in authoritarian tyranny. Taxation, gov't schools, etc. all end up showing their predisposition towards an end to freedom.

Then you can laugh in their faces.

[Between the Lines]

NCS&M would be a fine school if not for the liberal and gay indoctrination given to the students there. My daughter graduated from NCS&M five years ago and I blame them for turning her from a decent God fearing girl into a brainiac bleeding heart liberal lesbian.
Keep to your studies and take advantage of the wonderful opportunity you have been given. Ignore the liberals and do not try to debate them, for to them it is not the truth that matters but how one feels. I only wish that other parents could be warned of what they are putting their children in.

And don't even think of going to UNC Chapel Hill because it is even worse than where you are at.

Good luck to you, God bless and stay the course.

[f.Christian]

Try ... this (( link // #18 )) !

[defeat_the_dem_igods]

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Yep, that says it all.

As a fellow North Carolinian, I am very familiar with your school, and it's staff and faculty.

It's unfortunate that you have to endure their left-leaning, political diatribes, but you must, and with no or little disagreement.

Remember, you are one of the privileged few that has been chosen to attend a school that is eons ahead of any other North Carolina public high school.

But then, experiences such as these, with liberal, prima-donna instructors, will not abate, but rather intensify as you progress through your post-secondary education.

Stay the course.

[goodnesswins]

SMILE...as you stand your ground...and KNOW YOUR life will be soooo much better than the looney lefties you face everyday who will live the whiny, wimpy life of a Democrat, unless they reform themselves. Be joyful you were brought up right!

[Jason Kauppinen]

Just know your facts and argue right back at them. Stay calm while doing so. After a while you will notice that every lefty whom you show to be wrong will blow up as reliably as that geiser in Yellowstone park.

It's great fun. : )

[Boxsford]

This won't encourage you much but I'll say it anyway. It doesn't get any better once you are out of school.
You have a choice. You can speak up for what you believe to be the truth or you can sit by and be quiet.
Choose your battles with these folks because there are plenty of them around. If you find yourself too frustrated, back off, take a rest and then pick up and move forward.

[Balding_Eagle]

I am a junior currently enrolled in a HS whose name cannot be mentioned online because of school policy,

There is no school policy that can prevent you from mentioning their name on line or anywhere else.

I'm not suggesting that you do so, simply pointing out that there are a lot of organiztions that would jump at the chance to 'take on' your school, even in court.

[GiveEmDubya]

Well I'll be damned. I looked in the school handbook, and the regulation is gone. Maybe a change of heart?

In that case, www.ladyoflourdes.org -- my school's website.

[Balding_Eagle]

It actually was an abridgment of the First Amendment. I'm sure someone pointed that out to them.