Posted on 09/15/2004 12:09:52 PM PDT by notjejune
A newbie here, not sure if this is the right place for this question - please feel free to advise.
I'm a minority (a conservative 8th grade US History teacher in CA)
My classroom is full of patriotic/government stuff like most US History classroom, and at last night's open house a board member voiced his displeasure w/ my administrator over a Bush/Cheney Farm and Ranch Team sign that hangs in my classroom (it is from the 2000 election). My administrator tells me I have to take it down because I refuse to put up a democrat sign. It's the same board member that refuses to salute the flag at Board Meetings. Thinking of replacing the sign with a life size cut out of George W. or at least a large poster if I can find one. I'm sure that it's still ok to pay tribute to our commander in chief in a US History classroom. Any ideas?
When I was in school, I seem to remember my history teacher always having a picture of the current President on the wall, no matter which party it was. I think the President's picture, Republican or Democrat should be up on the wall.
If your school is a polling place, as many are, you may create a legal entanglement for the board and yourself by "soliciting" within 200 feet of a polling place.
Noted many creative suggestion in the thread...
FReepers are always happy to help...
Welcome aboard newbie... keep us 'posted' on how this works out.
Regards
I agree totally. I live in a very leftist environment in California. My sons (11,13) attend a school where ALL the teachers and admin are leftists. I keep a close watch on the school. If they put up Kerry stickers in a classroom I would blow my stack big-time! Better all campaign stuff stay out of the classroom.
My sons are young conservatives and they'd come running to complain to me if they got any propaganda or political attitude from a teacher. LOL!
I say kick your administrator right square in the nuts.
(I'm not all that rational when it comes to dealing with socialists.)
Seriously though - find the largest, most flattering picture of President Bush you can find and post that in your classroom instead.
Wanna really burn his shorts? Post one of him with an American Flag background!
Big picture of G. Washington, big picture of Abe Lincoln, and big picture of G.W. Bush, with a sign ,Our beloved presidents.
Used to pi$$ me off when I watched X-Files and Clintoon's sneering mug graced the walls of the FBI offices.
Seems to me that classrooms always used to display a formal photo of both the president and the state's governor, side by side, on the front wall above the blackboard. Who could object? (OK, OK, I know, with lefties that question is entirely rhetorical).
Welcome. Good responses here. Can you IMAGINE the responses on a certain 'dark side' web site where a Democrat teacher asks if it was proper to put up Democrat photos, etc??
I teach history and language arts; I've also taught in California (Mendocino County); and I'm conservative. My suggestion: this is not a battle worth fighting. As a teacher, we have to be scrupulously fair and accurate in our presentations. I know the left doesn't do things fairly in the classroom, and I've seen it, but my point is this: do we want to sink to their level, or do we want a higher standard? I make sure through my words, speech, lesson plans and assignments that no one will ever convincingly make the case that I'm some bigoted slopebrowed racist sexist homophobe. I'm always polite and I always deferential. This shouldn't be taken as spinelessness, but think about Reagan's attitude, his approach and his ability to softly and kindly slap down the opposition. Sure, folks will hate you anyhow for your conservatism. Just don't give them an easy target.
Would you like to borrow my lighter?
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