Some Maine Teachers Traumatizing Students of Deployed Soldiers

WABI- TV Bangor Maine | February 21, 2003 | 6 PM News

[bogeybob]

WABI TV reported Friday that the Maine National Guard Family Assistance Center has received about 30 complaints from children of deployed soldiers concerning Principals, Teachers and Guidance Counselors reportedly demeaning the role of their deployed parent. Some children involved are 7 to 9 years of age.

Here is a letter written to a friend of mine from the Maine Army National Guard:

"Thank you for your interest on this most troubling matter. Our Family Assistance Centers have reported cases from Aroostook County to Southern Maine. We are reluctant to give out specific schools and the individuals involved in the interest of giving the education community a chance to address the problem itself. Also, parents wanted the opportunity to pursue the issue through their local school boards first.

In all, we have over thirty complaints that name schools and individual principals, teachers and guidance counselors. If one considers that these complaints come from just the parents who attended our briefings and only from children who told their parents, we are concerned that the problem may be more widespread than we know.

We are recording the complaints, and I will personally visit these educators to express our concern as a professional organization and ask for their cooperation.

Ultimately, our main concern and first responsibility is the safety of our children during these uncertain times. Maine has a core of dedicated and professional educators, but we will challenge any individual who places our children at risk due to their own political ideologies."

[TEXOKIE]

"I'm not surprised something like this has happened. I have a relative who is a lib school teacher and I noticed since they've been out of power they have developed a mean streak"

That is amazing, isnt it? I remember being scoffed at during the klintoonian years for my concerns about his lax administration. Now some liberal acquaintances of mine are not only quaking in their boots from fears as the to the direction fascist President Bush is taking us, but they are also frothing at the mouth with anger that they are now out of power. All I can do is shake my head and pray that the Good Lord will illuminate all of our people somehow.

The people I am describing are good friends of mine, and actually quite loyal Americans, but are unreachable in their convictions to liberalism. I dont even try any more.

[TEXOKIE]

Good job, NVA! Thanks for doing that! I'm still hoping that some of the conservative talk show hosts will give it some air time. I think the chances of that are increased because of the WSJ story. Let's hope so.

[El Gato]

I just pasted this story to an email and sent it to everyone I know who has children in the public school system. What an absolute outrage.

I sent it to my wife who is chair of the education department at small college in Texas and she was livid and suggested pulling all US military out of Maine. I suggested moving them to a state in the Red Zone, preferably one between the Mississippi and the Rockies (inlcuding the Rockies themselves) , or in the Old South, where they will be appreciated. I guess either Texas or one of those "Old South" states would have to take any Navy units. P-3s from NAS Brunswick for example. I'm sure there're plenty of empty hangers and runways sufficiently near the coast to accomodate them where they will be appreciated for more than just the $$ they bring to the local economy.

[TEXOKIE]

"Let's all contact WABI (wabi@wabi.tv) and thank them for their report - you won't find it on any other station here!"

Thanks for the suggestion and the link, seahorses3! Following is the letter which I have just sent.

---

Dear Sirs,

I have read a report of your story on freerepublic.com [ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/849965/posts?q=1&&page=1 ] which you carried over the weekend revealing that some so called teachers, principals, and guidance counselors have been telling deployed servicemen's children that their parents are 'bad people' for going to war.


PLEASE accept my sincerest thanks for exposing this horrible situation. These are real kids with real fears for their very brave parents. The last thing they need is to be harried and made to think their parents are doing something wrong. In my humble opinion, such behavior is seditious and vicious and causes real injury. In addition to causing pain and uncertainty in a child, just think of the morale problems it could create among our fighting men and women if a trooper goes off to war not knowing if the kids are being brainwashed by a 5th column at home.

I have a strong belief that you have uncovered a very major and significant story. Please continue looking after the welfare of these children in your state. Please continue with follow up investigations and reports.

Thank you again.

[Shooter 2.5]

I don't know if you remember the liberal who saw a military fly over during the clintoon inauguration. His comment was "Those are our jets now".

That said it all for me back then. It's never about passivism. It's always about their power.

[El Gato]

he'd love to sink his teet into that

Folks would pay good money to watch such an attempt. :) LOL!

[El Gato]

Whuppass come in tanker trucks ?

Heck yes, it also comes in supertankers (big ship type). Saddam is about to receive the contents of one of those.

[TEXOKIE]

"Love thy neighbor, our Lord said, but something like this is what tests my Christianity among other things. "

I agree with you, Chong. However, if you ponder it, I think one can see that righteous indignation is much different from anger. It is CORRECT in my opinion, as a Christian, or any other person who loves God, to become really stirred when someone assaults innocent children. I'm certain that there are others out there who are much better at quoting Bible verses than I am, but isnt there something in scripture that says it would be better if someone had a millstone around his neck than he should lay a finger on one child?

"Because I want to slap those 'teachers' silly, ..."

I also seem to recall that Jesus got REALLY righteously indignant one time and turned over a bunch of tables because he was upset at the moneychangers' practices there in the Temple, on Holy ground!

My point is, I truly believe that sometimes a deep and burning anger which is not anger at all but is a deep burning for justice, is very much sometimes appropriate in a person's life who is trying to live life according to the Laws of God.

[bogeybob]

OK, Freepers... Here is Maine Education Commish J. Duke Albanese's memo. He told the Bangor Daily News that he had received "four e-mails". ( I know this to be false )

The memo: ( Whitewash )

Attached please find an advisory that went to school Superintendents and Principals this afternoon.

Thank you.

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 45

POLICY CODE: IHAK

TO: Superintendents of Schools and Principals

FROM: J. Duke Albanese, Commissioner

DATE: February 25, 2003

RE: Sensitivity Around Differing Opinions About Iraq and Its Impact on Children of Military Personnel

Currently, our nation is experiencing a time of great uncertainties related to U.S. relations with Iraq. People have diverse perspectives and viewpoints regarding how to best resolve this conflict and the challenges it poses at home and abroad. As a democratic society we believe in the right to discuss controversial issues and express ideas and opinions freely in a civil manner.

Recently, it has been brought to our attention that some school personnel around the State may have been less than sensitive to children of military families regarding our continued strained relations with Iraq. In some situations, parents - who are about to be deployed - have observed added stress and anxiety among their children who perceive a school staff member or their peers as being insensitive to their beliefs and the potential danger to their loved ones. Regarding instruction, most educators are being careful in their teaching about America’s response to Iraq, although some reports indicate otherwise.

These reports have been shared by parents with National Guard personnel as gatherings have been held at Family Assistance Centers around the state. Discussion of these incidents has fueled some strained feelings from affected families toward schools.

After discussions with Adjutant General and Commissioner Brigadier Joseph E. Tinkham II, I am asking you to remind school personnel that these are difficult times for our nation and that the families of military personnel need our sensitivity. As educational leaders in your community, you may receive calls, e-mail messages, or other forms of communication from people who are concerned about this issue. As you respond to the public or advise your district’s educators and other staff, I encourage you to emphasize the importance of:

Ø creating and maintaining a supportive climate that is sensitive to all children and their families in these unsettled times;

Ø providing balanced information in classrooms and other settings that present the differing perspectives of Americans regarding how our nation responds to Iraq. The content and discussion should allow for questions and differences of opinions, yet be grounded in civil discourse and mutual respect. Age and developmental appropriateness of materials are also important; and

Ø encouraging school counselors, nurses, and social workers to acknowledge the emotional and physical needs and concerns expressed by children and families involved with the Armed Services.

Ensuring the emotional and physical safety of all of Maine’s students is first and foremost on all of our minds. I appreciate your support in these unsettled times and thank you in advance for offering guidance and support for our children and parents, particularly those who are directly affected by military service to our nation.

-------------------------------------------------------

The Maine liberals are really whining about this 'unsubstantiated' story. I would invite any of you to go the www.asmainegoes.com, our local FreeRepublic, to see some good discussion on this matter. I would ask that you resist the urge to 'verbally level' a few of the liberals. We actually have some good threads on there and I find it a great place to keep the pulse of Maine politics. Some of the liberals have been invited to visit FreeRepublic (and they don't like what they see!).

[Quix]

teet or feet,

he probably has delusions that he's stomping grapes with Babs and that Babs is . . . wellll anyway . . .

In reality, he's dancing with the devil who's shortening shorty every stomp and convincing Billdo it's getting longer.

Talk about getting jerked around by the short hairs . . .
He's already getting taken more than he's deluding and hasn't a clue.

[Alamo-Girl]

Volley Bump!

[Squantos]

Good work .....I have just sent E-Mail also. Thanks for the source !!

Stay Safe !!

[TEXOKIE]

And here's a bounce-back bump to you too! :-)

[TEXOKIE]

You are welcome! And thanks for sending your email! Was it to the tv station or to Hannity or Liddy?

Seahorses3 needs the credit for posting the tv station link.

[TEXOKIE]

"Ensuring the emotional and physical safety of all of Maine’s students is first and foremost on all of our minds. I appreciate your support in these unsettled times and thank you in advance for offering guidance and support for our children and parents, particularly those who are directly affected by military service to our nation."

Hmmmmmmmmmm looks like they know the cat is out of the bag and they better cancel that particular stratagem. Good find, bogybob. Thanks.

[Squantos]

http://www.hannity.com/index.cfm/bay/content.contact.htm

This is what I used.......Stay Safe !

[KineticKitty]

Yes, I agree. This has struck a cord with many people. Even myself, and I have very few buttons exposed here at FR for the pushing. I am going to keep an eye on this one and not forget it anytime soon, like I am sure many others will also.

[wasp69]

A keep it going bump.

[Bruce Kurtz]

Morning bump

[Boxsford]

So basically what the commish is stating is "be sensitive" but keep talking because they are the "educational leaders" in the community. His memo gives permission to continue the debate in front of the children whose parents are in the military facing a war.