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A Fayetteville teacher whose classroom encounter with a young John McCain supporter created a stir on YouTube has confirmed that she was given a disciplinary letter. But Diatha Harris said an internal investigation of her conduct cleared the veteran educator of violating state law or Cumberland County Board of Education policy. Harris, 53, was videotaped in the spring by a Swedish film crew, leading a classroom discussion about the 2008 presidential election with fifth-graders at Mary McArthur Elementary School. During the discussion, Harris called the Iraq war “senseless” and told her pupils that U.S. troops could stay in Iraq for...

Diatha DeConstructed by: Bethany Stotts, November 11, 2008 The actions of one fifth-grade teacher in North Carolina, Diatha Harris, have elicited anger throughout the nation for comments regarding a student’s support of John McCain. In response to damaging video footage of the teacher’s classroom comments, the local superintendent announced a full investigation into the teacher’s actions last Friday. As of this writing, one YouTube video of the Mary McArthur Elementary teacher had garnered nearly a half million views. (The Swedish documentary aired in Scandinavia on election night). In the clip, Diatha Harris is seen in her classroom discussing the election...

NOTE: perhaps this is the female version of Marion Barry's "The *itch set me up." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Fayetteville teacher says video clip doctored By Francis X. Gilpin Staff writer A Fayetteville teacher is defending comments she made to fifth-graders who expressed support for John McCain in class last spring. The interaction between Diatha D. Harris and pupils at Mary McArthur Elementary School was captured in May by a Swedish television documentary crew. Harris says “Oh Jesus” when, during a discussion about the election, a few students said they supported McCain. She tells one girl whose father is in the military that...

CCS Headline News - Superintendent's Response to YouTube I was shocked when I saw the clip of an interaction between a Cumberland County Schools teacher and her students as posted on YouTube. While neutral discussion of the political process is appropriate, at no time, particularly with elementary students, should a teacher infuse his/her political views into the discussion. Most disconcerting was the military slant that made its way into this discussion. We are a military community, serving over 15,000 military students and their families. We value the sacrifices, not only of the military parents but also those of their families....