Teacher does her job; we need more like her.
A Dutch video is making its rounds on the Internet, relevant because it captures an elementary school teacher in North Carolina berating a student who supports McCain. The conservatives are in a tizzy over this.
Malkin notes, for instance:
Watch her bully a little girl who dares to answer “McCain” when asked who she supports for president. The child is the daughter of a soldier. Watch the teacher mock the girl and her father (”So that mean yo’ daddy could stay in Iraq for another hundred years!”). Watch the little girl’s eyes well up in tears. Is this the kind of education reform Barack Obama advocates?
This is child abuse plain and simple. The “educator” should be disciplined, fired, forced to apologize publicly, and banned from the classroom.
Child abuse? Really?
It seems to me that she’s giving the Obama supporter a hard time too. And that hard time is asking them why they support a candidate. You know, get something out of them more than “I dunno.”
I don’t have a big problem with this.
November 6th, 2008 22:13
hahahhahaha, are you kidding? This teacher is not very good at all. The goal is to hear from the children, not from the teacher. How old are these kids, 10? 12? Talk about making kids feel 1 inch small. No, I don’t have a big problem with this because my kids aren’t going to be taught by this idiot. But if my kid was in that classroom, regardless of who I supported, I’d get him or her out, because I don’t want my 12 year old smarter than his teacher.
November 6th, 2008 22:14
But children are idiots, that’s the problem. They should be seen, not heard. They need to listen and learn before they give their opinions.
November 6th, 2008 22:18
They weren’t shouting out their opinions…she was forcing them to say what they thought. There was no teaching going on here. Shame on her.
November 6th, 2008 22:19
God forbid the students should have to articulate what they believe.
November 6th, 2008 22:23
These kids are 10, 12 years old? Have them read a newspaper article about Barack Obama’s plan for Iraq, or some other current event, then have them write an essay in response to it. It isn’t rocket science how to get children to learn. This is not it. Clearly none of them know anything about either candidate, so get them a newspaper written for their grade-level to get them informed. C’mon scholar…she’s a bad teacher (at least in this segment), you agree?
November 6th, 2008 22:24
She could use some pedagogical tuning up, but in general I like the style.
November 6th, 2008 22:28
So if she said to one of the kids who was in favor of Obama: “You realize that Barack has associations with a domestic terrorist who wants to kill our families, are you okay with that, little Jimmy?” Keep your own beliefs to yourself, kids are so darn impressionable and it took some courage for that girl to actually admit she supported McCain. Then tell her she must then want her father to be in the military for 100 years (which isn’t even possible for him to live that long)? Stupid.
November 6th, 2008 22:46
It’s impossible for a teacher to keep their beliefs to themselves, isn’t it?
November 6th, 2008 22:49
“Scholar in Training is a Ph.D (ABD) student in International Relations who will remain nameless since he will likely say something stupid in this blog.”
Well, you hit that nail on the head, didn’t you?
I know several teachers who had multiple discussions with their class during this election cycle. Not once did they ever let their personal opinion be known to their students.
November 6th, 2008 22:52
Karen, it’s a bit different teaching college students and 10 year olds (usually). Well, sometimes. OK, maybe you have a point.
November 6th, 2008 23:20
This teacher is an embarrassment to the teaching profession of which I am a part. I would not want one of my children in that classroom for five minutes. Not only did she engage in intimidation, and political demagoguery, she was not even aware of what she was doing! She thought that she was well within her personal and professional rights!
A teacher sets aside certain rights when they walk into the classroom. One of those is political activism. What one may do in the neighborhood or with friends, has not place in the classroom. Her interview indicates that she has no clue about setting any of her personal rights aside. Every responsible position of leadership carries with it certain personal divestments of personal rights.
November 6th, 2008 23:26
Hi. Conservatives aren`t alone in being “in a tizzy” over this educator`s behavior. She responds approvingly as a student says he wants Obama to win “because he`s black”. What do you suppose her response to a student would have been if the student chose McCain “because he`s white”? As long as hideous racism such as this teacher shows is condoned by people it will never end. Quit being part of the problem. This teacher should be disciplined harshly.
November 6th, 2008 23:43
C’mon scholar, this is just bad teaching, it’s that simple.
November 6th, 2008 23:44
Well yes, I was being facetious. I agree with you.
November 6th, 2008 23:46
November 7th, 2008 00:26
I think a year of community service (teaching elementary school aged kids in Iraq, under careful supervision of course) would be sufficient as her repayment to society for the horrible behavior that she exhibits in the video. She clearly approves of the comments that agree with what she believes to be true, and she clearly disapproves and berates the girl who disagrees. She agrees that it’s a senseless war, and she then states that John McCain would have her daddy over there for another 100 years. Both of those are false statements. She’s a horrible person. Really disgusted me watching that kind of lunacy on display in front of those kids.
This is an example of our education system FAILING us.
The MSM needs to pick this up and spread it far and wide.
November 7th, 2008 00:28
Oh please….
The first two kids answer Obama and get no response. The a kind says McCain.
‘Oh Lord, John McCain.’ Next kid says McCain. ‘Oh Jesus, John McCain’.
She then singles out the girl from the military family: ‘Talk. Cuz’ your dad in the miltary. Talk.’ She then talks about Iraq being a ’senseless’ war and how McCain would someone make her father stay in the military for ‘another 100 years’.
She browbeat that kid from a bully pulpit in the classroom. Notice how at 2:11 the kid next to her was laughing. She humiliated that child for having a different opinion.
November 7th, 2008 00:32
THE TEACHER WAS NOT TEACHING, SHE WAS INTIMATING ANYONE WHO DARED TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES. THE LITTLE GIRL WILL SOON LEARN NOT TO GIVE HER OPINION FOR FEAR THIS TEACHER WILL BELITTLE HER AGAIN.
IN COLLEGE, STUDENTS SOON LEARN IF YOU DON’T AGREE WITH THE PROFESSORS WAY OF THINKING YOU WILL NOT PASS THE COURSE.
THESE PROFESSORS DO NOT TEACH, THEY ARE DICTATORS!
THIS IS HOW OUR FREEDOMS WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US! THEY WILL START IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND WORK THEIR WAY UP!
November 7th, 2008 01:47
CAN THE PARENTS SUE THE SCHOOL ? OR THE TEACHER ? CAN THEY YANK HER TEACHING LICENSE AWAY FROM HER ?? NO KID SHOULD BE SUBJECT INTO THAT.
I do hope Obama see this and shame that teacher for doing this to a kid !
November 7th, 2008 01:59
With or without this problem teaching behavior– I am not comfortable with the exercise. I have 1st, 2nd, & 3rd graders in a school by a military base with classmates whose dads are military leaders from other nations. Children should learn the process and schools rightly see elections as a teachable moment. However, if the school makes this a big deal, the kids feelings become very tender. My 2nd grader is the softest-hearted, kindest kid in the world. She repeatedly pointed out to my 1st grader that she (the 1st grader) was one of only 49 children in the school to support McCain. And pressed her on why. My 1st grader was in tears.
Look at how adults behave about understanding the issues and dialoging. It makes no sense to place this kind of complex, emotionalized pressure on children. Adults see what the schools do as a game.But to the children it is reality — or at least a simulation. And educational simulations can easily become abusive very fast if they are not guided by very capable persons.
November 7th, 2008 02:28
Open your brain. B.O. isn’t going to do a thing to this racist teacher any more than he’s going to send his aunt out of the country. Oh, so many stupid people in this country. If the shoe were on the other foot, a black student’s parents would already have a law suit plastered in newspapers all over the country.
November 7th, 2008 03:07
I don’t understand what Obama has to do with this teacher who is clearly out of bounds. We cannot blame Obama for every overzealous supporter that goes above and beyond what we consider appropriate. Also EyesWideOpen, you sound like a bigot Mr.”black students parents.” As americans we have to get over Mccains loss and move forward. Why are you blaming Obama for his aunt being in the country illegally? This is something new did he smuggle her into the country? I hope you were including yourself in the “so many stupid people in this country comment. In conclusion, the teacher should be punished, I voted for Obama, I would have supported McCain if he chose a better running mate. It is time to get over the election and join together as Americans white, black, latino, chinese, whatever your race is lets give Obama a chance but also hold him accountable for keeping his word.
November 7th, 2008 03:09
Living near a military base as well, one of our children had a teacher that made it well known who she supported. And had children telling their parents who supported others they were stupid becauseof X, Y, Z …. Now try to contradict a teacher in your ten year old’s eyes!
November 7th, 2008 03:28
humiliation doesn’t work. It scars children, and this girl was in tears and looked a bit brow beaten. Teaching shouldn’t involve making one’s students well up with tears. Frankly, this is nothing more then bullying and intimidation, and succeeds in only creating children that conform to group think. This sort of intimidation hardly fosters independent thinking.
November 7th, 2008 03:43
No, Marty, I’m far from stupid. It’s people like you who condoned the association with Rev. Wright, Ayers, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Acorn, and you used only the running mate of McCain to vote for someone who couldn’t put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem??? If you bothered to listen to his diatribe, you’d know his aunt has been here illegally for four years living on welfare with American citizen’s tax money after she was told to go back to her own country four years ago, and B.O. claims he didn’t know anything about it. Oh, give me a break. What a joke.
November 7th, 2008 07:15
This is a story that the Tundra Tabloids broke as well as uploading to You Tube. Please give due credit where it’s deserved. M.Malkin did not break the story, I did, this past Monday. KGS
http://tundratabloid.blogspot.com/2008/11/swedish-documentary-shows-ashville.html
And the Asheville newspaper Citizen-Times recognizes that fact.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200881106074
November 7th, 2008 07:24
EyesWideOpen
You McCain followers are a bunch of brainless sheep all so willing to swallow the brainwashing propaganda that is being spoon fed to you by the same people that put our entire country in this mess in the first place, (like the worst state of affairs that we have ever been in and the entirety of the world despises the arrogant Americans because of the choices our leaders made without us while they ran a dictatorship under the guise of a democracy). Listen to yourself, you actually blame him for the actions of somebody when he was 9 years old? You literally sound like you are reciting a campaign speech and not even a good one, it sounds like Palin’s mindless dribble. The ignorance of your people never ceases to amaze me….and by your people I mean Republicans because I am not a racist like “some” people. Read a book, or better yet the news, but try BBC because I know damn well you are a Fox News watcher aren’t you? Robot.
November 7th, 2008 09:44
[...] Teacher does her job; we need more like her. » A Couple Things » A couple things about politics, s… [...]
November 7th, 2008 10:13
[...] Teacher does her job; we need more like her. » A Couple Things » A couple things about politics, s… [...]
November 7th, 2008 11:34
You’re obviously a fascist too, so why would you have a problem with this?
November 7th, 2008 11:48
I find it funny that so many of you missed the tongue-in-cheek nature of this. It shows what you all really think of liberals, that we could think this is good teaching.
November 7th, 2008 12:07
Whether liberals and conservatives alike agree that this is bad teaching, she is still a teacher and she is one of many who are just like this.
November 7th, 2008 12:51
Are you kidding me? How is this racist allowed to teach when she can’t even speak?? I wonder if she could give a reason to support Obama since none of her ” students” could?? i guess its cuz he’s black. Yeah good reason to vote for someone. NOT
November 7th, 2008 13:16
This was not teacher, this is the tactics of someone who does not understand that teachers are there to guide, and inspire. Taking anyones name in vain, like, Damn Lizzy for example and always referring to her in this manner would soon stigmatize her name. Therefore everyone would say Hey you pulled a Lizzy. Hopefully they will make sure and check that future teachers first and foremost are qualified to teach. Second find the ones who have their certificates a different job when they cease to inspire, but choose to degrade to make their view the norm. Wake up America. If this were my child I would babysit the teacher as my child showed much more intellengence to keep her mouth shut! Maybe the teacher should not only read the constitution but try to understand it!
November 7th, 2008 13:17
maybe your should be seen but not heard but let me tell you this i would have her job i have taught my child that his opinion matters no matter what. even if i dont agree and certainly not someone like you ..i feel sorry for your child…. but like someone else has said if it was a white teacher and a black student that would be called racism plain and simple you know it and i know it i dont care you vote for that is your god giving right and children have that same right for their opinions…..to. me thats racist towards all kids of every race!!!!!!!!!!!! what a dumbasssssss…………..
November 7th, 2008 14:01
This teacher, and any others like her, should be thrown out on their ears! It’s NOT okay for any teacher to intimidate our children for any reason or to force personal beliefs upon a child. I’m scared to death because we are loosing our rights as parents to say what should be taught in schools! What about the poor father who didn’t want his young child being taught about same sex relationships and when he went to the school to complain, he was arrested? Let’s get back to the basics of reading, writing, arithmatic etc.
November 7th, 2008 14:34
Liz and Mart – The John Lennons of the world – yeah lets unite – all we are saying is give peace a chance………the post woodstock babies (the new neo hippies) are so into annointed one’s MONDO BARACKO BONDAGE……….I know youre out there you white punks on dope……
November 7th, 2008 16:41
I am African American and I detest the behavior of this woman. Does her actions reflect on me and other African American’s because we share the same skin color? I would sue the school if that was my child because that is not a teacher. There are bad teachers of all colors, races and religions that somehow get through the cracks. The school systems should be blamed for allowing people like that to be around “OUR” children.
November 7th, 2008 19:44
Here is the Cumberland County Board of Education:
http://www.communications.ccs.k12.nc.us/Board/BOE.htm
Email them all. I just did.
Larry Lancaster
lll@nc.rr.com
Kim Fisher
KimberlyPFisher@aol.com
Greg West
GregWest@nc.rr.com
Mac Williams
MacWilliams@nc.rr.com
Helen Farrior
HFarrior@nc.rr.com
Donald LaHuffman
DLaHuffman@nc.rr.com
Frank Barragan
FKBarragan@nc.rr.com
Mary Emily Royal
Royalme@nc.rr.com
Macky Hall
MackyH@nc.rr.com
What a horror of a teacher!
November 7th, 2008 20:58
And you wonder why us right wingers accuse “educators” of running indoctrination centers ?
November 7th, 2008 21:18
I have not come across anyone who has condoned this behavior, neither Democrat nor Republican.
November 8th, 2008 01:30
Hey Lizzy – You call McCain supporters brainless sheep – you blame the bad state of affairs on only Republicans? You really are brainless if you can’t put together the fact that BO has duped all the people who voted for him. Guess who BO’s pick for his Chief of Staff is – Emanuel, who just happened to be the Director of Freddie Mac, which happens to be the main cause of the mortgage mess which just happened to lead to the fall of Wall Street’s mess. Maybe you need to read facts before you make stupid statements.
November 8th, 2008 02:07
I find it funny that so many of you missed the tongue-in-cheek nature of this. It shows what you all really think of liberals, that we could think this is good teaching.
Actually, my first thought was that your entry was dripping with sarcasm…. then I went and browsed a few more of your entries.
I believe you fully meant what you originally posted and are simply attempting to backpedal a bit now.
November 8th, 2008 09:37
I would love to know who that girls parents are and send that entire family our gratitude.
I have several freinds in education and they would be horrified.
I was taught in public schools and believe me, the education I received was horrible!
November 8th, 2008 11:31
Woah now. Let’s not go out and start bashing the public schools. There are some fantastic public schools and extremely devoted teachers. This lady just isn’t one of them.
November 8th, 2008 11:34
There are some, but let’s be honest, the state of public education in this country isn’t what one would call exemplar, now is it?
November 8th, 2008 13:56
I think it is okay, not great. Not until we can figure out a way to get merit pay into the education system and make it MUCH more difficult to become a teacher, will education suffer.
November 8th, 2008 14:40
If you think this is an isolated case, think again. The kids are being indoctrinated from the time they enter school — there’s no score, that just makes people feel bad, there’s no winner, everyone gets a trophy, etc. — even kickball was used as a teachable moment to indoctrinate the kids in the liberal ideas of “fairness”. By the time my children reached middle school age, the teachers were able to come out of the closet and really start in. Everything from how horrible it is to eat meat, to the “unjust” war, to “our president is a terrorist” has been bandied about in our school.
I just heard from my 13 year old that last year in Social Studies, they did a three week unit on Islam. The teacher explained what a wonderful religion Islam is, complete with excerpts from the Koran being read to the students. Do you think Christianity was the next unit? And if it was, with readings from the Bible, the ACLU would have turned up, don’t you think??? And if you think this is isolated, think again. I spoke to a woman the other day who lives a hundred miles from me, and her daughter was just doing the unit.