Politics in schools?

[WriterofWords]

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Politics is in the standards in every state in one way or another. No it is not our job to convince students to lean one way or another! It is our jobs to teach the meaning and process, voting for example, why we should and how they can influence their government and be involved. No teacher should get on a soap box and tell any student who to vote for, or their parents should vote for. They should remain neutral at all times.

 

[WriterofWords]

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I just had to say Thank You!!! Yes! We are human!!!

 

[chels23]

My sister was wearing a button to school and the teacher said "oh no you like ________" I don't think my sister made up the anti-Christ comment since I don't think she know exactly what that means. This teacher is an English teacher and she is 22 or 23. I don't think she should be fired. She is young and might not know that she shouldn't bring up that kind of stuff.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

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Maybe she was taught to not like the other party. Thats what my moms b/f is doing to me but I am stubborn and I am going 3rd party. He keeps saying that the other party is bad and his party is good. So maybe thats why the teacher said that?

 

[Promiselandfarm]

Sad that most of our society does not understand that the electoral vote is the ones deciding our candidates future. There are only two states which have different rules for their electoral voters. Also that our government is run by our congress mostly as they make the laws. If Obama wins then our country will be a Democrat Congress with a Democrat President so I can see most every idea they have passing. Where is if you have McCain as president a Republican and then a Democrat Congress things may not pass as easy. Also the ruling president puts people in the judicial seats. So if you have a liberal minded president you will have liberal minded judges appointed and visa versa for the other..conservative will have conservative judges. This is usually how it goes but not always. Did you guys know that most of the electoral voters are appointed not elected ...that is scary to me that only a few really decide who becomes our ruler. Another footnote as someone mentioned earlier...Obama's religious ties are something to look up and understand. His pastor or 20 years was deep into his theology and preached it so for 20 years Obama's family listened to and heard him. If he disagreed he would have changed churches. Look up all information for yourself and make sure it is not a snopes gone bad. Take the time to know what your choice of candidate believes in and what the issues they have voted for or against. Both of the main candidates have voting records that can easily be googled and read. The voting record will show what they stand for. Any of them can and will get up there and say anything but the voting records speak volumes to what they really feel.
The teacher should be teaching her students how to look up viable information not give her own ideas because it is about what each one beleives to be best. We just need to be educated about why we pick who we pick and not from the media but from our own research and knowledge. There are plenty of sites which go into all the issues without bias and list the other candidates who are running for office. Did you guys know there is a minority woman running??? That is history our media forgot to mention. There are more parties out there other than Republican and Democrat...California I think has 6 on the books and has 55 electoral votes. So the teacher needs to be making sure the students know this instead of who she wants in office or does not want in office.

 

[chickbea]

Politics should ABSOLUTELY be taught in school, but political opinions should not.
A teacher's job is to teach kids HOW TO THINK, not WHAT TO THINK.

 

[horsejody]

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Maybe it should be verified that the teacher actually said this before she is blasted on the internet. Maybe one kid told another kid, who told another kid, who told another kid she said it. Maybe she said something that was taken out of context. Ask the teacher what she said. Verify things with other people that actually heard the words come out of her mouth. Don't just assume she said these things.

 

[Verboten]

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This would about sum up my childhood education as well.

Many things would have shocked or angered my parents if I had bothered to tell them - for example my first grade teacher told us - a bunch of 6! year olds that the world would actually be on fire before we reached adulthood because of global warming - don't worry too much though -that deadline past a while ago. I wouldn't worry too much either about a teacher influencing a child's future political philosophy in the way they would expect (the brain can do amazing things processing information).

There is so much to learn I think they barely have enough time at school to cover the bare bones basics. Depending on age our political system and history would definately be included in that.

Best of luck with your situation.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If it was me, I'd be looking into it.

Did the teacher actually say that? Was it a slip in the heat of the moment and she needs to talk to the class again (after getting some coaching on what's appropriate) to retract that statement? Or does this teacher have a real problem understanding what's appropriate and what isn't in how she teaches? Is this just the tip of the iceberg? Does she need coaching on what's appropriate? She's young. I'd want to make sure she's getting off to a good start and not down a bad path. In that case, say nothing, do nothing and you are encouraging her to make other inappropriate remarks in the future.

Unless you look into it, there's no way to know if it's untrue, was said in a particular context or is a problem. Lots of people let all kinds of things slide, because it's a lot easier. It's a personal choice.

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

I am a teacher, and our district policy is basically that we cannot campaign on school time or property or as a representative of the school.