politics in the classroom

[peggyfromwastate]

I know there is a really similar thread out there, but I can't find it (I didn't look for it too much tho!)...

Anyway, in DD#2's classroom (2nd grade) the big "rumor" is that if McCain is elected, he'll die because he is so old, and then Sarah Palin will make us all go out and shoot moose...

Is this something I should tell the teacher? Isabel is now "voting" for Obama because she doesn't want to shoot moose...

[MDPhDWife]

Re: politics in the classroom

I know there is a really similar thread out there, but I can't find it (I didn't look for it too much tho!)...

Anyway, in DD#2's classroom (2nd grade) the big "rumor" is that if McCain is elected, he'll die because he is so old, and then Sarah Palin will make us all go out and shoot moose...

Is this something I should tell the teacher? Isabel is now "voting" for Obama because she doesn't want to shoot moose...

That is too funny! Isabella (our 2nd grader) hasn't come home with any rumors like that, although she compares who her friends parents are "cheering" for.

Re: politics in the classroom

Quinn learned yesterday that his friend is "voting" for John McCain. Quinn said "How could he betray me like that??"

Re: politics in the classroom

Quinn learned yesterday that his friend is "voting" for John McCain. Quinn said "How could he betray me like that??"

[Vanquisher]

Re: politics in the classroom

How could the kids not talk about it? It's a hot topic, and the whole nation is talking about it. I think it's exciting! I wouldn't mention anything to the teacher. Kids definitely get ideas from adults, turn them around and process them in their heads, and then you end up with some crazy sayings!

[DCJenn]

Re: politics in the classroom

Especially in the DC area, Peggy. You have to remember that a certain percentage of the kids your kids go to school with will be moving in January. Growing up there, you are much more aware of politics and administrative changes than your average kid is.

Back when the Reagan era RIFs hit the federal government, I had LOTS of friends whose parents lost their jobs.

Jenn

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: politics in the classroom

Now it's Kate's health teacher who is going all crazy over Obama and listed the 6 most wonderful things about Obama and then had the kids all write how they could each be more like Obama.



Can we just.go.to.school puhleez.

(I would be against this type of exercise if it were pro-McCain BTW-- to me it's politics and religion-- you can discuss these things, but let's not force your viewpt on your students...)

Anyway, since the election is over, the grade schoolers at Izzy's school can relax in the knoledge that they won't be forced to go shoot moose... (or mooses, or whatever)

And Jenn- I guess no Bush staffers live near us because it's all Obama all the time out here!! I'll watch for people moving out of the neighborhood in the middle of the night tho...

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: politics in the classroom

i can see that point--- i just wish they could find 1 nice thing to say about republicans?

i've never had pro-republican teachers, so it's kind of par for the course...

[MrsK]

Re: politics in the classroom

Now it's Kate's health teacher who is going all crazy over Obama and listed the 6 most wonderful things about Obama and then had the kids all write how they could each be more like Obama.



Can we just.go.to.school puhleez.

(I would be against this type of exercise if it were pro-McCain BTW-- to me it's politics and religion-- you can discuss these things, but let's not force your viewpt on your students...)

Anyway, since the election is over, the grade schoolers at Izzy's school can relax in the knoledge that they won't be forced to go shoot moose... (or mooses, or whatever)

And Jenn- I guess no Bush staffers live near us because it's all Obama all the time out here!! I'll watch for people moving out of the neighborhood in the middle of the night tho...

What if the teacher did this exercise with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, JFK? I understand that an Obama presidency has not been tested yet and some are unhappy that he was elected. But he has secured his place in history and is a role model for many young people -- particularly since for the little ones today the Civil Rights Movement might as well have been concurrent with the Boston Tea Party. I wouldn't be bothered if someone told my child that it's wonderful that the president of the US graduated from Harvard and my child concluded that going to college would make her more like the president.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: politics in the classroom

Now it's Kate's health teacher who is going all crazy over Obama and listed the 6 most wonderful things about Obama and then had the kids all write how they could each be more like Obama.



Can we just.go.to.school puhleez.

(I would be against this type of exercise if it were pro-McCain BTW-- to me it's politics and religion-- you can discuss these things, but let's not force your viewpt on your students...)

Anyway, since the election is over, the grade schoolers at Izzy's school can relax in the knoledge that they won't be forced to go shoot moose... (or mooses, or whatever)

And Jenn- I guess no Bush staffers live near us because it's all Obama all the time out here!! I'll watch for people moving out of the neighborhood in the middle of the night tho...

What if the teacher did this exercise with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, JFK? I understand that an Obama presidency has not been tested yet and some are unhappy that he was elected. But he has secured his place in history and is a role model for many young people -- particularly since for the little ones today the Civil Rights Movement might as well have been concurrent with the Boston Tea Party. I wouldn't be bothered if someone told my child that it's wonderful that the president of the US graduated from Harvard and my child concluded that going to college would make her more like the president.

Yeah, but unlike if this project if done for Washington or Lincoln, it would be intellectually disingenuous to suggest that this was an exercise to learn about the the historical accomplishments of Obama. He simply doesn't have enough historical "accomplishments" to warrant studying in list form. He (1) was a "community organizer" (in his case, not an accomplishment really, given that he was not a particularly successful one by any measure), (2) a state and federal Senator with little experience or specific accomplishments to credit to him (so no huge accomplishments there, either) and (3) the first African-American of a major political party both to run and to be elected President (huge accomplishment). Maybe, maybe you also could thrown in "First African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review"--but honestly, no one would care about that unless he was President-Elect. I would be at a loss to list six legitimate, specific things that he has actually accomplished of any real relevance and broad-reaching, historical importance--yet. This seems like an activity that would be much more appropriate after he's been in office a while. It seems clear to me that this was an Obama Koolaid drinker who wanted to push her views on her students under the guise of studying history. I used to be a public school teacher. This stuff happens ALL the time.

And I also agree that I would have been just as unhappy if the teacher had done this with McCain. With a twenty-five year Senate record and major bills under his belt, there might have been more of a shred of legitimacy. But, given the timing of the project, I am sure it would have been a McCainiac just shoving her views upon her students--no better than what the Obama teacher did.

Now, if the project was age appropriate and it was a compare/contrast between McCain and Obama, with the purpose being a legitimate one related to current events, that would have been OK with me. Even if the teacher had particular political views--so long as it was not mere indoctrination of the captive audience.

Re: politics in the classroom

I don't think this project is fair because I (personally) couldn't have done the same for GWB and I think that if the question is asked about *current* presidents it should be applicable to either party. Maybe at the beginning of a term is more fair because there is more optimism and new-ness? I could come up with a list for Obama or McCain. Still, it seems like a scant cover for too political a topic.

I agree with what Tara said about politics in the workplace -- that might be the other thread you were thinking of Peggy. That should apply to school too unless it is a civics class or something.

[MrsK]

Re: politics in the classroom

Sheesh, this was a health class? I thought it was a civics class. I don't think you can avoid discussing politics in a civics class -- though I think a teacher can attempt to be impartial. But this is certainly not germaine to a health class.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: politics in the classroom

Now on the other side of that, Abigail, I think maybe the guide for small kids would be more that he came from nothing and became president. For little kids that reinforces the opportunity that they really can achieve more than they may initially think.

BTW wasn't Jesus a "community organizer"?

The fact that he came from nothing and became President is pretty much rolled into the "he's the first African-American to become President"--that is, the circumstances of his life making his election to office unique. An accomplishment that is worth recognizing. But, again, aside from that--six things of truly historical consequence, so significant enough to warrant a school project? Um...he's given a lot of great prosaic speeches. OK, but not necessarily of any historic consequence. He got a lot of people revved up about voting. OK, but still, that's not exactly on par with the accomplishments of Washington, Lincoln, etc. The teacher clearly was just taking her personal enthusiasm and turning it into classroom-time worship. If you want to celebrate his accomplishments--other than the fact that he was elected--then wait until he actually has some. THAT might be an interesting, valid project. He will be President. He's going to accomplish something--and in recognizing his actual accomplishment, you might provoke analysis, discussion, etc., rather than simply what is a one-sided "discussion" amounting to politicking hero-creation.

And, no, Jesus was not a community organizer, although that was a cute, facile soundbite used during the election. He was an iternant preacher who called people away from the community in which they were living, telling them to put down their lives and follow him, and in the process give up the Jewish (and later Gentile) practices they were following in recognition of his Messiahship. He may have been a community creator in the sense of creating groups of people who believed that he was the Savior and worshipped and lived commonly, but no fair assessment can conclude that he was a community organizer in the sense of what Obama did (organizing people within a community to change their community based on self-empowerment). Jesus did not come to say, "Let's use Roman law to better our lives in XX ways... and I'll show you how." Obama's no Jesus (and certainly has never suggested as much). But then, Jesus was no Obama. Remember what happened to Jesus. Obama's way more popular and has a much more palatable message.

Please don't misunderstand--I'm not "ripping" on people who are involved in improving their communities at the grassroots level. I am just pointing out that the loosely or vaguely defined phrase of "community organizer" was used throughout the campaign as if being a "community organizer" was an exceptional, historical accomplishment, validating Obama's otherwise extremely thin resume. Some community organizing is very historical--for example, Martin Luther King's stunning community organizing that sparked the Civil Rights Movement. Obama's community organizing was nothing like that. It was some fairly unsuccessful attempts to improve working conditions on Chicago's Southside. Noble efforts, I am sure, but not historical.

[Sheherezade]

Re: politics in the classroom

And Pontius Pilate was the mayor.

Love that one.

Not an appropriate assignment. Sorry your kid was exposed to it.

[Sheherezade]

Re: politics in the classroom

Abigail -

I'd have you know that the community organizer bit from Sarah Palin flipped more Republican volunteer votes around here than anything. I think it was poorly considered and cruel. Those of us that work hard for nothing expect to at least get some appreciation and respect from it. To work for free when you could be paid lots (on a graduate degree), organize programs that start as a vague idea and execute them and then get ridiculed really takes the wind out of your sails. Our school district would be sunk without volunteers. Thousand points of light and all that.