Another episode from my kid's middle school.

[Maddy McCall]

My son is in middle school at a rural public school in Mississippi. Every day, in social studies the kids do Scholastics News, which is basically current events.

Recently, the kids were discussing Kerry and Bush. My son is the sole Kerry supporter in the class, and his teacher is a pretty outspoken Republican.

She baits my son with questions like, "How do you think Kerry will handle the war in Iraq?"

My son responded that he thinks Kerry can get us out quicker...she didn't give him time to explain, and turned to a little Republican Jr. in the class to ask him what he thinks.

The other kid said that Kerry can't just pull us out and leave the Iraqis. The teacher fawned over the other kid, leaving mine looking foolish to all of his classmates.

He asked her if he could explain his answer, and she said NO. Then, she explained why the little Republican Jr. was correct, that Bush will stay in the war til the end.

My son WANTED to say that Kerry will get international help, but she didn't give him the opportunity.

I get sick of the Republican proselytizing in his school. This teacher doesn't tell the students both sides of the issues, only the Republican side. Don't get me started on her discussion of abortion with these ten-year-olds.

Oh, and on edit, she told the students that she is voting Bush because "Edwards is too young to take over if Kerry died."

[Maddy McCall]

1. Please check my edits before replying...

I wrote this in a rush, so I fixed a few mistakes. :-)

[Massacure]

2. Take it too the school board.

[teach1st]

3. Go right to the teacher...

..and talk. If that doesn't work, go to principal. If the principal doesn't listen, go over his or her head.

I'm extremely anti-Bush, but I was fair and impartial in the classroom. My kids didn't know who I was for.

Maybe a teacher showing partisanship is OK in high school, but for ten-year olds, it's not a good idea. And for a teacher to treat students differently according to his or her political preferences is wrong.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Partisanship is not allowed in public schools, imho

complain to the school board about this teacher. Also keep careful records about how your child is treated, and complain if there is bias. Raise cane. Find out if there is other support for your side. If there is, take a delegation to the School Board meeting. Find out when the next SB elections are, and run.

[VivaKerry]

5. I would have my kid write a little rebuttal,

and give it out to his classmates before the next class. and then give it to the teacher as a cc during the next class.

I was taking social studies in the 60s, early 70s, and I recall that teachers NEVER disclosed their personal leanings in politics or religion. we have really devolved.

[Jade Fox]

6. Edwards is 51, for crying out loud! n/t

[lovedems]

7. Your son's teacher needs to know the difference between teaching

and opinions. That totally sucks for your son. My oldest is in third grade and they have a "weekly reader" and the week before the election it was about Kerry and Bush. They discussed it and my son, being rather outspoken about politics for a 3rd grader, asked his teacher who she was going to vote for and she said, "I don't know, I like them both." Which I thought was an appropriate answer. My son said that all the kids got a chance to talk but by the end of the lesson the Kerry supporters were banging their fists on their desks saying, "Kerry, Kerry, Kerry, Kerry...." He found the lesson enjoyable.

Something should be done about your kids teacher for sure. Teaching isn't a matter of sharing your opinions, we could all do that. I feel for son. What an unfriendly environment.

[Red_Viking]

8. There's no end in sight, sadly

My daughter is in 8th grade, and she's running into some of the same things. She has a fair mix of left- and right-leaning teachers, but the hatriots are far more vocal. Her English teacher asked the class to write a persuasive paragraph about Proposition 36, the gay discrimination amendment in Oregon. When my daughter wrote a passionate paragraph against the proposal, saying all people should be treated equally in a civilized society, the teacher was merciless. She allowed the class to verbally attack her with illogical absurdities like "so I can marry my sister" and "next we'll marry animals." To her credit, my daughter stood her ground and told her classmates she chose not to hate people just because they were different.

On Thursday, she printed out enlistment forms from the Army website and took them to school for the bushbots who couldn't wait to get in her face about the election.

And people wonder why I want to move to Europe!!! :P

RV

[Reader Rabbit]

9. Measure 36

RV, don't give up! Despite the abysmal showing by our fellow Oregonians, I have to say that my students were the ones to bring me out of my funk.

I teach 8th grade in Washington County, and even the kids who were for Bush disagreed with Measure 36. They were quite irate that it passed! I think the next generation has a great deal more humanity than we give them credit for. They sure reinstilled my hope for the future on Wednesday morning.

RR

[Red_Viking]

10. I keep hoping

If my kid is any indication, her generation will set things right again.

We moved here from Texas so I could attend law school. I thought things would be more progressive and on the whole, they certainly are! But in our neighborhood and her school, she's once again in the very vocal minority of progressive kids. It's good for her, though; she thrives on the challenge. Gotta love it.

We were all disappointed in the election. Had signs in the yard and everything. Sigh.

RV

[lpbk2713]

11. What a glaring contradiction.

I don't see how any responsible teacher can also be repub.

[LDS Jock]

12. she is paid to educate, not proselyte

report her. The treatment she is giving your son is very unfair, especially for his age.