Wingnuts calling my middle school about Obama speech to school kids.

[RBInMaine]

Folks, these right wingers are something else. How shallow. HOW STUPID they are. SOUR GRAPES INHALERS AND NOTHING MORE !! Try to "work" with these people? NEVER ! They lost, we won, to heck in a handbasket with them ! I am a public school educator. Several WINGNUTS called my school principal today railing against the Obama speech to school kids. These people are UNPATRIOTIC WASTES ! They are so dim witted that they have to be so petty as this over losing an election. What we are doing in our school is taping it, then when we confirm it's "OK" we'll show it to kids. Some of the callers were saying "Obama is trying to brainwash kids" etc. One even said this was like "Hitler." Unreal. My principal said to me, "Gee, if their kids are so easily 'brainwashed' by a speech about education, then their kids have some pretty scary REAL problems."

FOLKS, GET BEHIND OBAMA IN ALL THINGS, ESPECIALLY HEALTHCARE, and TRAIN EVERY OUNCE OF YOUR FIRE ON THE REPUKES !! JUST THE REPUKES !! GOD DAMN PERIOD !!!!!!

[robo50]

1. I say, set a policy, if the parents DON'T want the kids to see the speech

Then the PARENTS need to go BACK to school (mandatory, no excuses, no sick days) until the PARENTS learn what a Democracy is!!!!!!!!!!!


I am so sick of these assholes ruining America with their stupidity.

We have Fox News to thank for all this bullshit, and your school system should SUE THE PANTS OFF FOX NEWS for the cost of the time and energy this took away from the NORMAL school business.

Tell these parents to shove it up their BUTT!

[RBInMaine]

2. Sadly, we have to be "politically correct," but once cleared I AM SHOWING IT.

[Peregrine]

3. My charter school company issued their position

They do not want us to use instructional time. Monday when the transcript is released they will review it to determine its educational value. If they find it acceptable they will let the social studies teachers show the video to their classes.

[RBInMaine]

8. Pretty much the same policy in my school.

[robo50]

9. What kind of numbnuts are running these schools?

It's a public school, it's the President of the USA, it's NOT Hitler, it's NOT a speech about abortion, or the racial superiority of black people over others, or some coded message to Osama Bin Laden.

Who the heck is running the public schools of America? Cowards who wrap themselves in the flag?

Bowing down to these idiot parents is like going back to the days of the Scopes trial.

Tell your school administrators who have decided this that I hope they find another job soon, they are too ignorant and cowardly to be leaders in American Education.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

23. They are lame

[Cha]

34. Ah, yes, Florida, where education

rules.

[Historic NY]

4. If a school is taking Federal funds it should be obligated or give it up...

I'd tell those parents that they will have to makeup the difference in the funding. That ought to get them talking some more.

[rwheeler31]

5. Lots of kids are going to be out of the running for

perfect attendance. Maybe my kids have a chance, good prize this year.

[msongs]

6. someday dems will start fighting back against white racists repubs wonder when? nt

[braunfels]

10. msongs nailed it

That's all you need to know...the racists are winning these battles because the dems are too weak and scared to take them on. Not a single commentator that I've heard has even referred to the possibility that race may be in play here. The jerk (Bob Schieffer) on the CBS evening news tonight says that people are just upset because they're worried about the economy. What a copout...let's see, why is this President's address to students different than both Bushes and Reagan? Couldn't have a thing to do with race, could it?

[rwheeler31]

17. David Shuster called it. His show is early afternoon, doubt many

many saw it.

[Alcibiades]

39. These are the George Wallace people

racism plays a huge role in the reason why these folks will not vote for any Democrat, ever. That being said, I don't think any Democrat can expect any kind of fair treatment from these nutjobs.

These are not ordinary, regular Americans: they are the most partisan right wing Republicans, posing as average Americans.

[Ian David]

7. Obviously, they hate America and don't support our troops. n/t

[drm604]

11. You're taping it and reviewing it?

Why? I know it wasn't your decision, but why are they doing that? Is someone in the school administration afraid that he's going to say something untoward?

[janx]

44. I don't understand that either!

:shrug:

[Avalux]

12. My kid's school will not show the speech. I called and told them what I think.

I berated the justifications for not showing it as lame excuses. And said they were cowards; buckling under the racist demands of the white pukes who run the show in this state.

I'm sure they don't care but I felt better for venting.

[Historic NY]

13. Its time the Ed Dept. says no speech no Federal Funding..losers ..

are now winning by controlling the agenda of this administration.

[noamnety]

16. Well, that would be one way to ensure it's politicized.

Yikes.

I'd prefer the kids' education isn't held hostage in that way. We WILL, eventually, have another president. What would stop him from including politicized content in his mandatory addresses to the kids?

[treestar]

38. What would be the legal ground for that, though?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. I am going to show it live

I don't care what they think

[robo50]

18. great!!! the way it should be

[Rosa Luxemburg]

22. The GOP can take a run and jump in the river!

after all there is not a law against seeing a president speak on TV or internet?

[noamnety]

15. I'd prefer that Obama got behind us on healthcare.

I don't view it as my job to get behind him. He's the public servant here.

[robo50]

19. One track mind, and off-topic often? This thread is NOT

about healthcare.

[noamnety]

24. That was the part in ALL CAPS - so yes, probably not important.

Thank you for letting me know which parts of this OP may be commented on, and which parts are not for public comment. That helps.

[LWolf]

20. I agree that

taping it, previewing it, and then showing it is appropriate. I'm going to do the same myself.

Which has nothing to do with getting behind Obama.

I'm not behind him. Not even on health care, since I want universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care, and he doesn't support that. When he gets an issue right, if he ever does, I'll be behind him on that issue.

Your post is kind of ironic; you are demonstrating the exact reason that many of these parents don't want teachers to show the speech. It's the call to "GET BEHIND OBAMA IN ALL THINGS." That's exactly what they are afraid teachers will do in the classroom. Which, of course, would not be appropriate regardless of the political views of the teacher.

I hope you don't communicate to students and parents with all those caps and exclamation points.

[noamnety]

25. At least they changed the "get behind Obama" part of the WH lesson plan.

That was pretty bad, glad they changed it.

[LWolf]

26. No wonder this is getting so much attention.

Of course, just because the WH writes some "lesson plans," (did an actual TEACHER write them? Does the WH actually employ any teachers? The SOE is not an educator...) that doesn't mean that teachers are going to use them. Contrary to popular myth, teachers generally make up their own minds about what to do with that kind of thing; only when forced to do they follow a scripted "lesson plan" provided by someone else.

Still, that's the point all the calls have been hammering on, and it looks like that point may be valid.

[robo50]

27. Where did you get the idea that the Secretary of Education is NOT

"an educator"...he was a Superintendent of a large school district, where, of course, he had to hold the proper certifications as an "educator", meaning he used to be a teacher, principal, etc, all "certified.

Contrary to popular belief, "educators" are more than classroom teachers, they also include school administrators.

Lesson plans, written by textbook editors, and supplied to teachers as teacher aids, are often written by FORMER or CURRENT TEACHERS, who make MORE money as textbook contributors.

I'll give you one point, the President of the USA, although an experienced law school "professor" , is not a certified "educator".

[LWolf]

28. By reading his resume.

Which you obviously have not.


He majored in sociology. He played professional basketball in Australia. When he got done playing basketball, he took a job with the education arm of Ariel Investments, a corporate money management firm. The education arm is non-profit, and, among a few other things, funds a Chicago charter school. What a surprise.

Private companies do not have to hire educators with any kind of certification.

He moved from there to become the deputy chief of staff for the then "CEO" of Chicago Public Schools, before becoming the "CEO" himself in 2001.

Note that Chicago Schools doesn't have a "Superintendent." They have a "CEO." That's a business title. Superintendents are hired by locally elected school boards. Duncan was appointed by the Mayor of Chicago.

He has never been an educator. He has been a business man working on education policy and administration. And he did a damned shitty job of that. He is has no education, certification, or experience in educating anyone.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/23_03/arne233.shtml
http://schoolsmatter.blogspot.com/2008/12/arne-duncan-privatizer-union-buster-and.html

[robo50]

32. Oh well, then, I was wrong !! never mind, by the way, did HE write the

SUGGESTED follow up material, or did one of the thousands of former teachers in the Dept of Education do it?

[donco6]

41. When you're caught in a lie, the proper response is -

"Sorry. I'll go learn something now."

[LWolf]

42. I don't know.

You might have noticed, in my post that you replied to: that's the question that I asked.

Did a TEACHER write them.

We get all kinds of "lessons," written all the time, from people promoting something that they want us to use. Sometimes written by former teachers, often not.

The reality is that those who are not currently in a classroom, regardless of their prior experience, don't write the best plans. The best plans are written, used, revised, used, revised, used, etc.; there's always something to improve. Only practicing teachers get the opportunity to do so.

I'm picky. I rarely use lesson plans written by other practicing teachers, even when they are good plans. I might use a piece here or there, but I do my own thing with it.

Do you have the background on all the people in the DOE to verify that there are "thousands of former teachers" there? Or are you assuming, like you did with Duncan, that DOE personnel have teaching backgrounds?

[donco6]

30. No, he wasn't ever a teacher.

He's one of the "new breed" of business people running schools. Because they know how to do everything better. Like Enron. And Bear Stearns. And AIG. And and and and . . .

[robo50]

33. This "us" versus "them" philosophy is sure to solve

a lot of the problems with making schools more effective.

I sense such a great deal of defensiveness from teachers, especially those with tenure.

[girl gone mad]

36. I'm not a teacher and..

I am opposed to Arne Duncan's agenda.

[donco6]

40. I sense a great deal of ignorance

From people who don't know what they're talking about.

[LWolf]

43. "We" have recognized "them"

and their anti-public education agenda, since Ronald Reagan wanted to abolish the Department of Education.

Those of "us" who have been around long enough, have seen the anti-teacher and anti-public schools propaganda bear fruit.

"We" have seen the right-wing campaign to privatize education spread to the "centrists." "We" recognize "their" bullshit when we see it. "We've" been dealing with it for decades.

[RichGirl]

21. Yes...bbbuuuttt....

Have you seen it? I fear for our children!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXpHZaGGfE4&feature=player_embedded

[eagertolearn]

29. I feel for you. My kids have had to deal with similar complaints

at our schools and sad part is that those of us that want our kids educated don't even know when things have been eliminated from their education (I usually find out later that certain films and books were canceled because of parent complaints). Many of my kids teachers are conservative and will sometimes say things that my kids realize are their opinions and not necessarily facts. I've used this as a way to teach them about engaging in conversation and discussion about topics with their teachers and class. One time one of my sons teachers said that most of the civilian casualties in Iraq have actually been people who had bombs strapped to them. My son came home and asked me what was a magazine that is well respected among conservatives (I think I said World News and Report). My son got to work and found several articles talking about the civilian casualties of war and took them to his teacher. Another teacher would bring something up in class usually at the end and not allow a response (one example was "Isn't it interesting that people may not want animals used in testing products and then these same people believe in abortion?". Instead of getting mad at the teacher I taught my son to go up to him respectively and let him know that he would like to talk about that more with him. My son was a 9th grader last year and he ended up loving school and all his teachers really liked him (they even pointed out to him that he actually had some conservative view points too). I love it that my kids our forming their own opinions by talking to people with varying view points (even though they have a very liberal mom!). How sad that these people want to miss this opportunity for their kids.

[RBInMaine]

31. Teachers should stay VERY neutral in school. I work very hard to be so.

[indimuse]

35. We have an epidemic*in this country

it's called...STUPID!

[treestar]

37. You all caps part EXACTLY!

Dammit, these people around here! They don't get that the Repukes would NEVER do this kind of thing! NEVER! That's why they have so much influence!

That's why this country is so far to the right! The center is rightish because of these people!

We need to be going against them, not any single Democrat, including Obama!

I NEVER hear Repukes say "Bush is weak" or "bush is not a leader" or "bush caved." And they never would have said it about President mcPain! Even though he is such a "liberal" in their eyes. :rofl: