More Texas school Obama stories

[Aragorn]

This from a FB friend of mine, a liberal, former newspaper writer, Methodist theologian in Van Zandt county. She had 2 threads today - 1 parallel with a DU thread about the poor spelling in the US, only this was started by a misspelled note from a teacher. The related thread was that said teacher "informed" her class that Obama is going to make them stay in school 3 extra years, and go year-round. Not sure why that was supposed to be "bad" but we are only 100 miles from the ISD which wouldn't show Obama's speech but did plan to bus kids to see gwb (along with other speakers) and there has been a lot of FB talk about this as we all went to that ISD as kids.

My friend wrote: notes that daughter's teacher told class that Obama is going to make school last three years longer and kids willl have to go to school in summer. She remembers the same lies being told about HUBERT HUMPHREY when she was a girl, resulting in her affection being sorely misplaced in Richard Nixon.

The debate now is whether to even report it to the ACLU, or any news agency.

Thoughts?

[sonias]

1. ACLU needs a client to investigate it

In other words, it would have to be a parent of a child in the school - your friend with the daughter for example.

I'm not sure what civil rights violation this would qualify for though. I mean, yes the teacher is "stretching the truth" and maybe she's politicizing the Obama administration, but some of it is true. The President is proposing extending the school year but not making them go an extra 3 years. The case might be difficult to make, since it's going to turn out to a "he said/she said" unless the child has written proof.

A better course of action would be for the parent to complain to the school district about the teacher's discussion being fearmongering. After all, nothing has been decided. Everything is in the initial discussion stages. There is no bill and there is nothing certain about how this plays out. So why is the teacher bringing this up in class? If she is conducting a "discussion" then that's probably acceptable. But if she is stating it as matter of fact, then I would say have the parent file a complaint.

NY Times 9/27/09
More School: Obama Would Curtail Summer Vacation
(snip)
Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe.

''Now, I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas,'' the president said earlier this year. ''Not with Malia and Sasha, not in my family, and probably not in yours. But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom.''

The president, who has a sixth-grader and a third-grader, wants schools to add time to classes, to stay open late and to let kids in on weekends so they have a safe place to go.

Does FB mean Farmers Branch? Just curious because ACLU and MALDEF sue Farmers Branch all the time. (for bad behavior of course) :)

And that school district (Arlington) that didn't show the Obama speech canceled their field trip to see GWB. See Derby's post about the trip cancellation here.

Sonia

[Aragorn]

2. Facebook = FB

she is being encouraged to report it - I agree ACLU is not likely to do much. However the mom used to be a reporter so I think she needs to utilize the media, such as it is out here, on this one.

The rural liberals I know use FB a lot on this stuff. Gets a bigger audience. Better than "What Twilight character are you?" polls etc.

[sonias]

3. Doh!

So many acronyms.

I absolutely agree on the mom making the case in the media. And Facebook and Twitter and any boards she freguents are good choices.

Thanks

Sonia