Saw bumper sticker today saying: "If you can read this, thank a teacher."

[muntrv]

The bottom half of the sticker then said "If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier."

Legit or zenophobic?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Plain old stupid. If you are reading it in English

it's because it was printed in English. Furthermore, if we had lost the American Revolution, we'd still be reading it in English. So my vote goes to plain old STUPID!

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I explained this same thing the other day to a friend. He didn't care.

[cool user name]

11. Agreed. n/t

[Dr.Phool]

2. I saw one last night, On a Domino's delivery vehicle, yet.

"If you can read this you're not the President"

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Now _that_ i like

[wakeme2008]

5. The one I like is

If you can read this you are not George Bush :rofl:

[O.M.B.inOhio]

6. Stupid on two counts.

I taught my child to read. To assume that we've got teachers to thank for literacy is to dismiss parents' responsibility.
"If you're reding this in English, thank a soldier" -- put that on a car in India.

[LWolf]

8. I taught both my sons and my grandson to read.

Before they started kindergarten.

Of course, that doesn't negate the children I taught to read in my classroom at work. Many kids begin school without a clue about how to hold a pencil, what their name looks like, or how to turn a page in a book. Many kids grow up in homes that have no books, because the parents don't have any interest in books. We teach them to read. That's our job. Yes, you have teachers to thank for literate people who spring from illiterate homes.

[O.M.B.inOhio]

14. Bravo / Brava. Thanks for your work. Now regarding the bumper sticker...

I certanly didn't mean to dismiss the value of public schooling nor assume that America is a middle-class well educated hegemonic Pleasantville. I'll thank a teacher for their contribution to social equity and many tremendous civic functions. But when we assume that it's their (your) job to teach basic literacy, it's a whole lot easier to feel comfortable about watching Wheel of Fortune than reading a book with the kids: "not my job." That bumper sticker is something like the ones that read, "I support our troops and President Bush." That particular mode of support contributes to misconceptions that hinder the cause it aims to bolster. Support the troops by supporting an investigation into the Administration's lies and getting them out of harm's way. Teach your kids to read (it's fun) and free your teachers to do explorations that excite your children and help them to fulfill their potential.

[LWolf]

15. It's a generalized understanding, or

misunderstanding, that much of the population holds. Over years of parent conferences, I've found that parents tend to fall into one of 3 groups:

1. The "it's your job, we're busy, just do your job while he/she is at school so we don't have to deal with it at home" group.

2. The "I do everything myself because nothing you do will ever be good enough and you're wasting our time" group.

3. The "We're in this together; what can I do at home to support what's going on in class" group.

Of course, I prefer group 3! The thing that parents can offer, that we cannot offer in class, is intensive one-on-one time. They also shape the student's attitudes about learning, about school, about literacy.

[Yupster]

18. I always think the same thing

when I see that bumper sticker.

My id was a real early reader. He went into kindergarten reading, so when I see that bumper sticker, I see arrogance.

Now math is another subject. We're having trouble there.

[Raine]

7. It's STUPID

I would like to ask them if not for the soldier what language do they think we would be reading it in?? :shrug:

I also don't like the thing about the teachers cause it was THANKS to my parents that I can read!

[Richard Steele]

9. Zenophobic and REALLY GODDAMN STUPID.

The thing is PRINTED in English; if you are reading it in any other
language you need to get to a good neurologist RIGHT NOW!

"It's not the hate, it's the stupidity."

[undeterred]

10. If you can read this, you're following too closely and you will get

ticketed if you hit my car when I stop suddenly. :shrug:

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

12. "But even if the damn Japs took us over.......

....I'd still be readin and writin in Amerikun!!!!"

Stupid people.....

[Bluebear]

13. Xenophobic and brutally idiotic. nt

[SmokingJacket]

16. If you're reading this in English, thank a Viking! nt

[REP]

17. Thank My Parents on Both Counts

They taught me to read, and they taught me English.