33 out of 34 eleventh-graders who were forced to watch Palin's speech

[JimDandy]

in my son's social studies class thought she absolutely SUCKED.

On Tuesday, at the end of class, my son's social studies teacher tried to push her students to watch Sarah Palin's VP acceptance speech by offering extra credit to anyone who would view it. My son said his classmates immediately started to tear her down and were laughing about what a joke she and her family were. None of them chose to watch it.

On Wednesday, when the teacher discovered none of them had watched it, she forced them all to watch her videotape of the speech and then asked each one for a comment. My son wrote down a lot of their comments and showed them to me. Here's what those little angels had to say (The comments in () are mine):

******************************************

--She's giving a crappy name to pit bulls, who are not as vicious as people make them seem.

--She's a homophobic, narrow-minded, bible-thumping, NRA redneck (That wasn't in the speech, but smart student!)

--She's seems insincere. (Sorta like she's reading someone else's words, maybe?)

--She doesn't seem to realize McCain only became a P.O.W. through his own stupidity. (Wow, these kids know their REAL bios, don't they?)

--I don't like her. She's just another war-mongering, oil-owning creep. (A little off there, but B+ for the outside knowledge.)

--Typical Republican and a closed-minded Fundamentalist Christian who makes me sick to call myself a Christian. (Hang in there, kiddo. Christian Dems are working to get the brand back to how Christ wanted it.)

--McCain looks like a chipmunk. (I SAID they were 11th graders didn't I?)

--She seems like a cold, calculating person. (Way to go. Focusing on personality, just like the Republicans want.)

--At least she stands by her beliefs and views on issues, but that's all she's got going for her. (Yes, a Bush twin and we all know how well THAT worked out for him.)

--She took on the good ole boys? Ha, she IS one. (Blush, this one was my son's. I talk to the TV too much. Who says kids don't listen to their parents any more?)

--If she and McCain are elected I'm moving to Canada. (Nooo, you're a keeper.)

--This speech sucked and she didn't even have the brains to write it herself. (Gees, was it THAT noticeable.)

--That "Bridge to Nowhere" would have cut down on pollution. (Well, they can't all be astute students.)

--She messes up on the small details. (Just go ahead and say it, dear: "She lies like a gal-of-a- gun")

--Small town=half the size of mine. (I think she means: My mayor's executive experience is better than yours.)

--That's bulls*** her son going to Iraq on September 11th. (Now that's a little jaded there son, thinking someone would orchestrate it so he departs on 9/11.)

--I just don't like her. (Simple and succinct. A++)

*************************************************
Oh, if only they were all of voting age!

[firedupdem]

1. Good! Hopefully thats a reflection of what their voting parents are thinking too n/t

[JimDandy]

6. Well, we live in an area that is only about about 60% Dem too!

I think the Repugs are in real trouble with the younger voting set.

[Breeze54]

2. LMAO!! A Bunch of really astute kids!!

:applause: :applause:

:D

:kick: & Recommended

[JimDandy]

13. Thanks!! The pit bull one just cracked me up. n/t

[eshfemme]

3. LOL! Thank you for that!

This makes me revise my opinion of teenagers, just a little bit.

[JimDandy]

10. Yes, there's hope for us.

This is my last child at home. He has really become way more aware of political issues in this last year. When the economy hits home, even kids tend to notice.

[Aeval]

22. I am seeing that too, in my high school

Not so much on the McCain end, but they really know a lot about Obama. The school is 51% African American, and the kids tell me that they got interested at first because "Obama is black" and this made them feel proud (as it should) but then, they really started getting involved in knowing his platform and learning about his bio. They have great discussions that I am sometimes a part of, and sometimes just overhear, and they make excellent points. It's a big difference from 4 years ago when none of my students even knew the candidates' names until we did an election project. PROGRESS!HOPE!

[Agent William]

4. It's because they now its their future at stake.

But still, good story, and good to hear.

:hi:

[girl gone mad]

5. In Utah?

There's hope!

[JimDandy]

7. Oops. I have to change my profile. We've moved to eastern WA

It's not as conservative as Utah, but it's nowhere near as liberal as Seattle.

[Diane R]

8. Eastern Washington? If it's 60% liberal, do you mean Spokane, Pullman or Walla Walla?

And if your son goes to Ferris High school in Spokane, I'll bet you a donation to Obama that I can name the teacher. (Something like Walthers?).

[JimDandy]

12. I don't want to pinpoint the town or the teacher. But I know where Ferris is.

I used to live in Spokane on the South Hill in the early 70's.

[Diane R]

32. My kids went to Ferris, and there was a teacher there who would have promoted Palin's speech.

[arthritisR_US]

9. did the teacher make it mandatory that they watch Obama's speech the week before? n/t

[JimDandy]

11. School started here on Tuesday, Sep 2nd.

Who knows? Maybe she would have been fair and balanced.?
:shrug:

[arthritisR_US]

14. that's the thought that crossed my mind. n/t

[Hekate]

15. If she had a recording of Palin's, she should have one of Obama's. You might mention that to her.

Thank you so much for sharing -- these kids give me hope!

Hekate

[krkaufman]

17. Well, she *did* bring Palin's speech in on a tape.

Your son could bring a tape/DVD of Biden and/or Obama for her to present, eh?

You should be proud of your son. Thanks for sharing.

[Lars39]

24. Get a tape of it yourself and insist that she show it.

Make a stink about it. You cannot let this go unchallenged.

[Bobbie Jo]

16. Love it.........their BS detectors are in working order. Good sign!

As I was watching McSame's paint drying speech, my 15 yr old walks through and noticed my disgust. She asked what was going on with the "old guy?" So I brought her up to speed with the Rep nom process, with a little added commentary. She asked " Oh, Isn't he the war guy?" "Wasn't he like tortured or something?" After I stopped laughing inappropriately, we had a more serious discussion. I was amazed how those little BS detectors kick in


...Oh and what a war guy he is! :rofl:

[Loudmxr]

18. Kinda reminds me of my gf.

My gf is not enamored with national politics. In fact she is cynical and jaded. She would rather stay local and vote for her friends. (my friends too and they are REALLY GOOD).

But after the Repug convention I can't get her to shut up!! "LIAR!! LIAR!!" No wait.... thats a good thing.:think:

[Mnemosyne]

19. OMG! What treasures our future holds with smart kids such as these. And

:rofl::rofl::rofl:


Thank you so much for sharing, JimDandy! Go JimDandy, go! Great concert!:hi:



Out of the mouths of babes. Smart kids. :rofl:

[JimDandy]

31. I know!! I want to just hug them ALL.

[OneGrassRoot]

20. I have a 15-year-old daughter, in civics class in NC

I was so excited to see that they even HAVE civics still. :) Yet the teacher has not once discussed the elections. At all.

My daughter has seemed very uninterested and jaded, partly because of my overzealous interest since 2000 and desire to have her pay attention, as it is so very important. I relied on The Daily Show for years for her to learn the truth (How sad is that? Then again, it is easier to learn through entertainment vehicles).

Anyway, she had an English project last week in which they had to create a mandala and showcase their beliefs and interests.

I was rather stunned -- and delighted -- that she used symbols such as the peace sign, pro-choice, the rainbow, the coexist symbol showing respect for all religions, even some pagan things in there.

I mean, she put HERSELF OUT THERE, in the midst of other kids whose mandalas were comprised of everything Jesus. I think the Palin thing triggered it, as she immediately saw the danger in this candidate.

I am so proud.

Just as I am of the kids in this post. Thanks for sharing.

[TuxedoKat]

25. Earlier this spring

On the anniversaries of MLK's and RFK's assassinations I reminded my 11 year old dd (6th grade) and her friend about these events should their teachers bring them up. None of them did! I was surprised and disappointed. Guess it's a generational thing since the teachers are mostly Gen X'ers who have no recollection of the events but I thought gee, at least for the historical significance of two great Americans it should have been mentioned.

Good for your daughter on her English project.

[JimDandy]

28. Wonderful! I know as Dems, we don't have the corner on

instilling sympathy, empathy, compassion, kindness, integrity, etc. in the next generation, but I think we do it better, and our children listen, because we truly live it, and not just talk it like the VP and so many of the Fundies do.

[PeaceNikki]

21. Interestingly, my son (a senior) watched the Jon Stewart show from Thursday

in class.

[williesgirl]

23. Someone should make that teacher show Biden's speech to same class - fairness anyone? rec'd

[JimDandy]

26. I'm going to talk to her on Monday, because now my son says

she made them watch McCain's speech YESTERDAY in class.

I'm all for teaching current American affairs, but, you know, if her reply is going to be: "well THAT'S what's current", I'm going to point out that, as a balance, she could have also taped Biden's and Obama's appearances this week.

By the way, my son said TWO of those students ARE 18 and registered to vote!! Hurray!

[Arugula Latte]

27. Do you get the feeling the teacher is pro-Palin?

BTW, HILARIOUS (and truthful) responses.

[JimDandy]

30. I don't know and my son doesn't have a good read on her yet, but I'll know on Monday!

Thanks. He just read my post a bit ago and was pleased with all of you folks' responses (He actually blushed!)

edit for grammar.

[lonestarnot]

29. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all of the time.

Yeah kids! :applause:

[barbtries]

33. couple things i want to know:

what was the teacher's reaction to the kids' reactions?
did she make them watch biden's speech?
if not, has anyone alerted the school on the inappropriateness of her behavior?

by my reading of your post it sounded as if the teacher may have had a partisan interest. in my opinion that would have been wrong.

[Stand and Fight]

34. Somehow this sounds like one of those DU "feel good" stories.

I just don't buy this and don't see it's relevance when there's real work to be done. I canvassed for Obama today (yesterday 9/6/2008) -- go and do that folks and don't waste your time on stuff like this... Naturally, I'm not out canvassing at 2:26 am!