Teacher's comments about McCain, war stir anger

[cali]

By Francis X. Gilpin
Staff writer

A Cumberland County school teacher is defending her comments to a fifth-grade pupil who expressed support for John McCain in her class last spring.

The exchange at Mary McArthur Elementary School was captured by a Swedish television documentary crew, and the video is making the rounds on the Internet including YouTube.

In the video, which reportedly aired in Scandinavia earlier this week, teacher Diatha D. Harris calls the Iraq War “senseless” and tells one student whose father is a soldier that McCain would keep troops there for 100 years.

The classroom discussion begins with Harris asking the class who they support for president. When two students say McCain, she responds with “Oh Lord” and “Oh Jesus.”

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http://www.fayobserver.com/special/drudge.html?id=309760

Now, the teacher claims that the video was edited by the Swedish film crew to make her look bad. All I can say, is that I think that teachers who behave this way, are reprehensible.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Yes, when you are a teacher, you leave your politics at the door

The most you can say is "I'm glad you are interested in politics. That means when you grow up, you will likely be a voter. Do you know what website the candidate has? Have you looked on it and noted his positions on issues that are important to you? Then have you looked at other candidate's websites and checked out their positions? This is what informed voters do."

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

2. Hope she has a good union rep.

[lapfog_1]

3. I live in a very RED part of Arizona

My niece came home on Monday and told me that her teachers (at our local public schools) said that voting for Obama would be voting for a Islamic terrorist.

Yesterday she told me that "everybody" at the school was sure that Obama wasn't going to be the 44th President, this was post election.

[cali]

4. I would hope that her parents are doing something about it.

that's outrageous and should be followed up on.

[BeFree]

5. What?

All she did was ask forgiveness from the Lord for the errant ways of those two knuckleheaded litle rug rats.

First you took God out of the schools and now you want to take asking forgiveness for future sinners?

With attitudes like that we are doomed!

[Generic Other]

6. So when a candidate makes an asinine comment no teacher can repeat it?

And we wonder why students are dumb?

[cali]

9. The teacher was a flaming asshole who embarassed a kid

who's father is serving in Iraq. And whether or not a comment is asinine is about opinion not fact.

[Generic Other]

10. Sometimes education is messy

She may feel she was playing devil's advocate with the kids questioning both sides equally. She was giving the kids a chance to express their views. There had to have been a level of trust between her and the class for such a discussion to take place. Kids probably felt passionate and enjoyed articulating their views. They were probably having a debate on current events possibly directed by some textbook Q and A. You don't have the full story.

The teacher says the film was edited. I wish I could see the video myself.

[tkayj]

7. She should have washed their mouths out with soap,

and then made them sit in the corner for the rest of the class. :dunce:
(just kiddin')

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Oh lord.

Sweet Jesus.