DD's High School teacher is a nut

[luvsJack]

Do teachers not have the ability to shape minds and world views?

During the span of time my daughters were in HS two different departments specifically reassigned teachers to different courses in the department to freshen things up and stimulate change because the departments had consistent faculty for over seven years.

Well, sure they do. Senior teachers, at least at DD's school, are very different. Her Senior English and Senior Government teachers went to great lengths to make sure they were ready for college and the learning environment there. Freshening things up is fine, but when you have a good teacher in an area, its not always best. Sort of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

 

[luvsJack]

The OP said that she thought that administration already knew that he was an open 911 conspiracist, Holocaust denier and now a crisis actor conspiracist. So someone thought it was a big enough deal to report it in the past.

Or maybe he has discussed his opinion with coworkers and administrators.

 

[cabanafrau]

Well, sure they do. Senior teachers, at least at DD's school, are very different. Her Senior English and Senior Government teachers went to great lengths to make sure they were ready for college and the learning environment there. Freshening things up is fine, but when you have a good teacher in an area, its not always best. Sort of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

If they can shape minds and world views it's not exactly a giant leap to understand the potential for recruitment -- whether it may be for good or ill.

Specific class assignments were left unchanged where deemed necessary. Our school found great benefit in "fixing what wasn't broke" when staff collaborated to bring each other up to speed in their new assignments and each brought their own fresh approach to their new placements. Teachers were re-energized breaking new ground for themselves and it translated into results with students.

 

[luvsJack]

Well yeah, as do most people. It takes a certain mental instability to claim that JFK wasn't killed, that the moon landing was faked, or, in the case of the teacher in the OP, that the Parkland massacre didn't happen.

I have never heard that JFK wasn't killed but who he was killed by, how many, etc. and that is something that is discussed by a LOT of well educated people. There are a lot of people that think the moon landing was faked. To say you think all of them are mentally ill is crazy in itself. There are reasons why they think the moon landing was faked. And the reasons why could make a lot of sense as to why the government would have faked it during that time. I mean I don't think it was but I am more than willing to listen to another point of view.

No most people do not think everyone that has a differing opinion of a world event is mentally ill. Different people have different points of view on things.

 

[luvsJack]

If they can shape minds and world views it's not exactly a giant leap to understand the potential for recruitment -- whether it may be for good or ill.

Specific class assignments were left unchanged where deemed necessary. Our school found great benefit in "fixing what wasn't broke" when staff collaborated to bring each other up to speed in their new assignments and each brought their own fresh approach to their new placements. Teachers were re-energized breaking new ground for themselves and it translated into results with students.

Just because they can doesn't mean they are.

And I am glad it worked for your kids' school. The method our school used worked too. Many different ways to accomplish the same goals.

 

[cabanafrau]

Just because they can doesn't mean they are.

And I am glad it worked for your kids' school. The method our school used worked too. Many different ways to accomplish the same goals.

Merely providing some balance to your dismissal of any suggestion that a hypothetical teacher with a bully pulpit has the potential to recruit. Note, I specifically mentioned the fact recruitment might be for good or for ill.

I provided another viewpoint of how a different school handled teacher assignments because you seemed to think that the way your daughter's school handled them was the norm for all. When given information about how other schools handle it differently and even dared to change things up you suggested that the way your daughter's school did it insured the kids were prepared for college. Suddenly when met with information that other schools took a different approach with good results you concede there are many ways to accomplish the same goals.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

So in your mind, everyone that has a different opinion of what happened to JFK, the moon landing, 9/11, the death of Elvis and Tupac, etc. etc. etc. are all insane? Seriously?

In some cases, the facts are clear. Opinions don't matter. We landed on the moon. Period. It happened.
JFK's assassination might have involved Cuba or the Mafia or whatever. But not aliens. And he is dead.
Elvis died of a drug overdose. Why is there a need to question the medical examiner? Elvis is dead.
Tupac was shot. WHO shot him is what is up for debate.

You want to believe Tupac was killed the CIA, that's fine. You think the moon landing was fake and all of NASA is fake because the world is flat? That's crazy.

 

[luvsJack]

Merely providing some balance to your dismissal of any suggestion that a hypothetical teacher with a bully pulpit has the potential to recruit. Note, I specifically mentioned the fact recruitment might be for good or for ill.

I provided another viewpoint of how a different school handled teacher assignments because you seemed to think that the way your daughter's school handled them was the norm for all. When given information about how other schools handle it differently and even dared to change things up you suggested that the way your daughter's school did it insured the kids were prepared for college. Suddenly when met with information that other schools took a different approach with good results you concede there are many ways to accomplish the same goals.

No actually I asked how it was done elsewhere. "Do the teachers in your local high school teach all grades? The two specific teachers that I mentioned do not need to be moved to another grade level as they are perfect where they are. And you told me what your children's school does as though THAT was the only and best way. Again, my exact words: Senior teachers, at least at DD's school, are very different. Her Senior English and Senior Government teachers went to great lengths to make sure they were ready for college and the learning environment there. Freshening things up is fine, but when you have a good teacher in an area, its not always best. Sort of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Again, stating what they do here just as you stated what they do there. No difference. It wasn't their methods that insured anything, it was those two specific teachers, btw.

And as for as the teachers possibly recruiting. I said to the other poster "you do not know if he is recruiting". And to you I said "just because he can, doesn't mean he is". He may be but its just as likely that he isn't. I never said he wasn't.

 

[Jennasis]

Wasn't a teacher in Florida just removed from her classroom for her white supremacists views/podcast? For admitting she brought those views into her classroom.

 

[monsterkitty]

This, however feels different and raw considering the circumstances. There have been 12 fatal school shootings already this year and it is only early March! We talked again last night and we are going to send an email as a family to the head of the department. I have a feeling this guy is already well known because of his other conspiracy theories but we feel this is serious enough to raise the issue and let the school deal with it. Considering they just had a full scale hard lock down drill last week, I know it is high on the school's radar.

Thanks for all the feedback!

The department heads can't do anything about this. Department heads do not evaluate the other teachers in their departments, only administrators can. If you're going to send an email send it to administration.

 

[CarolAnn856]

I have never heard that JFK wasn't killed but who he was killed by, how many, etc. and that is something that is discussed by a LOT of well educated people. There are a lot of people that think the moon landing was faked. To say you think all of them are mentally ill is crazy in itself. There are reasons why they think the moon landing was faked. And the reasons why could make a lot of sense as to why the government would have faked it during that time. I mean I don't think it was but I am more than willing to listen to another point of view.

No most people do not think everyone that has a differing opinion of a world event is mentally ill. Different people have different points of view on things.

I never said that differing opinions was the issue, so don't twist my words. You claim that the teacher's denial of the Parkland massacre is an opinion. It isn't an opinion. It's a fact, and any person who claims that factual events like that didn't happen is mentally unstable. I'm finished going back and forth with you on that, and I'm certainly not going to derail this thread with a debate on crazy conspiracy theories.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Wasn't a teacher in Florida just removed from her classroom for her white supremacists views/podcast? For admitting she brought those views into her classroom.

Yes. She also encouraged others to do the same. She sees it has a way to indoctrinate young people and spread their hate (of course they think it's truth). That's the thing. This type of stuff is insidious. It shouldn't be ignored because "my kid isn't impressionable".

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I never said that differing opinions was the issue, so don't twist my words. You claim that the teacher's denial of the Parkland massacre is an opinion. It isn't an opinion. It's a fact, and any person who claims that factual events like that didn't happen is mentally unstable. I'm finished going back and forth with you on that, and I'm certainly not going to derail this thread with a debate on crazy conspiracy theories.

I agree. Anyone teacher who thinks the Parkland massacre and the Holocaust is fake and is spewing that nonsense to children needs to be extracted from public school system asap. I certainly do not want my kids debating this issue in the classroom with someone who is clearly at the very least dumb as dirt or, trying to brainwash teens, many whom are very susceptible at that age.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Look, I don't give a flip about some 'conspiracy' theories....
But, when in school, a teacher is promoting his own personal opinions and views that are totally contrary to what is known to be truthful and verified fact.
When teachers are expressing views that are negative towards any 'population'.
Yes....
Houston, we have a problem.

I see a huge difference between inspiring young minds, and using one's position to force controversial, negative, and un-verified crap on minor children, or even technically 18 year old adult, students, in our public schools.

 

[Wishing on a star]

College..... different story.... College is an open forum for consenting and adults who are free to choose.
They are free to push, teach, promote, whatever they want too on the students...
(Except it seems, any ideas that might not be PC and encouraging to one particular population.)

 

[rigs32]

If anyone is free to hold an "opinion" that goes against verified facts, then there is no such thing as truth. And that's a very scary proposition.

 

[cabanafrau]

College..... different story.... College is an open forum for consenting and adults who are free to choose.
They are free to push, teach, promote, whatever they want too on the students...
(Except it seems, any ideas that might not be PC and encouraging to one particular population.)

You think that because someone is a consenting adult in college they should be subjected to whatever a professor wants to discuss in a class, whether or not it even pertains to the curriculum? It doesn't have to be a topic that would fall under consideration for whether or not it's PC, it's simply off topic.

That kind of occurrence goes on and students are caught between a rock and a hard place where they may not be able to get into another section of the class with a different professor, may not be able to shuffle their schedule to accommodate a change and be able to keep all of their classes -- which they likely need to be able to stay on track with and be able to continue on with the next series of classes they need because something is a prerequisite. Dropping a class could have scholarship implications, financial implications or implications with maintaining their status as a full-time student. Adult or not, a student stuck with a professor who isn't teaching the curriculum the student signed up to learn is caught in a very bad situation that can very easily have nothing to do with what they think about whatever a professor is talking about.

I have nary a clue what you're attempting to get at with "might not be PC and encouraging to one particular population".

 

[wvjules]

Or maybe he has discussed his opinion with coworkers and administrators.

Opinion? Denying facts is not an opinion.

 

[okeydokey]

Opinion? Denying facts is not an opinion.

Exactly, and any teacher teaching conspiracy theories needs to be removed from the classroom. They are not entitled to spread their crazy to their students. How anyone can think this is a simple difference of opinion need to get their own head examined.

 

[luvsJack]

Opinion? Denying facts is not an opinion.

Ok, maybe he discussed his point of view with his administrators and co-workers. Or his belief. Or his opinion-which may or may not be formed in fact. We know the facts as we have been told to be true. His opinion is that these are not facts and the alternative facts that he DOES believe are true. That is an opinion.

I don't agree with him.