DD's High School teacher is a nut

[mrsv98]

Wow, what a great discussion and points of view!

Yes, I have let DD deal with issues in school on her own for the last couple of years and she is comfortable doing so. As a Senior, I expect her to be able to advocate for herself and she does, up to and including calling out/confronting a security person who is a bully and effecting change.

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!

 

[Poohforyou]

MTE

Maybe, maybe not. Which is why I think it warrants a conversation like the one bolded above. And honestly, if you really believe a person is a raving lunatic but are still OK with him teaching math at your kid’s school, well, I just don’t get that.

When did I say I was ok with a guy like this teaching?

 

[Wishing on a star]

No way, in a case like this, would I expect my minor child, to go and personally bring this up with an adult in authority, when he has already demonstrated that he is like WAY 'off', and is okay with pushing his agenda(s) on impressionable children. Think of how this could go down and what the consequences might be.....
This is not the time to push a minor student in public schools to 'be independent'.

No way, in heck, ever, would I do that in a case that is this egregious.

"I" personally , as the adult, child(s) parent, would not do this.

When I did have to address something like this, I found a good opportunity to take this, in person, to the most reputable person in power/position.
Making sure that myself and my student would remain totally anonymous.

 

[Hikergirl]

No way, in a case like this, would I expect my minor child, to go and personally bring this up with an adult in authority, when he has already demonstrated that he is like WAY 'off', and is okay with pushing his agenda(s) on impressionable children. Think of how this could go down and what the consequences might be.....
This is not the time to push a minor student in public schools to 'be independent'.

No way, in heck, ever, would I do that in a case that is this egregious.

"I" personally , as the adult, child(s) parent, would not do this.

When I did have to address something like this, I found a good opportunity to take this, in person, to the most reputable person in power/position.
Making sure that myself and my student would remain totally anonymous.

My dd was not a minor by this time in her Senior year.
My ds is a minor in his senior year currently, I would still let him handle it if he felt there was an issue with the teacher. I would not get involved in something like this.
And I think you are wrong, this is exactly the time to push your child to be independent. By now most of these kids have applied to college, even gotten some acceptances, they are preparing for the world outside of mom and dad's interference and protection. I'd rather them have some experience of doing it on their own before they are away at school and come across someone like this since I'm not going to be there to report anything. YMMV and that is totally fine but you can't make blanket statements about all minors, not every minor needs mom and dad in this situation.

 

[mjkacmom]

No way, in a case like this, would I expect my minor child, to go and personally bring this up with an adult in authority, when he has already demonstrated that he is like WAY 'off', and is okay with pushing his agenda(s) on impressionable children. Think of how this could go down and what the consequences might be.....
This is not the time to push a minor student in public schools to 'be independent'.

No way, in heck, ever, would I do that in a case that is this egregious.

"I" personally , as the adult, child(s) parent, would not do this.

When I did have to address something like this, I found a good opportunity to take this, in person, to the most reputable person in power/position.
Making sure that myself and my student would remain totally anonymous.

I’m curious, the OP’s child is a senior, maybe even 18. Let’s fast forward six months, child is in college, her professor does the same thing. Do you march down to the university?

 

[luvsJack]

Wow, what a great discussion and points of view!

Yes, I have let DD deal with issues in school on her own for the last couple of years and she is comfortable doing so. As a Senior, I expect her to be able to advocate for herself and she does, up to and including calling out/confronting a security person who is a bully and effecting change.

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!

May I ask why, if you are going to email the administration as a family, would you not talk to the teacher as a family?

I never understand going over, under or around the person who actually made the statement, so I am just curious.

 

[mrsv98]

May I ask why, if you are going to email the administration as a family, would you not talk to the teacher as a family?

I never understand going over, under or around the person who actually made the statement, so I am just curious.

I wouldn't go to him because I don't want to engage in a debate about his theories nor do I think we can change his mind. I simply think the administration should be aware that he is talking about this in class and it could pose a safety issue. Believe me, DD is right there rolling her eyes with the rest of the class when he talks about 9/11 or the Holocaust but this directly impacts the school and student safety.

 

[Hikergirl]

I wouldn't go to him because I don't want to engage in a debate about his theories nor do I think we can change his mind. I simply think the administration should be aware that he is talking about this in class and it could pose a safety issue. Believe me, DD is right there rolling her eyes with the rest of the class when he talks about 9/11 or the Holocaust but this directly impacts the school and student safety.

I'm curious, did he not follow the instructions of the drill they had?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No way, in a case like this, would I expect my minor child, to go and personally bring this up with an adult in authority, when he has already demonstrated that he is like WAY 'off', and is okay with pushing his agenda(s) on impressionable children.

At least for me if I were in the OP's daughter's shoes I would look at ths situation in 3 ways- a) I can speak to the teacher regarding my uncomfortability in their talks during school b) if I felt that first option wasn't feasible I would let my concerns be noted with those in the school's administration--whoever I would be talking to regarding matters like this--I don't know if that's immediately the principal or someone else 3) do nothing

The only answer isn't to go directly to the teacher if one felt uncomfortable doing so but it is an option.

And FWIW for example my best friend was not a minor child--she turned 18 a few days into senior year. In fact I was basically the youngest of my group of friends in that I didn't turn 18 until 2 weeks before high school graduation.

As far as impressionable children. Well certainly as a senior in high school hopefully you've moved beyond being simply an 'impressionable child'. I don't doubt that there are some who are more like that but the majority are probably individuals who are capable of fettering out others who are not rooted in reality.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Personally I would try to get some kind of documentation with video, etc., or at least others that have heard this teacher say so, and not only go to the principal and the superintendant and any other higher ups, but also the local news station. Even if you do not have video, etc., go to higher ups and they can ask the teacher themselves. This is not about voicing opposing opinions. How to handle the shootings is an opinion, but saying it didn't happen by a teacher should not be tolerated. I frankly am a little shocked that some want to just let it be or let their kid handle it. This is extremely disturbing and should not be allowed to just be, or handled by just your child. It is dangerous. I honestly cannot believe that a teacher is saying this and not only that but also talking about other conspiracy theories to his students, it's crazy and should not be tolerated in any way whatsoever.

 

[luvsJack]

I wouldn't go to him because I don't want to engage in a debate about his theories nor do I think we can change his mind. I simply think the administration should be aware that he is talking about this in class and it could pose a safety issue. Believe me, DD is right there rolling her eyes with the rest of the class when he talks about 9/11 or the Holocaust but this directly impacts the school and student safety.

He is only impacting the safety if he is not following the procedure of the lock down. If he says one thing and does another, then he isn't impacting anything.

Anyone can say anything. Its their actions that are important in this case.

Discussion and debating are two very different things. I wouldn't get into a debate but I would certainly be willing to listen to why he thinks what he thinks.

Do the students just roll their eyes or do they enter a discussion with him?

 

[cabanafrau]

No way, in a case like this, would I expect my minor child, to go and personally bring this up with an adult in authority, when he has already demonstrated that he is like WAY 'off', and is okay with pushing his agenda(s) on impressionable children. Think of how this could go down and what the consequences might be.....
This is not the time to push a minor student in public schools to 'be independent'.

No way, in heck, ever, would I do that in a case that is this egregious.

"I" personally , as the adult, child(s) parent, would not do this.

When I did have to address something like this, I found a good opportunity to take this, in person, to the most reputable person in power/position.
Making sure that myself and my student would remain totally anonymous.

I would be urging my child to handle the situation at this age. If I had the impression the teacher was "way off" I'd have gotten it from my child. As such I would be encouraging them to elicit feedback from their peers and see if they could approach administration in numbers. If not I'd encourage my kid to approach administration on their own. If I had a sense there was no responsiveness from administration to resolve the matter and I truly felt the teacher was some type of risk to my child or any other student, then I would absolutely engage personally. No way would I undertake any response anonymously. Doing so allows for things to be done in the shadows. That allows for an easy response of empty placation, not genuine resolution of the issue. Sunshine has the wonderful effect of allowing a very good look at what's going on.

 

[CarolAnn856]

You cannot judge if someone is mentally unstable from their opinion.

It is not, in fact, an opinion. It is a denial of actual, real facts. That is not normal or sane.

 

[gotomu212]

I’m curious, the OP’s child is a senior, maybe even 18. Let’s fast forward six months, child is in college, her professor does the same thing. Do you march down to the university?

So for me here’s the biggest difference between high school and college. In high school you are required by law to be there, you typically have far less choice in your teacher or class, and if you do not like a particular school your options of changing to another public school are limited.

In college you can drop classes, you can usually select which classes and teachers to take, before choosing that school you’ve likely researched faculty, if the school doesn’t take appropriate action you have thousands of other schools to transfer to, at the end of every college term at all the schools I attended we were given faculty surveys to complete so department heads had a lot of real time data.

There’s also an implicit difference in the teacher student relationship in college than you find in high school. A high school teacher that doesn’t understand his burden of appropriate behavior usually has way more going on than just his one theory, and even though my child is 18 this teacher would be interacting with students as young as 14 which for me increases the need to make sure this is addressed. If my college age son came to me with this story my response would be what a nut, are you going to drop the class or talk to the department head? My response would be very different if this was happening at the high school level.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So for me here’s the biggest difference between high school and college. In high school you are required by law to be there,

Actually that is not true, or rather not entirely true.

For instance in my state with parental permission you can drop out at age 16. Once you turn 18 you do not need anyone's permission to drop out. You are only legally required to be there up until the age at which you can legally drop out.

 

[robinb]

Wow, what a great discussion and points of view!

Yes, I have let DD deal with issues in school on her own for the last couple of years and she is comfortable doing so. As a Senior, I expect her to be able to advocate for herself and she does, up to and including calling out/confronting a security person who is a bully and effecting change.

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!

If that's the case, the head of the department already knows and has been protecting him. You need to escalate this over the head of the department if you don't want it swept under the rug.

 

[luvsJack]

It is not, in fact, an opinion. It is a denial of actual, real facts. That is not normal or sane.

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?

 

[cabanafrau]

So for me here’s the biggest difference between high school and college. In high school you are required by law to be there, you typically have far less choice in your teacher or class, and if you do not like a particular school your options of changing to another public school are limited.

In college you can drop classes, you can usually select which classes and teachers to take, before choosing that school you’ve likely researched faculty, if the school doesn’t take appropriate action you have thousands of other schools to transfer to, at the end of every college term at all the schools I attended we were given faculty surveys to complete so department heads had a lot of real time data.

There’s also an implicit difference in the teacher student relationship in college than you find in high school. A high school teacher that doesn’t understand his burden of appropriate behavior usually has way more going on than just his one theory, and even though my child is 18 this teacher would be interacting with students as young as 14 which for me increases the need to make sure this is addressed. If my college age son came to me with this story my response would be what a nut, are you going to drop the class or talk to the department head? My response would be very different if this was happening at the high school level.

IMO that's a serious oversimplification of the amount of latitude and "real time" information available to college students. As I mentioned previously, in the past seven years three members of my family have been attending four different colleges and universities. That's led to being involved in a lot of discussion about various issues surrounding college life, including with extended family, friends and coworkers regarding their experiences or those of their children attending college. I personally know of experiences that run the gamut on various students at various colleges and universities not only in Michigan, but also in CA, TX, FL, OH, IN, IL in regards to being stuck or completely sandbagged regarding navigating the minefield of which professor will be teaching a particular class. Sometimes it isn't a matter of doing all you can to research and schedule appropriately to secure the highly rated professor. I know of at least 3 people who've experienced great difficulties with a great professor who has dreadful TAs.

 

[sunshinehighway]

If that's the case, the head of the department already knows and has been protecting him. You need to escalate this over the head of the department if you don't want it swept under the rug.

Yup. Also it's not really just about a safety issue or at least it shouldn't be. I see his expressing opinions on the Holocaust mentioned. Is he a Holocaust denier?
While this class may be full of seniors, it's not his only class. Freshman are what, 14? People with extremist views and involved in fringe groups often seek out teenagers who feel lost, misunderstood, angry. A highschool is a good place to find those kids. A teacher spreading the types of opinions you've mentioned isn't just expressing his opinion, it's recruiting.

 

[luvsJack]

Yup. Also it's not really just about a safety issue or at least it shouldn't be. I see his expressing opinions on the Holocaust mentioned. Is he a Holocaust denier?
While this class may be full of seniors, it's not his only class. Freshman are what, 14? People with extremist views and involved in fringe groups often seek out teenagers who feel lost, misunderstood, angry. A highschool is a good place to find those kids. A teacher spreading the types of opinions you've mentioned isn't just expressing his opinion, it's recruiting.

Do the teachers in your local high school teach all grades? Here the senior teachers or just that SENIOR teachers, Freshman teachers teach freshman classes and so on. The only class that may cross over (besides choir, art, band and sports) is a math class and even those are rare. History, English, Science are all divided by year. DD's senior AP Government teacher refused to teach any students that were not Seniors. And that's what he taught.

And you don't know if he is "recruiting".