Politics in school

[Iluvfrenchquarter]

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I am a teacher. A middle school teacher.

Today, one of my classes of 8th graders came in, and while I was taking role, I heard some of them discussing the election. While I am passionate in my support of Obama, I DO NOT discuss it in class. I overheard one of the students say something about "take away the all our guns". I asked what they were talking about.

The boy who made the comment said that their social studies teacher told them that the democrats want to get rid of the 2nd amendment. Now, I know this teacher well, and know that he is an ardent Republican (that's putting it mildly). But I find it abhorrent that he would make partisan comments like this in class. Even if this is what you believe, you don't tell kids that in school! It IS possible that he was egging them on, knowing that they were coming to my class (but not all of them came to me), so unless he has a class of students who exclusively have me later in the day, he was saying these things to other kids as well. I hope that makes sense.

I am tempted to talk to this teacher (this isn't the first time I've heard a partisan comment like this that he has said to the students) to tell him to watch what he says. For his own protection - an irate parent can cause a lot of problems. He and I are actually pretty good friends, and respect each other's opinions. He is lucky that we teach in a very Republican area, so very few parents would have a problem with what he says.

But there are pockets of dems in this community, and he may well have a child of one of those families in his class(es).

So do you think I should say anything to him, or keep my mouth shut? (I won't go to administration unless I say something to him, but he continues his partisan BS.)

 

[SwedishMeatball]

As a teacher myself, I really would expect more of a fellow teacher than to assume that what a student said is the whole story.

 

[corndog]

Generally speaking, he's correct.

 

[Iluvfrenchquarter]

As a teacher myself, I really would expect more of a fellow teacher than to assume that what a student said is the whole story.

Absolutely! That's why I'm thinking of talking to him, rather than tattling to the administration. You can never trust what kids say. They hear one thing, but not the rest of the sentence!

Like I said though, this isn't the first time something like this has happened.

 

[Master Mason]

wow, a teacher that is giving the republican side, that's different.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

As a Republican who had a lot of very vocal Democratic teachers growing up, I deeply appreciate that you aren't voicing your politics to your students. I always wanted to make up my own mind, and never particularly appreciated it when I felt like teachers were telling me what to think. Kudos to you.

Because I believe a teacher's opinion about parties or candidates should be kept to themselves no matter what they believe, I would suggest you talk to the teacher and first see if it even really happened or if they exaggerated the situation (middle school is the birthplace of the telephone game, I'm convinced). See what is said, then share your concerns as you see fit. If it doesn't stop, I would ask your administrator if he or she could remind all of the staff not to go around pushing their political agendas on students. That way you are not singling any one teacher out, but the message is still coming from higher up and reminding everyone on all sides to "watch it." I'd do the same if I was in your shoes whether it was a fellow conservative who was saying things to students or a liberal or a mod. Politics is a great topic to discuss in school, but it's important for the teacher not to tip off what side they are for, IMO.

Hope this helps.

 

[Iluvfrenchquarter]

Generally speaking, he's correct.

You may believe that if you choose. However, is it right to say in school?

 

[akhenaten]

would it be wrong for you to tell the students that many people say and believe many different things and give them resources to investigate on their own...like factcheck.org??

 

[Iluvfrenchquarter]

As a Republican who had a lot of very vocal Democratic teachers growing up, I deeply appreciate that you aren't voicing your politics to your students. I always wanted to make up my own mind, and never particularly appreciated it when I felt like teachers were telling me what to think. Kudos to you.

Because I believe a teacher's opinion about parties or candidates should be kept to themselves no matter what they believe, I would suggest you talk to the teacher and first see if it even really happened or if they exaggerated the situation (middle school is the birthplace of the telephone game, I'm convinced). See what is said, then share your concerns as you see fit. If it doesn't stop, I would ask your administrator if he or she could remind all of the staff not to go around pushing their political agendas on students. That way you are not singling any one teacher out, but the message is still coming from higher up and reminding everyone on all sides to "watch it." I'd do the same if I was in your shoes whether it was a fellow conservative who was saying things to students or a liberal or a mod. Politics is a great topic to discuss in school, but it's important for the teacher not to tip off what side they are for, IMO.

Hope this helps.

You're so right. I don't make it a secret that I suport Obama - the kids have asked.

BUT, when they ask why, I simply say that I like his ideas on education better and leave it at that (an appropriate topic in school).

 

[Master Mason]

You're so right. I don't make it a secret that I suport Obama - the kids have asked.

BUT, when they ask why, I simply say that I like his ideas on education better and leave it at that (an appropriate topic in school).

so it is ok for you to tell people you support a candidate based on your perceptions, but it is not ok for another to give their opinions based on their perceptions?

 

[Iluvfrenchquarter]

would it be wrong for you to tell the students that many people say and believe many different things and give them resources to investigate on their own...like factcheck.org??

I do that all the time! I tell them to investigate the issues and decide for themselves which candidate they support. I also emphasize that most of them will be eligible to vote next election for president so it will be important for them to pay attention to this election.

I also tell them that this election is historic. Either the US is electing the first AA president or the first female VP. Some day their grandkids are going to be asking them about it.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

You may believe that if you choose. However, is it right to say in school?

I'd need more info. You said it was a social studies class. It would depend on what they were studying. Also, how the teacher presented it. If he made a generalized statement that Democrats favor more gun control without inserting his own bias, then it may have been appropriate to the class discussion. I'm sure there are teachers on both sides who can't help themselves from making partisan comments. However, I also think that jr high students are classic for taking things out of context and putting their own twist on it. If I was going to approach the teacher, I would simply say what I'd overheard and see if he corrected it. Either way, it would be nice of you to express your concern so that he can be aware to be careful how he presents issues.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

You're so right. I don't make it a secret that I suport Obama - the kids have asked.

BUT, when they ask why, I simply say that I like his ideas on education better and leave it at that (an appropriate topic in school).

I will have to respectfully disagree with you here. My field is also in the schools, and I had a lot of high school students this past spring semester ask me who I was voting for and why. I always told them that I didn't feel it was appropriate for me to tell them one way or the other because I didn't want to sway them in any way. I feel like educators can have a powerful influence on students, so there is a risk of students just going along with what the school employee says because they like or respect said person.

 

[corndog]

You may believe that if you choose. However, is it right to say in school?

You did say he is a social studies teacher, right? In my middle school social studies classes we talked about American government and the constitution (well, 6th and 8th--7th was Ohio only). It would seem to be not only appropriate, but also proper.

Do you disagree with his statement? I don't think it's accuracy is open for debate.

 

[Took]

I avoid saying who I'm voting for, since AAUP has suggested this line of approach. EVen when I'm asked, I say "It's not important. What's important is that YOU vote."

The social studies teacher does need to hear that students are claiming he said such-and-such. IF he didn't mean what the students heard or if they're misrepresenting his words, he now has a chance to clear things up. If he did make the statements students are saying, then the principal needs to know. The school could be opened up to all kinds of criticism.

took

 

[Iluvfrenchquarter]

so it is ok for you to tell people you support a candidate based on your perceptions, but it is not ok for another to give their opinions based on their perceptions?

I give my "perceptions" - without going into detail, on a subject that pertains to us all - when asked. I don't volunteer my positions, nor go into detail. Truth be told, I'm not crazy about O's opinion on education either, but on all other issue, I'm ok with him.

Please keep in mind that this is a Social Studies teacher, who is supposed to be teaching US government, not politics. Discuss the fact that we are a 2 party system - yes. Advocate for one party or another - no

 

[akhenaten]

I do that all the time! I tell them to investigate the issues and decide for themselves which candidate they support. I also emphasize that most of them will be eligible to vote next election for president so it will be important for them to pay attention to this election.

I also tell them that this election is historic. Either the US is electing the first AA president or the first female VP. Some day their grandkids are going to be asking them about it.

sounds like good information!!

 

[Took]

You did say he is a social studies teacher, right? In my middle school social studies classes we talked about American government and the constitution (well, 6th and 8th--7th was Ohio only). It would seem to be not only appropriate, but also proper.

Do you disagree with his statement? I don't think it's accuracy is open for debate.

Huh? As the wife of a history professor and a good friend to several political science professors and social studies teachers, I strongly disagree with your assessment of the "accuracy" of the teacher's statement.

However, you can BELIEVE what you want.

 

[corndog]

Please keep in mind that this is a Social Studies teacher, who is supposed to be teaching US government, not politics. Discuss the fact that we are a 2 party system - yes. Advocate for one party or another - no

Whoa. Wait a second. You didn't say anything about advocacy. What was he advocating?

 

[akhenaten]

Do you disagree with his statement? I don't think it's accuracy is open for debate.

perhaps you should read factcheck.org
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/nra_targets_obama.html