Denounce Teachers Who Harass Military Dependents

[thedrifter]

02-26-2003 <br />
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Denounce Teachers Who Harass Military Dependents <br />
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<br />
By Matthew Dodd <br />
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The “Axis of Evil” has some potential new members masquerading as elementary school teachers in Maine.

[Sparrowhawk]

This is an all out low for left wing protestors and demonstrators employeed as public servants.

Send these teachers off to Iraq to be used as human shields.

I'll pay the flight bill.

Stupid anti-war demonstrators.


Cook

[wrbones]

and people were looking at me funny when I was claiming that the peace protesters were treasonous and seditious.

I don't like government controls, but this is one situation that needs to be addressed by the government.

[firstsgtmike]

Simple question.

Since Religion, God, The Bible, and the Genesis version of Creation are NOT fit subjects to be taught or discussed in school because of the possible effects it may have on the parents of some students,

WHY is Politics not excluded for the same reason?

"Teacher, the demonstrations are too far away for us to attend, but I have a prayer book here. Would you please lead the class in some prayers asking God to bless the demonstrators?"

[USMC-FO]

This is appalling and very cowardly in my opinion ! If I, as a parent saw this in my son's school system, I would confront the teacher directly--face to face--as well as the school system at large. My approach would be quite simple and I trust equally direct: Cease this discrimination and insult on my child(ren) or you will be sued, and to the extent I can control the point I will insist on your immediate dismissal.

I grant everyone the right to disagree and protest just about anything ! I am very liberal on that point BUT a cowardly attack on my children becasue of my commitmment to my country and my duty will bring about an instant reaction against you personnaly !!

[julierae]

my husband, who is over in kuwait, and has been for almost two months, would be ashamed of the state he grew up in, if i told him what was going there. not that he has children there, but all his family. his little brother still attends elementary school...to think that teachers from the state that my husband loves the most would turn on their own country....

[thedrifter]

Please send State Education Commissioner Duke
Albanese's email addres out to our fellow veteran's.
Ask them to send him an e-mail to take more appropiate
action in relation to these teachers.

Here is his e-mail address: duke.albanese@maine.gov

Our schools are not the appropiate forum for political
opinions.

If you do not support the war, at least suppourt our
Troops.

Thanks,
Robin M. Babcock
HM1/USN/Ret DAV


Sempers,

Roger

[CplCrotty]

" . . . we will challenge any individual who places our children at risk due to their own political ideologies.”

We will "challenge" ?!?

How about firing their silly a@$#%!

Hey, here's an idea - maybe the elementary schools in Maine should establish themselves as "Hate-Free Zones."

But wait a minute, they probably already have.

They are "free to hate," even children, who disagree with their distorted, socialistic political views.

[Sixguns]

I OWN A HOUSE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!!!!

Gotta love our state motto, "Live Free or Die!"
Talk about loyalty to your state or country, we would rather die than not enjoy freedom. We know those who serve in the military forces are all helping us to keep those freedoms. I'm not sure what Maine's state motto is but it could be "We're the next closest thing to Canada!"

SF

[MillRatUSMC]

Can this bull crap be taking place in the state that gave the nation.
General Joshua L. Chamberlain USA and the 20th Maine Regiment?
To bring politics into the classroom and take it out on the children of many being deployed is unbelievable!
A few firing might be called for to right this terrible wrong.
I've fired off a few E-Mail to State of Maine.

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[thedrifter]

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- After complaints that the children of soldiers were upset by anti-war comments at school, Maine's top education official warned teachers to be careful of what they say in class about a possible invasion of Iraq.

The Maine Army National Guard has received a dozen reports of children of guard members in elementary and middle schools who said teachers and fellow students have criticized the looming conflict.

Maj. Peter Rogers quoted parents as saying their children have come home upset or depressed because of comments in class and on the playground.

"They were hearing comments like, 'The pending war in Iraq is unethical' and 'Anybody who would fight that war is also unethical,"' Rogers said. "So children who are already losing family members to deployment were understandably upset."

Charles Haynes of the Freedom Forum, an educational organization in Arlington, Virginia, said he has received several dozen e-mails and phone calls in recent months from parents concerned that teachers are unfair or biased in how they address the issue of Iraq in the classroom.

Haynes urged schools to keep alive classroom discussions about Iraq, and present different views on the issue, even if there have been complaints about teaching methods or teacher comments.

"Often it is a misunderstanding of what the teacher is trying to do," he said. "But it's also the case that some teachers have a political agenda they can't keep out of the classroom, and that they must do."

In Maine, Department of Education Commissioner Duke Albanese sent a memo to superintendents and principals, writing that it had been brought to his attention some school personnel had been "less than sensitive to children of military families regarding our continued strained relations with Iraq."

He said discussion should allow for questions and differences of opinion, but "be grounded in civil discourse and mutual respect."

The issue has also grabbed the attention of Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Gov. John Baldacci.

"Any suggestion that their parents are doing something wrong is extremely unfortunate and could have a harmful effect, particularly on young children," Collins said.

Baldacci said he's "disappointed" by the actions of some educators in public school systems.

The school system is to teach. It's not there for teachers to preach their political bias. That is an abuse of power.


Sempers,

Roger

[Dale Harbert]

MY OPINION OF TEACHERS IN GENERAL HAS NEVER BEEN A GOOD ONE. THERE IS AN OLD SAYING, BOOK SENSE DOESN'T EQUAL COMMON SENSE. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WE TRUST WITH OUR CHILDRENS EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL BEING MAKING STATEMENTS AND ACTING IN THIS MANNER. THEY ARE THE FIRST ONES TO BLAME THE PARENTS FOR A PERCEIVED WRONG DOING. WHAT DO YOU THINK ? " BOOK SENSE OR COMMON SENSE. "

[mistyschwartz]

That is horrible about the teachers in Maine. I usually have respect for teachers because my sister is a junior high teacher. But I guess we must also remember that there are some good teachers out there like my sister. She put up a white star with my husbands name on her classroom door because my husband is deployed. She also asked if anyone else had a family member in the service that was deployed and they could put a star up too. Well, she started a school trend because anyone that has a service member deployed started putting stars up on her door! It got too crowded so they had to move it to a huge bulletin board. My sister knows what country she was born in and will never say a harsh word against it. Teachers are role models for their students, I really wish they would remember that next time they want to criticize the brave people who are fighting for their disrespectful *** to be free. I think I've said my piece...

[Sixguns]

The military services had to get legislation adopted to get student data for recruiting purposes

Or why some students are never given an opportunity to learn about military service or benefits

Or why there is a general lack of respect for the military from students

These people just burn me!!! They tell kids that military service is a less than honorable way to earn a living and then they promote college and trade schools as the best track to successful careers. Too bad they aren't willing to foot the bill for the school or training they promote. It would be a shame if a child was able to get an education or degree for practically nothing, or get free job training from the military or have a career with purpose, meaning and nobility. No, let the family go into debt so they may have a child who is burdened with loans and ends up working in a dead-end job because of our slow economy. Yes, these teachers certainly know best!

SF