Do you think this is appropriate

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2008
Do you think this is appropriate
54
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 7:12pm

Do you think it is appropriate or inappropriate for high school kids to chant Obama's name (or the name of any political figure for that matter) in the hallway of school in between switching classes?


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2008
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 8:01pm

It's not about whose name was chanted at all. IMO I do not see it as appropriate at all if McCain's name was chanted.


I am talking from a safety perspective. I think that people (in general) should be careful about talking about politics in any public place.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-13-2008
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 8:05pm

Perhaps they like Obama and they are caught up in the spirit that he won.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2008
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 8:07pm

"I think that people (in general) should be careful about talking about politics in any public place."

Why can't people talk about politics in a public place? And you do realize that many schools have a whole election unit that is taught in conjunction with presidential elections don't you? For the weeks leading up to the election our students were very actively engaged in discussing the election and the candidates. It was actually refreshing. I don't remember, in my years of teaching, seeing students this engaged about politics. We need students who have a desire to become informed, involved, voting citizens. It is a wonderful thing!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-19-2008
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 8:21pm

 <p align="center"><a href="http://www.obama.gabrielmichael.com/barack_obama_t-shirts.html" target="_blank"><img src="

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2008
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 8:31pm

Unless it is causing a fight, I don't see it as a safety concern.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2008
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 8:35pm
I don't know about appropriate.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2007
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 8:43pm
Totally appropriate!

Sopal

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2005
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 9:30pm

>> The first thing this morning was a student that came into the classroom (4th grade) and said HA...WE BEAT YOU to another student. I said that is it. NO ELECTION TALK whatsoever while I am in this classroom. That was it, nothing else was said.<<

That seems like a shame to me. I think there is a way to tell students to be respectful, but to recognize that something very historic happened last night. The 2008 election is one that will be studied and discussed for years to come. Their children will read about it in history books one day. It seems silly to say this topic is totally off the table. I know that volunteering in a classroom isn't really a time to say "let's gather round and all share our thoughts on this" but I really hope their teacher took a moment later to give them a chance to discuss. It's a big moment. A little part of me was wishing I was still in school so I could share with classmates. Yes, my co-workers and I all discussed excitedly and happily -- I would say with near certainty that all of my co-workers who were eligible to vote went for Obama (there are a lot of non-citizens in my workplace) -- but I actually found myself missing the diversity of opinions, in a way.

(I'd also suggest that for someone who seems to have very little patience for nasty post-election talk from fourth graders, your signature does not particularly seem to be taking the high road. Better to teach by example, no?)

Caroline

Caroline

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2008
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 9:39pm

It isn't a shame.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Wed, 11-05-2008 - 9:44pm

I agree with the other poster...this was a missed teachable moment on how to be respectful of other people's feelings, how to be a gracious "winner."