Dd has become quite opinionated

Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Dd has become quite opinionated
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Mon, 05-14-2007 - 6:46pm

When she came down with mono it was the start of the 2nd Semester and the beginnng of all of her new classes - Spanish I, English, Health, and Science. Health was a quarter class and she ended up only dropping Spanish which was a semester course (well and she dropped the honors section of English course). When she went back to school, originally she was given late arrival as she had no class 1st block - when she went back for good they put her in a study hall for that block.

She originally had some other class scheduled for 3rd block, but for some reason it wasn't available. This left her with 2 blank spots for 4th quarter and apparently the school has some regulation limiting the amount of study halls a student can take in one school year so they made her fill up both blocks. The only classes available to her were Journalism and Law for Business.

We are a military family - dh is active duty Army. The area we live in is pretty much anti-war, anti-military, etc... Totally new concept for dd as since she was 5 we have lived on military bases and gone to schools with children in her same situation.

Of course the hot topic in her Journalism class is the Iraq war. Dh just got back from Afghanistan and is scheduled to go to Iraq early 08. We had been extremely lucky as a military family as this recent trip to Afghanistan was dh's first deployment to a combat area, so we (she) have been spoiled in that regard. This past Christmas was the first Christmas w/out him, she just had her first bday w/out him, he will miss her 16th bday, etc. We don't watch the news, because all they show is the bad stuff (I DON'T want to debate the war please!!) and she and I both know there is more to it than that....

Apparently, a journalist from a local tv station was at some point embedded w/ the troops and was speaking to her Journalism class today. All he talked about was the killing and how the troops are raping people. DD had been prepared to ask the question "what good is going on there" but someone else beat her to it and his response was "nothing." I guess he kept going on and on about the killings - dd got up and left the class. She told her teacher (yes her teacher knows her situation, dd is quite vocal) she couldn't handle it. Her teacher basically called her "stupid for not letting someone else have an opinion"....

Dd went to another teacher and her guidance counselor and now has a meeting set up with the counselor, the journalism teacher and the principal. I asked dd if she would like me to attend and she said no.

Before we moved her I warned dd how it was going to be here. The talks have continued since, as we hear the anti-war/military sentiments everywhere, even with our family. I try to not let it get to me and tell her that "yes that's their opinion and thanks to the military they have that right."

She's very proud of her dad and it tore her apart when he was gone last year and will be gone next year. In my biased opinion, I think the teacher was way out of line and could have handled the situation a little bit better. Otoh, I feel dd should stop being so vocal - she has tried to make it her own personal crusade to share the good that we have accomplished (again, NOT DEBATING...) of course it falls on deaf ears for the most part.

She did not voluntarily take this class - she literally had no choice. I know she needs to get along with others with differing opinions, and she has tried but this woman apparently does nothing but talk bad on the military. The mom in me wants to go down and "freak out" in this meeting..... Dd has pointed out how different ALL of this school's staff is around parents than they are w/ just the students. Should I let her attempt to handle it on her own?

****Again, I don't want to debate or here the antiwar stuff here either, I love my husband and I have great respect for him and all the troops****

ETA: Apparently this state has had an ongoing problem in this department, I just found this: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,79857,00.html




Edited 5/14/2007 6:55 pm ET by kel7col4



Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 2:48pm

Oh zz I completely catch your drift and although I haven't witnessed it, I have often wondered about the other side of the coin. My only experience was living on military bases overseas. The war was never even brought up in the classroom over there (they weren't even allowed to talk about 9/11) BUT they had the training and compassion for those children who were living through the separations.

To me it's just one of those many subjects that should stay completely out of the classroom. Of course seeing how this was a journalism class, the subject was bound to be broached and it just got to my dd how one-sided it was and while the teacher wants to call dd "stupid for not listening to someone else's opinion" - this teacher is a fine example of hypocrisy by not allowing dd's opinion either. I think this teacher showed a lot by totally shooting down dd's offer to write a story on the life of a military brat.

BTW dd is ADD-Inattentive and dyslexic and has struggled and overcome so much because of these LD's. Anytime the word stupid is directed towards her she takes offense, and rightfully so.




Edited 5/15/2007 2:49 pm ET by kel7col4



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Registered: 12-24-2006
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 3:06pm

<<< To me it's just one of those many subjects that should stay completely out of the classroom. >>>

Well, I find it hard to agree that one of the most profilic historic happenings, going on right now, should be ignored in schools. Just because there are some bad teachers doesn't mean (to me) that we should ban the subject. It's too important.

Too bad there are so many morons teaching school.

zz ---> who had two sisters as elementary school teachers...and their stories would scare the he** out of you. but don't dismiss important world issues, as unworthy for discussion, because of a few. Are they to pretend nothing's going on?

Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 3:51pm

I will correct myself: If it can't be discussed with compassion and with BOTH sides then it should stay out of the classroom or atleast those that are living it should have the option to speak or escape the bias. My dd basically being told her father was a "murderer" just because he is a member of the military is WRONG.... and yes this teacher said this of the military along with how useless our military is, etc....

I never said anything negative about teacher's in general - I have NOTHING but respect for teachers and always have. My dd is actually learning towards being an elementary teacher and I think that is awesome!




Avatar for weberdns0
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Registered: 08-25-2000
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 4:21pm
No student should ever be called stupid by a teacher!
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Registered: 08-17-2005
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 5:52pm

May I just say how ironic it is that the daughter of a man in the military should be denied the right to free speech by one of her "teachers", to use the term loosely.

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Registered: 10-16-1999
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 6:25pm

Only two questions:
1. Have you heard from your DH since the soldiers disappeared?
2. Are they from his UNIT or just his base?

I know how wildly one's imagination can run during such times - every time I heard there were KIA in S's unit with add'l injured, until either C or I heard that he was alright, I was certain he was one of the injured. Thank God he came back safely, and I pray your DH does too.
Rose

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Registered: 12-24-2006
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 7:28pm

Let me correct myself.... (you really didn't need to).

Your DD was treated horribly, and should absolutely have the right to walk out of a classroom where the military is being trashed. I hope you report those teachers and that appropriate action is taken.

<<< I never said anything negative about teacher's in general - I have NOTHING but respect for teachers and always have. >>>

No, you didn't. *I'm* the one that is distrustful of teachers. *I* don't feel teachers are automatically deserving of respect. *I'm* the one that has a hard time trusting most teachers because I've seen how well they can hide their true selves.

zz

Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 8:18pm

I apologize I completely misinterpreted what you were saying ;p The joy of posting on a messageboard lol...

I just picked dd up from her team dinner so I FINALLY got the details:

Her first block class is the journalism class. Dd went to the class, the teacher from the get-go was acting nervous and kept looking nervously at her. At some point the attendance officer came in for her (because of being marked absent yesterday), the teacher immediately stated it was a mistake. Then the teacher came up to dd, pulled up a chair, picked up a pencil and was twirling it in her hand. She apologized to dd and said flat out she was wrong. She said she was not fully aware of dd's situation and told dd that she had a full talking to by the administration. Also, dd's missing paper mysteriously reappeared. DD said she appeared genuine. There was no talk about the war today :D

She then had her meeting with the principal and her counselor. The counselor apparently apologized to her yesterday. The principal apologized to her fully today. The principal apparently has a son in the military (he was wounded over there) and told dd that she knows how she feels living in this state and area. Told her she shouldn't feel attacked because of her feelings and sense of pride and shouldn't be subjected to all the antiwar rhetoric that is so common in this area. All in all, it went well.

I am extremely proud of dd - I really am :D She totally handled it on her own and none of them are aware that I had any knowledge of the situation.

Thank you all so much - I would really be lost without this board...




Avatar for weberdns0
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Registered: 08-25-2000
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 8:20pm
Thanks for the update!
Avatar for kel7col4
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 8:22pm

He's not over there yet, but he will be in the near future.

I don't watch or read the news at all when he's gone - if I did I would probably be certifiable :P




Edited 5/15/2007 8:23 pm ET by kel7col4