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



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Avatar for kel7col4
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 8:29pm
Oh I had forgot an important detail last night... One of dd's good friends' mom is on the school board. DD had said her friend was going to tell her mom what was said... so all in all, I'm sure this teacher got an earful :D



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Registered: 10-16-1999
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 7:27am

I'm so glad your DD was able to resolve this on her own - it's a huge confidence builder to be self-sufficient.

There are a few teachers at our school that are anti-military/anti-war, but they're kept on quite a leash because our town has an unusually high number of kids who enlist in the military after high school. In J&S's class of 93 kids, I know of 7 who have enlisted, there could be more, and that isn't that high of a percentage as compared to other graduating classes. Three of the school board members have DSs who are currently serving - so it wouldn't be in those teacher's best professional interests to be too "out there" with their views. That doesn't mean that the war isn't debated - the teacher that I mentioned who argues both sides of any issue, depending on which side the kids are on? The war in Iraq is fair game in his class, but N has never complained about how he's handled it... and when S was deployed she was very sensitive about war related things. Unfortunately, this man is about to retire in the next couple of years, and our district is going to be loosing an outstanding teacher when he does.

Avatar for jbgattuso
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Registered: 04-29-2003
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 7:35am

I'm so glad that this went well. Great for your dd that she also was able to handle this to a good end result. As far as the teacher goes..I respect her for saying she was sorry.(hopefully it wasn't because she thought her job was in jepordy) Many people today, don't know how to say sorry. I hope you have a good day today!

Julie

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Registered: 12-24-2006
Thu, 05-17-2007 - 10:56am

No need to apologize. I took no offense at all, and am very happy it's worked out for your DD, and that *she* received an apology.

<<< Also, dd's missing paper mysteriously reappeared. >>>

This is what concerns me. This sounds like something my ex-school teacher sisters would have done had they taught high school.

What do you make of this? Of course it could have been totally innocent, but as I said, I'm distrustful of ALOT of teachers. And administrators.

Yikes! Do I sound paranoid, lol?

zz

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