Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Why Teachers Have a Bad Name When It Comes to Politics
Take a look at this North Carolina teacher teaching her kids around election time last year:
Click here
Oh, MY! Can you believe this? As a teacher I'm...oh, what's the word...dumbfounded! Cannot believe that this kind of teaching exists-- and this was not even behind closed doors! This (and I use the term loosely) "teacher" KNEW that she was being recorded-- and actually THOUGHT that how she approached this subject was right.
Now, I do not profess to be an extraordinary teacher. I do my best and have a heart for the kids. But if the type of "teaching" that's mentioned above is common practice, no wonder parents don't trust teachers to do the right thing next Tuesday when President Obama's address to schoolchildren is supposed to be viewed.
I work at a fairly conservative school. There are a few "lefties" on campus, but for the most part, the more conservative way of thinking is predominant. I have no doubt that if viewing the speech was mandatory, my son's 4th grade teacher would treat it logically, bringing in constitutional issues if necessary. She would not tell them what to think, but rather question and have them come up with their own opinions, and value those opinions without sharing her own. She would be a teacher.
However, most families are not in the situation that I'm in-- working at a school where your child attends. In fact, with my older son, I am not in that situation, and have found myself with the other parents. My child goes to a school where I don't know the teachers that well, or at all. I cannot trust their handling of the president's address to be fair and balanced. So, I did what many others have done, and written a note to his principal, requesting that he not participate in this activity. Fortunately, I got the response that I wanted:
"Thank you for your email. I do not have a teacher so far who has selected to air the speech."
That's good to know, especially at the high school level. Our elementary school is in the same boat-- no teacher is willing to commit to sharing this speech without having seen it first. That's a good clue that the teachers-- at the very least-- want to be informed before making a decision. No one has agreed to show the video on Tuesday. The principal has made it clear that if choosing to air it later, all plans must be approved by her.
Good.
Now-- to give a "counter-example" of the teaching video above when it comes to working politics into the classroom, here's a reposting of how I handled elections last year (it was on my old blog site):
Friday, October 31, 2008
Straight-Line-Democrat
I had a mock election with my class this week.Third grade is a fun time for this, as kiddos look to the adults in their lives for leadership and guidance, while at the same time, begin to assert their independent thinking.
As I began, I asked the kids if they wanted to share who their first thoughts were for which side of the fence their vote started. The first one asked me who I planned on voting for, in which I answered, "I'm not telling you. I'm an adult in your life-- a teacher. My job isn't to tell you who to vote for, but to help you make an informed decision. I'm afraid that if I say who gets my vote, it will influence your decision."
Despite their disappointment, some of them still wanted to share. Some of the students said McCain, many said Obama. One child in my class (whose grandfather is running for office) raised her hand and said (quite confidently, I might add), "I'm voting for Obama."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because I'm a Straight-Line-Democrat."
Hm...I thought."Why?" I asked.
This time it was her turn to say "Hm..."
Okay, so we proceed. I introduced Candidate #1 as a husband, father, and a senator. Candidate #2? A husband, father, and a senator.
"But that's the same!" the students insisted.
"You're right. If I were to give you a name, you would immediately access your schema (a phrase used quite often in our class) and it would influence your vote. We're going to look at the issues.
So I passed out the ballots. The ballot was a spreadsheet printout of a list of issues, including: Economy, Energy, the Environment, Health Care, Illegal Immigration, and the War in Iraq. There were 2 columns next to the list of issues, labeled with "Candidate #1" and "Candidate #2". Their job was to choose a candidate with whom they most agreed with on each individual issue. At the end, we'd count up the votes, and then declare a winner.
We go through the issues, and the students are amazingly interested in how each man felt about the issue. There are some good questions, as well as some silence, which makes me know that they're thinking.
Once we make it through the issues, the ballots are tuned in. I tally the votes, and then show them the results.
Candidate #2 wins by the proverbial landslide.
Next question:"Who is candidate #2?" I ask them as they answer enthusiastically,
"Obama!"
Well, actually, no. Obama is Candidate #1. Number 2 is McCain.
It was amazing. The amount of puzzled looks gazing back at me let me know that the experiment worked.
So, that next question (I love questions!) was,"So, if you'd like to share--only if you'd like to-- I'd like to know if anyone thought they would have voted for one person, but ended up choosing the other"
A few kiddos raised hands, and shared that they thought they would have picked one person, but ended up liking another.
Then, the granddaughter raised her hand.
"You'd like to share, Miss Straight-Line-Democrat?" I said with a smile.
She smiled back."Well, I really thought I was going to vote for Obama, but it ends up that I agree more with McCain."
"Why do you think that is?"
"I never really listened to what either had to say."
"What do you think of things now?"
"Well," she paused, and looked up, grinning, " I think that I'm not a Straight-Line-Democrat any more."...
Posted by PSG at 8:09 PM
Click here
Oh, MY! Can you believe this? As a teacher I'm...oh, what's the word...dumbfounded! Cannot believe that this kind of teaching exists-- and this was not even behind closed doors! This (and I use the term loosely) "teacher" KNEW that she was being recorded-- and actually THOUGHT that how she approached this subject was right.
Now, I do not profess to be an extraordinary teacher. I do my best and have a heart for the kids. But if the type of "teaching" that's mentioned above is common practice, no wonder parents don't trust teachers to do the right thing next Tuesday when President Obama's address to schoolchildren is supposed to be viewed.
I work at a fairly conservative school. There are a few "lefties" on campus, but for the most part, the more conservative way of thinking is predominant. I have no doubt that if viewing the speech was mandatory, my son's 4th grade teacher would treat it logically, bringing in constitutional issues if necessary. She would not tell them what to think, but rather question and have them come up with their own opinions, and value those opinions without sharing her own. She would be a teacher.
However, most families are not in the situation that I'm in-- working at a school where your child attends. In fact, with my older son, I am not in that situation, and have found myself with the other parents. My child goes to a school where I don't know the teachers that well, or at all. I cannot trust their handling of the president's address to be fair and balanced. So, I did what many others have done, and written a note to his principal, requesting that he not participate in this activity. Fortunately, I got the response that I wanted:
"Thank you for your email. I do not have a teacher so far who has selected to air the speech."
That's good to know, especially at the high school level. Our elementary school is in the same boat-- no teacher is willing to commit to sharing this speech without having seen it first. That's a good clue that the teachers-- at the very least-- want to be informed before making a decision. No one has agreed to show the video on Tuesday. The principal has made it clear that if choosing to air it later, all plans must be approved by her.
Good.
Now-- to give a "counter-example" of the teaching video above when it comes to working politics into the classroom, here's a reposting of how I handled elections last year (it was on my old blog site):
Friday, October 31, 2008
Straight-Line-Democrat
I had a mock election with my class this week.Third grade is a fun time for this, as kiddos look to the adults in their lives for leadership and guidance, while at the same time, begin to assert their independent thinking.
As I began, I asked the kids if they wanted to share who their first thoughts were for which side of the fence their vote started. The first one asked me who I planned on voting for, in which I answered, "I'm not telling you. I'm an adult in your life-- a teacher. My job isn't to tell you who to vote for, but to help you make an informed decision. I'm afraid that if I say who gets my vote, it will influence your decision."
Despite their disappointment, some of them still wanted to share. Some of the students said McCain, many said Obama. One child in my class (whose grandfather is running for office) raised her hand and said (quite confidently, I might add), "I'm voting for Obama."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because I'm a Straight-Line-Democrat."
Hm...I thought."Why?" I asked.
This time it was her turn to say "Hm..."
Okay, so we proceed. I introduced Candidate #1 as a husband, father, and a senator. Candidate #2? A husband, father, and a senator.
"But that's the same!" the students insisted.
"You're right. If I were to give you a name, you would immediately access your schema (a phrase used quite often in our class) and it would influence your vote. We're going to look at the issues.
So I passed out the ballots. The ballot was a spreadsheet printout of a list of issues, including: Economy, Energy, the Environment, Health Care, Illegal Immigration, and the War in Iraq. There were 2 columns next to the list of issues, labeled with "Candidate #1" and "Candidate #2". Their job was to choose a candidate with whom they most agreed with on each individual issue. At the end, we'd count up the votes, and then declare a winner.
We go through the issues, and the students are amazingly interested in how each man felt about the issue. There are some good questions, as well as some silence, which makes me know that they're thinking.
Once we make it through the issues, the ballots are tuned in. I tally the votes, and then show them the results.
Candidate #2 wins by the proverbial landslide.
Next question:"Who is candidate #2?" I ask them as they answer enthusiastically,
"Obama!"
Well, actually, no. Obama is Candidate #1. Number 2 is McCain.
It was amazing. The amount of puzzled looks gazing back at me let me know that the experiment worked.
So, that next question (I love questions!) was,"So, if you'd like to share--only if you'd like to-- I'd like to know if anyone thought they would have voted for one person, but ended up choosing the other"
A few kiddos raised hands, and shared that they thought they would have picked one person, but ended up liking another.
Then, the granddaughter raised her hand.
"You'd like to share, Miss Straight-Line-Democrat?" I said with a smile.
She smiled back."Well, I really thought I was going to vote for Obama, but it ends up that I agree more with McCain."
"Why do you think that is?"
"I never really listened to what either had to say."
"What do you think of things now?"
"Well," she paused, and looked up, grinning, " I think that I'm not a Straight-Line-Democrat any more."...
Posted by PSG at 8:09 PM
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Toto
I know I say it a lot, but OH, MY!
http://wethepeople09171787.blogspot.com/2009/08/this-should-seriously-piss-you-off-and.html
What would Dorothy say?
"Toto, I don't think we're in America any more?"
Further research has found that the man in uniform is actually a Fairfax County Schools Security Officer, but does this change anything? Perhaps a bit-- but not enough to NOT scare anyone who has any hopes of expressing their first amendment rights. He was still acting under authority-- telling the protester what to do-- threatening arrest-- acting like a member of law enforcement.
Hey-- isn't there a law against that?
As for the law against sharing your political views during school board meetings? I find no evidence of that. In our school district, we cannot be in our "employee" roll and persuade someone one way or another to vote. But this was a non-school activity, that had nothing to do with a current voting situation. It was a town hall meeting--about health care-- that happened to be on school property. (Since school property is paid for by taxes, it's considered to be public property-- so it can be used for things like the town hall meeting without having anything to do with school in particular.)
Again-- Oh, MY!
Hopefully, Officer Wesley Cheeks will have some explaining to do. HOPEFULLY, he was NOT acting under any authority that he was given to do what he did. HOPEFULLY he wasn't told to do it.
http://wethepeople09171787.blogspot.com/2009/08/this-should-seriously-piss-you-off-and.html
What would Dorothy say?
"Toto, I don't think we're in America any more?"
Further research has found that the man in uniform is actually a Fairfax County Schools Security Officer, but does this change anything? Perhaps a bit-- but not enough to NOT scare anyone who has any hopes of expressing their first amendment rights. He was still acting under authority-- telling the protester what to do-- threatening arrest-- acting like a member of law enforcement.
Hey-- isn't there a law against that?
As for the law against sharing your political views during school board meetings? I find no evidence of that. In our school district, we cannot be in our "employee" roll and persuade someone one way or another to vote. But this was a non-school activity, that had nothing to do with a current voting situation. It was a town hall meeting--about health care-- that happened to be on school property. (Since school property is paid for by taxes, it's considered to be public property-- so it can be used for things like the town hall meeting without having anything to do with school in particular.)
Again-- Oh, MY!
Hopefully, Officer Wesley Cheeks will have some explaining to do. HOPEFULLY, he was NOT acting under any authority that he was given to do what he did. HOPEFULLY he wasn't told to do it.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Gone Shootin' Verse 2
My friends, Laura and Kelly, and I took an NRA pistol class this weekend, as well as the CHL class necessary to carry concealed handguns. NEVER have I thought that I could have so much fun shooting a gun (Gone Shootin' entry was about the first time I had been to a gun range since high school-- and I wasn't very good "way back then"). But MAN-O-MAN, did we have fun!
We took the classes through Capitol Area Practical Shooting. Our instructors were GREAT--a husband-wife team. Saturday we took the NRS First Steps Pistol and Practical Pistol courses. We shot up close as well as far away. We shot slowly, quickly, and everything in between. My personal favorite was the exercise where John, our instructor, said the color name of a target, and we shot that color twice. It was pretty fast paced; it was the most challenging as far as making the target things we did. I was most impressed with myself in that I made most hits. The reason being is that I have HORRIBLE aim-- well, most of the time. I've never been one for team sports, and don't EVEN ask Stu about my horseshoe playing ability.
As for my shooting partners-- I was WAY impressed with them as well. They've shot way more than I have-- and it definitely shows. Laura is now 28 weeks pregnant, and she ROCKED! She was so cute out there with her little belly...although her hoo-hoos got in the way a bit with moving the gun from "low-ready" to shooting position.
Kelly was quite amusing herself-- couldn't decide which eye to close while aiming-- and couldn't decide which gun to use while shooting. I was impressed with the fact that she wasn't just learning-- but she was working on breaking the habit of closing the wrong eye (she's right handed, and was taught to shoot by her left- handed Dad). She shot the best of all of us during our CHL qualifying test.
Which brings me to the next part. We were the only "trainees" out on the range yesterday. The others were our instructor, John, the gun range "dude", Billy, and Will, the neighbor. While we, "the girls" worked on each exercise, "the boys" kept trying to ensue a sense of competition between us. While I understand that competitiveness is a part of both male and female makeup to some extent, it's not so present BETWEEN the three of us "girls." So pushing to be competitive with each other was...well, to use a Star Trek word...futile. So Kelly shot a hundreth of a second faster-- "It's okay"-- "Good Job, Kelly." OR when I shot a hundredth of a second faster-- "It's okay." The timer buzzer freaked Laura out a little, since she doesn't like that "pressure" feeling so much (she's definitely more of a thinker here)-- Kelly and I said "It's okay. You're doing great."
Kelly "beat" me at our qualifying test. She got a 240/250, and I got 239/250. Billy told Kelly, "Okay, do it now."
"What?"
"Talk smack to your Friend."
"I'm not going to do that. She did a good job."
"So did you, Kelly," I said, "I'm proud of you."
Then men just shook their heads.
Oh-- and Laura got a 231. She was a little upset, but Kelly and I told her that since the average women's score is about 215, 231 was MORE than sufficient. ESPECIALLY at 28 weeks pregnant and 100+ degrees. 231 is WONDERFUL.
Laura had to leave early, so Kelly and I finished up ourselves. Before we left, we shot at a target 126 yards away-- the distance from Billy's porch to the heavy-duty target at the range. Can you believe that I hit the target with EVERY SHOT?!?! Absolutely amazing, if you ask me. I would have never thought I could do it. Kelly missed the first 2 shots, and then realized that she was shooting with the wrong eye closed, and then after that, she shot most of the ones she attempted. Pretty darn good, if you ask me. Especially with a pistol.
Today wasn't near as much fun-- we sat through the CHL class; mostly a sit-and-listen bit. John and Julianna did a great job, though-- given the structure of the class. We did enjoy it, though.
To remember our great day at NRA pistol class, we took a photo with John:
Pretty fun, eh?Oh-- and my DEAR WONDERFUL LOVING husband cleaned our pistol today while I was at the CHL class. It needed it-- oh, MY-- that gun was NASTY after shooting 500 or so rounds through it yesterday. (It was one that Kelly used, too). I thought he would make me clean it-- as dirty as it was-- but he did it this time.
This time. I have a feeling that next time, it will be me.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
MY oh, MY!
Things just keep getting better...
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/1565
Perhaps there's hope for Obama himself to get a PMF after he runs the country into the ground...
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/politics/1565
Perhaps there's hope for Obama himself to get a PMF after he runs the country into the ground...
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Gone Shootin'
Yesterday, we packed up ol' Buttercup with the family and headed to the gun range. I'll be taking my CHL class in a few weeks, and needed some practice. Not being the best aimer (even at horseshoes), I was a little concerned with how I would do with the pistol.
However, much to my surprise (since it's been a LOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG time since I've shot a gun), I did fairly well. All my shots with the 9mm that I'll be qualifying with were well within the 8-ring. As Stu said-- "a perfect score."
The best part of the day was on the way home, when Stu turned to me and said, "Nice job, Honey."
Today, the boys are off to play golf; perhaps I'll get a few things done for school.
Perhaps.
However, much to my surprise (since it's been a LOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG time since I've shot a gun), I did fairly well. All my shots with the 9mm that I'll be qualifying with were well within the 8-ring. As Stu said-- "a perfect score."
(This isn't mine-- just an example to show where the "8 ring" is. It's faint, but there.)
Mike and Stu shot some-- seemed to enjoy themselves, and did well-- even with the big 44 Magnum. Dirty Harry can keep his gun, as far as I'm concerned-- well, Dirty Harry, Stu, and Mike. It's a bit much for me. Our friends Shawn and Kelly came out as well-- Shawn tried out the 44. I don't think he'd say no if anyone offered to hand it over to him...
Kelly did great--although she's still recovering from learning to shoot as a left-eye dominant while she's really a right-eye dominant. I was impressed! I'm looking forward to taking the CHL class with her and Laura. Shawn says we'll be the best defended 3rd grade hall in the state...
Connor and Chance had a *excuse me for the pun* chance to shoot, too.
Connor said he thought it was cool-- "First time shooting a pistol and I got 3 in the x."
Chance said, "I had fun, but I was kinda nervous. My legs were shaking I was so scared."
The best part of the day was on the way home, when Stu turned to me and said, "Nice job, Honey."
Today, the boys are off to play golf; perhaps I'll get a few things done for school.
Perhaps.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Oh, my...
Hail to the ch-ch-ch-chief....
http://www.chiaobama.com/
I can't tell which side would have come up with this...
I did send the link to Bill O'Reilly; let's see if he talks about it on the Factor...
http://www.chiaobama.com/
I can't tell which side would have come up with this...
I did send the link to Bill O'Reilly; let's see if he talks about it on the Factor...
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