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Fifth Column |
Great Moments in Public Education: Teachers Harass Servicemen’s Children |
2003-02-25 |
From the WSJ's Best of the Web Today by James Taranto. Bloggers Joe Katzman and Trent Telenko pick up on a disturbing report from WABI-TV in Bangor, Maine (video is here), that children of Maine National Guardsmen who've been deployed to the Gulf have found themselves facing schoolyard taunts--not from fellow students but from "antiwar" teachers. Here's a quote from the WABI report: Alan Grover, WABI-TV: "What the kids are facing is hearing that their mother or father is a bad person for taking part in the confrontation with Iraq; comments that are coming from teachers. That's according to officers with the Guard's Family Assistance Program who've been traveling throughout the state this week. The officers report that such incidents are relatively few in number but that they've occurred in practically every region of the state." . . . Most of the children involved, WABI reports, are between seven and nine years old. Mr. Telenko's blog has more information: . . . I originally saw this article as an item over on the FreeRepublic.com web site. Then I called around and e-mailed and found that there are similar cases happening to military kids in Texas and Kansas as well. This is what the Maine National Guard sent to the parents of one of the victimized children: ""Thank you for your interest on this most troubling matter. Our Family Assistance Centers have reported cases from Aroostook County to Southern Maine. We are reluctant to give out specific schools and the individuals involved in the interest of giving the education community a chance to address the problem itself. Also, parents wanted the opportunity to pursue the issue through their local school boards first. Amazing the atrocities some people will commit in the name of "peace." |
Posted by:Mike |
#9 This was written and posted by my son(impressed me). I think that the teachers shouldn"t be allowed to teach or talk about any thing that does not have to do with there subject they teach unless it's about the news. But thats only when the teachers don't act out like they did with the children. I'm only 14 but I have conversation with my english class and teacher abut what the happening in the world like with North Korea and iraq. Edward O. manues |
Posted by: raptor 2003-02-26 09:36:40 |
#8 What the HELL,where do they thing they are teaching,a madrassa.These educaters(and I use the term with a great deal of hesitation)should be fired and thier teaching certificates pulled.They should be banned from teaching for life! |
Posted by: raptor 2003-02-26 08:48:14 |
#7 Assuming this isn't in the category of urban legend, I feel nothing but contempt for such sanctimonious losers On the bright side, it's never too early to start learning contempt for authority. These are kids at the cusp of learning rational distrust of people who want nothing more than to lord it over you, and I'm pretty liberal! |
Posted by: Hiryu 2003-02-26 07:56:17 |
#6 Joe: I meant the phrase "Trent's blog" to refer to "Trent's blog posting" rather than as an attribution of exclusive ownership, but I can see where that was imprecise and I apologize for the confusion. Commendations to both of you for getting this story out and keeping on it. |
Posted by: Mike 2003-02-26 05:11:01 |
#5 Vouchers. Once parents who experience this can move their tax dollars elsewhere, this will change fast. And the blog isn't Trent's... it's a group effort. That minor point aside, thanks to all for helping us get the word out. |
Posted by: Joe Katzman 2003-02-26 01:42:07 |
#4 dirty rotten scoundrels, lowlife bludgers. |
Posted by: anon 2003-02-25 22:48:30 |
#3 Vouchers? |
Posted by: Frank G 2003-02-25 21:13:38 |
#2 Something about picking on someone your own size comes to mind right about now.... |
Posted by: Dreadnought 2003-02-25 19:09:24 |
#1 I sent this to talk radio wls. I think I'll also pass on Taranto's link. Maine will not like the spotlight. |
Posted by: Anonymous 2003-02-25 17:43:34 |