I bet they would be suspended post haste. But targeting the children of deployed National Guards seems to be OK in Maine.
In an e-mail sent to the parents of one child who had complained of harassment at school, National Guard officials said they had "over 30 complaints that name schools and individual principals, teachers and guidance counselors."
It was still not clear yesterday whether the state will discipline any of the named teachers or schools over the incidents.
"In Maine, local superintendents make local policy for local schools," said Tammy Morrill, assistant to J. Duke Albanese, state commissioner of education.
And I love this bit:
"What we're hearing is that some of the educators are talking about the possible war in Iraq being unethical and that those who would fight it are unethical," Maj. Rogers said.
Educate or indoctrinate? Seems like there may be a bit of confusion about what a teacher's role in education is supposed to be up in Maine.
Posted by Neal Mauldin at February 27, 2003 10:43 AM | TrackBackI think you are certainly right about the reaction if the teachers had harassed the children of a minority. Nobody is as intolerant as a civil servant with a captive audience and an agenda.
I'm not sure how I would fight back as a parent, I haven't had contact with the public school system yet. I do remember some rather intense verbal disagreements with teachers during the Vietnam war. It doesn't take much imagination to see that often a teacher can fall into the trap of preaching rather than teaching. When dealing with fellow students,.....well, I had my own ways. I'm pretty sure I had the distinction of being the only student at my Jr. High that was both nearly expelled for fighting, and on the national Honor Society at the same time.
Posted by: puggs43@yahoo.com on February 27, 2003 11:24 AMI posted my comments on this matter on my site today. It includes the email I sent to the Govenor of Maine.
https://radio.weblogs.com/0118284/2003/02/27.html#a87
Don
Posted by: Don on February 27, 2003 12:07 PMEarlier today I posted my comments above and the link to my site about the email I sent the Govenor of Maine.
This afternoon I received his reply. I published it on my site at:
https://radio.weblogs.com/0118284/2003/02/27.html#a91
Don
Posted by: Don on February 27, 2003 04:26 PMAs a parent I would simply tell my child. There is a difference between right and wrong. Sometimes even teachers are wrong. Your parent is fighting for the right of free speech (explain free speech) and free speech includes all ideas no matter how amazingly stupid they are. I just think it's interesting that the same people who would humiliate a child by telling them their parent's are fighting an unethical war are the same people that support the Jehovah Witness children in their right to ignore the Pledge of Allegiance.
Posted by: smohgaro on March 1, 2003 10:12 AM