|
|
Post by robin on Oct 7, 2009 8:14:21 GMT -8
Can you believe that this is actually happening in America? This is why I send my kids to private school. Could you imagine the outrage if these kids were singing praises to George W. Bush?
|
|
|
|
Post by Kirby on Oct 7, 2009 9:15:46 GMT -8
I have to say I don't see what is wrong with this. I think it is a bit premature to make BHO out to be some kind of super hero, but teachers are just being using creative methods to teach kids about current events and music. I sang songs similar to this about Reagan when I was young.
|
|
|
|
Post by christopher on Oct 7, 2009 9:54:58 GMT -8
I would be uncomfortable with this even if it were a president I liked. Public school has become too much a bully pulpit for the ideals of the individual teachers IMO.
|
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Oct 7, 2009 10:31:46 GMT -8
Yeah, so, what's it to you?  You got a problem with my students emulating Lord of the Rings characters?  !!!  I have to say I'm also against kids in school doing this kind of thing. They're not old enough to choose what they're supporting responsibly. |
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Oct 7, 2009 10:41:55 GMT -8
That's beause you went to Portland Christian!!! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by robin on Oct 7, 2009 12:18:35 GMT -8
I just find it to be very troubling. As a parent, I don't want teachers shoving their political views down the throats of my children. This type of creative teaching (to say it a nice way) is not teaching those children how to think objectively about our political leaders.
I would be interested in know how much these kids have learned about American history, and our founding fathers.
|
|
|
|
Post by robin on Oct 7, 2009 12:25:31 GMT -8
Quoting from the Obama Chant:
"Orange, yellow, black and white. All are equal in his sight. Barak Hussain Obama. hmm, hmm, hmm."
Doest this sound familiar to anyone?
Orange, yellow, black, and white. All are precious in His sight. Jesus love all the children of the world.
|
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Oct 7, 2009 12:29:09 GMT -8
That's scary.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kirby on Oct 7, 2009 13:34:35 GMT -8
I see your points, but I still do not find this troubling. Seems like it would be a good time for parents to discuss what the child is learning with the child at home. Parents are more responsible for education than schools are. Teachers should have the right to editorialize. This provides more perspective for students and allows them the opportunity to discern. Schools only become a bully pulpit if there is no education going on in the home. This silly little song is in no way going to brainwash a child politically, television does a good enough job at that. Josh wrote: No, the Reagan song was at Sunnyside Elementary, in North Clackamas School District #12. All the songs we sang at PC were about some guy named Jebus I think it was...  |
|
|
|
Post by robin on Oct 7, 2009 13:47:44 GMT -8
Kirbstomp,
Do you have kids?
|
|
|
|
Post by robin on Oct 7, 2009 14:07:46 GMT -8
I'm fortunate enough to have the money to send my children to a private School, and decide what kind of education that my children receive. Unfortunately this is not an option to every parent. In some cases parents can home school, but this may not be an option either for a variety of reasons. So what we have is a large part of our children stuck in a public school system with no other options. For those parents who would not want to have their children indoctrinated into believe that Obama is a Noble and praise worthy leader, what option do they have? Fight the school district. Even if they were to successfully fight the school and experience any level of victory, this leaves the child exposed to unfavorable treatment by teachers and staff. For this reason most parents don't challenge the schools and such matters.
Whether you see it or not, a line was crossed. If a child is constantly being told by their parents that they disagree with what the teachers are teaching them, eventually the child will no longer trust anything the teachers says, therefore causing an educational block. Why should it ever come to this? The teacher in the video (who should be fired) should be spending time teaching the kids history, math, science, reading, and spelling. Not forcing these unsuspecting children to praise Obama. It's no wonder our public schools are failing, and our kids are entering adulthood uneducated, and unprepared.
To have these kids praising Obama is not better than a Christian teacher forcing their public school students to praise Jesus.
No offense Josh. I'm certain that you are a great teacher.
Robin
|
|
|
|
Post by Kirby on Oct 7, 2009 14:53:56 GMT -8
No, Robin, I do not have kids. And you make valid points...our public school system is horrible. Where I disagree with you is about the "educational block". I do not think children should be told that their teacher is "wrong" but rather that there are different viewpoints out there, and the child should learn how to discern on his or her own what path to take. This is tougher with young children, but still should be done. I also fail to see how this silly little song is, as you put it, "indoctrinating". It is a fun little song that gets kids to think about who their president is. Would you not say children should learn current events? You may disagree with his politics and methods, but Obama is trying to make the country a better place, just like GWB, JFK, and any other president did. I agree, and stated in my first post, that it is too early to make Obama a hero, but he already is in some regards.. I mean, he is not only the first Black man to hold the post, but also the first socialist, too. Sounds like History to me. Media Literacy is a good thing. It's also not as if this is government sanctioned curriculum we are talking about here, it is one teacher. Maybe he/she is a poor teacher and should be fired, but over a silly little song like this? |
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Oct 7, 2009 17:00:14 GMT -8
Well, you can bet it's just the tip of the iceburg at that school! I just want to clarify that no teacher would be allowed to do that sort of thing in our public school district or any that I know of here in Oregon these days (though I wouldn't put it past Portland Public  ) We weren't even allowed to require students to watch the Presidential address to students. |
|
|
|
Post by christopher on Oct 7, 2009 17:21:17 GMT -8
Only when you make them into Orcses...my precious.
|
|
|
|
Post by meghan on Oct 7, 2009 20:00:41 GMT -8
I don't like this at all. In fact, I don't like most political stuff our kids are required to do at school. I'm probably more conservative than most about this. However, I think it's kind of sad to state that most kids are "stuck" in the public school. My poor, unfortunate students.
|
|
|
|
Post by robin on Oct 7, 2009 20:05:58 GMT -8
Hi kirbstomp,
And you think that the teacher laid out an objective case on pro's and con's of Obama's policies so the children can start to develop an opinion on these matters? I think not. This is indoctrination. These children don't have the intelligence or life experience to determine whether Obama deserves this kind of adoration, and they are being taught to do just that. This teacher is taking advantage of these children, and abusing their authority. The teacher should be fired.
What does the song teach the children to think?
Again, what are they learning? They are being given a very bias view of Obama, and learning nothing of the current political environment. These children probably believe that the whole world is in love with Obama, and they don't realize that half of the country disapproves of his leadership and policies, and why.
No he's not the first socialist. Let's not forget about FDR, and Jimmy Carter.
My understanding is that these children were performing before a School board meeting in front of school administrators.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kirby on Oct 7, 2009 20:39:12 GMT -8
Robin,
You are making excellent points. It truly is causing me to rethink my position. All I have is my experience and memories from childhood. I always questioned my teachers, at least internally. I never really took stock in what they said until I carefully considered it myself.
I still don't think it is that big of a deal. I still think teachers should be able to practice free speech in the classroom though, and although this is a slippery slope, should be able to speak to their personal thoughts on politics and religion. Further, kids should be taught to be accepting and open of people's diverse points of view, and then taught how to discern from among these. Maybe it is too utopian of an ideal to be realistic, but that is what I think.
Speaking of slippery slopes, you wrote:
Using this line of reasoning, should you or anyone else teach Christian doctrine and Christian praise songs to children, since they might not posess the knowledge or experience to know if the person they are praising deserves the adoration? Is that an abuse of authority? Should you talk to your kids about your own political ideologies? ideas of morality? or social justice?
|
|
You got a problem with my students emulating Lord of the Rings characters?
!!! 
