Teacher gets reprimand for classroom remarks

[TheSarge]

A Fayetteville teacher whose classroom encounter with a young John McCain supporter created a stir on YouTube has confirmed that she was given a disciplinary letter.

But Diatha Harris said an internal investigation of her conduct cleared the veteran educator of violating state law or Cumberland County Board of Education policy.

Harris, 53, was videotaped in the spring by a Swedish film crew, leading a classroom discussion about the 2008 presidential election with fifth-graders at Mary McArthur Elementary School.

During the discussion, Harris called the Iraq war “senseless” and told her pupils that U.S. troops could stay in Iraq for 100 years if McCain was president.

“So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years,” Harris told pupil Cathy Thompson in the classroom footage.

In other scenes shot outside the classroom, Harris sports a Barack Obama campaign button.

The video aired in a documentary broadcast on Finnish television earlier this month. A blogger posted snippets from the broadcast on YouTube, and Internet viewers responded by bombarding Superintendent Bill Harrison’s office with calls for Harris to be fired.

Harris has apologized to the pupil and her parents, Army Staff Sgt. Robert Thompson and Angela Moore. But the parents have said they didn’t object to how Harris handled herself in the classroom.

In interviews this week, Harris downplayed the significance of the written reprimand from Harrison. She has not made the letter public

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=311722

[Lord Undies]

There should be only a letter of dismissal.  Anyone who shows such emotional immaturity and lack of judgment should be fired immediately. 

We take who we allow to influence our children too lightly.  It should be the first priority.  There is no excuse for allowing this woman to continue in her role.  She is poison.

[Miss Mia]

There should be only a letter of dismissal.  Anyone who shows such emotional immaturity and lack of judgment should be fired immediately. 

We take who we allow to influence out children too lightly.  It should be the first priority.  There is no excuse for allowing this woman to continue in her role.  She is poison.

I agree. 

[TheSarge]

There should be only a letter of dismissal.  Anyone who shows such emotional immaturity and lack of judgment should be fired immediately. 

We take who we allow to influence our children too lightly.  It should be the first priority.  There is no excuse for allowing this woman to continue in her role.  She is poison.

Couldn't agree more.  Because now she will look at what happened to her as justification that she was right and a green light to continue to foist her idiot opinions on young kids...even if it reduces some to tears.

[Eupher]

Agreed about the teacher.

But what is even more appalling is the apparent disinterest by the parents of the youngster.   

He's wearing a uniform, for God's sake. You'd think he'd have a clue. Either these two haven't quite figured out the harm done to their own daughter due to cluelessness or they truly don't give a shit.

Mrs. E is a licensed teacher. She has said many, many times over the years that teachers are generally in a poor position to positively affect a youngster if their parents aren't dialed in to their kid's life.

[thundley4]

When this first happened and heard the parents response, my first thought was that they were afraid of charges of racism from the teacher and possibly the school.

[Baruch Menachem]

Probably told him it is just a learning experience.    I had teachers like that when I was in high school.   Which is why, despite many of my views, I fit better here than at DU, which logicley would be a better home for me than here, but there are too many creepy like her over there for me to feel comfortable.

I remember one mad lib teacher in particular in high school who reported me to the vice principles office for truancy when I questioned her on something.   That is my definition of what liberalism means to me.

I only visited the vice principles office twice on business the whole time i was there.  (He was a good dude and was fun to chat with in the hall)

[whiffleball]

Second teacher investigated for political remarks
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3955900/

Posted: Nov. 13, 2008

Fayetteville, N.C. — Cumberland County Schools are investigating a complaint that a second teacher made partisan political comments in the classroom.

Parent Tenesia Jackson filed a complaint alleging that Melissa Smith, a teacher at Mac Williams Middle School, made disparaging comments about President-elect Barack Obama on Nov. 6, school-system spokeswoman Wanda McPhaul said.

In the complaint, Jackson said that her 11-year-old daughter and other students in Smith's social-studies class had talked about their excitement at Obama's election.

The complaint alleges that Smith told students not to be upset if their parents' tax dollars went to "a 13-year-old girl for an abortion." McPhaul said the complaint also accuses Smith of posing hypothetical questions, including: If you were a waitress, how would feel if your customer gave your tip to a homeless person who had an Obama sign?

[thundley4]

Second teacher investigated for political remarks
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3955900/

Posted: Nov. 13, 2008

Fayetteville, N.C. — Cumberland County Schools are investigating a complaint that a second teacher made partisan political comments in the classroom.

Parent Tenesia Jackson filed a complaint alleging that Melissa Smith, a teacher at Mac Williams Middle School, made disparaging comments about President-elect Barack Obama on Nov. 6, school-system spokeswoman Wanda McPhaul said.

In the complaint, Jackson said that her 11-year-old daughter and other students in Smith's social-studies class had talked about their excitement at Obama's election.

The complaint alleges that Smith told students not to be upset if their parents' tax dollars went to "a 13-year-old girl for an abortion." McPhaul said the complaint also accuses Smith of posing hypothetical questions, including: If you were a waitress, how would feel if your customer gave your tip to a homeless person who had an Obama sign?

Now this teacher will be fired and maybe tried for hate speech. 

[Eupher]

Teachers are obligated to help their students find their own answers. Regardless of which side of the political spectrum the teacher finds himself, that side must be kept hidden from the students.

Failure to do so is failure to teach and should be dealt with accordingly through disciplinary measures and termination, if necessary.

Bully pulpits have no place in the classroom.

That goes for Offense #1 (which is confirmed, IMHO) as well as Offense #2, (if the allegation is true).

[AllosaursRus]

Teachers are obligated to help their students find their own answers. Regardless of which side of the political spectrum the teacher finds himself, that side must be kept hidden from the students.

Failure to do so is failure to teach and should be dealt with accordingly through disciplinary measures and termination, if necessary.

Bully pulpits have no place in the classroom.

That goes for Offense #1 (which is confirmed, IMHO) as well as Offense #2, (if the allegation is true).

I'll lay odds the second is a.............wait for it.............A BOUNCY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ptarmigan]

She should be given the pink slip. When I was in school, I never had a teacher who engaged in this type of behavior that Diantha Harris did.

[Baruch Menachem]

I had several.  They were pretty much detested.   They did their cause no good among the students.

We also had several who did it the right way too.  IE, opened things up for well moderated discussion.  That was also enlightening.  Democrats are appalling in their "me first, last, always, forever" attitude.   Also in their ability to change sides on a topic on a dime.