Opinions please.....

[BEG]

I want to get your opinion on something that kind of pissed me off yesterday.  Lauren (my 15 year old) is in 9th grade.  She told me yesterday that her English teacher showed the Palin/Biden Saturday Night Live "debate" parody in her class.  She said that the teacher has made it clear that she supports Obama.  Lauren said that it was to show what satire was but she felt that the teacher was mocking Palin.  Lauren felt alienated in her view of liking Palin because a lot of kids were laughing at Palin calling her stupid, idiotic and unqualified and the teacher never corrected them.  In fact, she felt the teacher wanted them to come away with the view that Palin was stupid and unqualified by the way she presented the video.

What I want to know is, is it ok for an English teacher to do this?  At what point would you say the teacher crossed the line?  My gut reaction is that the teacher shouldn't have used the SNL skit in the class room.  There are a ton of other examples she could have used to demonstrate what "satire" is. With all the subtle ways that teachers can influence a child's view, this makes me feel that this is just another nail in the coffin of indoctrination.

So would you say anything to the teacher or principle or just leave it be?  I have never been confronted with anything like this before.  Even with my son who is in his 2nd year of college I have never been confronted with anything similar.  Am I making too much of this?  I don't want anything that I say to influence how she is treated by this teacher.  Currently she has an A+ in this class.

[Rebel]

I think it's a buncha BS. A teacher's job is to teach, NOT indoctrinate kids into their way of thinking. The school system would be hearing from me.   

[Chris_]

It's called electioneering, and in most work places, it's grounds for disciplinary action.

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

Teachers are not allowed to stump for either party when they are working! That's the general rule. No t-shirts,no campaign signage,no shows of support whatsoever!

[Tantal]

It's called electioneering, and in most work places, it's grounds for disciplinary action.

I don't think that would work when the audience is unable to vote, but I'm no lawyer.

BEG, you don't by chance own a handgun do you?

[Lord Undies]

This teacher is suppose to be teaching English, not politics.  She is wasting class time on something which has nothing to do with the study of English.  I would indeed let my displeasure be known.  Write a note directly to this teacher with an implication you will not keep it between you and her next time.

I was the "parent from hell" when my kids were in school.  I stayed on top of every issue.  I had a couple of teacher try to punish my kids for my activism.  I was on top of that too.  

The way I look at it, your daughter may as well have skipped that class yesterday.  She was scheduled to learn English.  She, instead, was mired in politics.  This is unacceptable.

If this teacher wanted to expose the student to "parody", she had plenty of other non-political examples to use.  I would not put up with it for two seconds.  

[BEG]

I was worried that I was over reacting but from the looks of all your responses it looks like I wasn't.  I asked my husband, my Mom and a few friends and they all said I should say something but were afraid that it would affect Lauren's relationship with the teacher and her grades. 

So do you think I should complain to the teacher, the principal or both?

[Chris_]

I don't think that would work when the audience is unable to vote, but I'm no lawyer.

BEG, you don't by chance own a handgun do you?

Hey, if they can EXPEL a 7th grader for wearing an anti-Obamessiah tee-shirt to class - where the audience is unable to vote - then they can discipline an electioneering teacher.

[Lord Undies]

I was worried that I was over reacting but from the looks of all your responses it looks like I wasn't.  I asked my husband, my Mom and a few friends and they all said I should say something but were afraid that it would affect Lauren's relationship with the teacher and her grades. 

So do you think I should complain to the teacher, the principal or both?

Are you skipping my posts now?   

[BEG]

I don't think that would work when the audience is unable to vote, but I'm no lawyer.

BEG, you don't by chance own a handgun do you?

LOL no I don't Tantal but my husband owns a shot gun.  Perhaps I should show up carrying that.  

[BEG]

Are you skipping my posts now?   

No of course not but your opinion isn't the be all end all.         

[whiffleball]

Oh, wow!  I'd be royally pissed, but I tend to knee jerk when it comes to my kids.  No, you're not making too much out of it.

The teacher is way off base revealing her presidential choice to her students, thereby campaigning in the classroom.  She knows she has a captive audience and AFAIC this incident is abusive of her position and her students.  SNL as a teaching tool?

This teacher's methods entirely inappropriate and I'd be arranging a meeting with the principle to discuss it.  Be ready for backlash if you decide to go that route.

What a damn shame!  I'm sorry.

[Lord Undies]

No of course not but your opinion isn't the be all end all.         

sez YOU.

[BEG]

sez YOU.

I am the only one that matters.   

[Lord Undies]

I am the only one that matters.   

You got me there, you little vixen.   

[BEG]

Someone write the letter for me.   

[Miss Mia]

BEG I would write a letter, that was completely inappropriate.  I would write a letter to the teacher that you find that unacceptable (most especially in an English class).  It should be to the point, not overly nice or mean, just that you mean business.

Politics has no place in any class other than government, and even then it shouldn't lean to one side or the other. 



edited to add:  Write a letter to the teacher and CC it to the principal.

[DarkHalo]

I was worried that I was over reacting but from the looks of all your responses it looks like I wasn't.  I asked my husband, my Mom and a few friends and they all said I should say something but were afraid that it would affect Lauren's relationship with the teacher and her grades. 

So do you think I should complain to the teacher, the principal or both?

I had somethign similar when my oldest was in 3rd grade. At an open house the teacher had the students read aloud letters they had written to the president of Brazil asking him to stop destroying 'our' rain forests. I was furious. I complained and not a damned thing was accomplished. That really surprised me as our school district is much more conservative than most. The problem was the administration was almost powerless because of the teachers union.

I would go ahead and complain but dont be surprised if it falls on deaf ears.

I got my revenge shortly thereafter as I was a field tech on digital duplicators at the time for that same teachers union main office, lol. They were using it to print out propganda for Dem candidates and it was amazing how long the parts it needed time and again *snicker* would take to arrive....

[Wineslob]

What, no cops jumping out of the bushes? FAIL.   

[Randy]

Do the letter then meet with the Principal and demand to get your daughter moved from the class to avoid retaliation. You know how those Demoncrats are....

[BEG]

What, no cops jumping out of the bushes? FAIL.   

I wanted to include the cops but couldn't figure how to work them into the story.

[Lord Undies]

Someone write the letter for me.   

Dear Liberal Bitch:

Back off your political shit in class or I am going to have your ass.  I know what car you drive.

Very Sincerely,

One pissed-off Mom

[Rebel]

Dear Liberal Bitch:

Back off your political shit in class or I am going to have your ass.  I know what car you drive.

Very Sincerely,

One pissed-off Mom

+1 

[Lord Undies]

Dear Ms. XXXX-

Lauren told me about you showing the clip from NBC's Saturday Night Live skit with vice-president candidate Sarah Palin.  Lauren said she felt like you were making light of Gov. Palin and advocating for Senator Obama.  I find this unacceptable.

You, Ms. XXXX, were hired to teach English to my child.  I expect nothing less and nothing more.  Your politics are not appreciated at this time or ever.

I think you stole a day of education from my child.  My tax dollars pay your salary, so I also think you stole from me.  I will not have it.  

If my daughter had skipped your class that day, she would have hell to pay.  The fact you skipped your duties should have no less consequences.

This note is between you and me.  If it makes no difference in your future behavior towards your duties as a teacher, it will be between everyone and me.  I will not be deterred.  

Sincerely,

Lauren's Mother

[Thor]

I had a similar circumstance happen while my daughter was in 11th grade. Seems that her geography teacher was a die hard liberal. I called the principal and complained. I also told the principal that I wanted NO repercussions from her teacher. I checked with my daughter afterwards and she informed me that his rhetoric had ceased.