tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post4359131106413191506..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: Teacher Free SpeechDarrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-16599963702738891852007-05-30T11:56:00.000-07:002007-05-30T11:56:00.000-07:00Beverly Tucker, head counsel for the California Te...Beverly Tucker, head counsel for the California Teachers Association, is hardly a proponent of free speech. She supported a decision to dismiss a teacher for filing grievances and a lawsuit.Maura Larkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16800561169406889185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-20624493711344417502007-05-21T21:48:00.000-07:002007-05-21T21:48:00.000-07:00I sense a compliment in there, Nigel, but I view m...I sense a compliment in there, Nigel, but I view myself as a math teacher first and everything else second. Our political discussions may be more in the front of your mind because they're far more entertaining than the ambiguous case of the law of sines, but you've learned much more math than anything else in my class.<BR/><BR/>And are you saying that you get "just the facts, ma'am" in history class? Maybe *that* is why history is so often boring. I'm with socialist James Loewen on this one; he's author of Lies My Teacher Told Me. I don't agree with his slant on history, but it's sure a lot more interesting to learn it his way than just names, dates, and places.<BR/><BR/>As for your political aspirations, give them up now while you're young. When I'm elected World Dictator, things are *really* gonna change!!!Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-45173669863741239772007-05-21T19:13:00.000-07:002007-05-21T19:13:00.000-07:00No reason that they should "feel bad" about it, bu...No reason that they should "feel bad" about it, but why is it that a teacher cannot teach about communism, let alone just talk about it?<BR/><BR/>It's a valid form of economics/politics, regardless of whether or not you or I agree with it.<BR/><BR/>I can understand their side of the argument. They see us a "flowers to be preserved." Of course. It's outrageously demeaning, as you can easily see.<BR/><BR/>You preach your conservative rhetoric quite frequently...and I haven't changed because of it. I don't think anyone has. Now then, you've enlightened me on numerous topics, and given me a different perspective on history and politics——a side that I do not experience in AP US History, for example. The Blendizzle gives us the history, not so much on the commentary. <BR/><BR/>Yet you do. You're an educator first, a math teacher second; that's how I see it, and I'm sure many agree with it.<BR/><BR/>Your job is to teach me. If you finish teaching me math, and I turn down any extra assistance, then why is it that you can't bash on my fellow liberals and me? <BR/><BR/>If I'm ok with it, so should they.<BR/><BR/>Seriously, the world will be such a better place when I'm Herr Dictator Almighty of the Democratic Republic of Earth.<BR/><BR/>We won't have to deal with this school district garbage.ningelitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04416884128622953653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-87969558251622200632007-05-21T16:57:00.000-07:002007-05-21T16:57:00.000-07:00Again, no government should feel at all bad about ...Again, no government should feel at all bad about refusing to spend money on those who advocate for that government's downfall.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-13592907131398609302007-05-17T15:40:00.000-07:002007-05-17T15:40:00.000-07:00true....but what if an employee wants to praise co...true....but what if an employee wants to praise communism just as much as an employee wants to praise capitolism? should one be allowed and not the other?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-77911278780852301392007-05-16T20:20:00.000-07:002007-05-16T20:20:00.000-07:00Interesting that you bring up that little slice of...Interesting that you bring up that little slice of ed code, Scott, and here's how I'll answer it.<BR/><BR/>Communism is an ideology that requires destruction of the current state. No government should have to *pay* employees to try to inspire the destruction of the state.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-75100096189157910182007-05-16T20:13:00.000-07:002007-05-16T20:13:00.000-07:00two things:1. if it was ruled that teachers could ...two things:<BR/><BR/>1. if it was ruled that teachers could not cite their oppinions, does that mean a teacher can not allow a student to cite theirs? what if a student was citing incorrect information about his or her oppinion, would the teacher not be allowed to provide feedback with correct information without giving away his or her oppinion? while we're young, students need to learn to stand up against opposition. meaning, we should learn in a constructive environment (school) about being able to stand up to our opinions when confronted by someone in authority.<BR/><BR/>and why is it always in schools? why can a boss argue with an employee about his or her oppinion? could the person in charge of job training (which counts as school) be forbiden to even slightly mention his or her oppinion? what about doctors to their patiens or coaches to teemates? do we have to limit ALL types of oppinions, or just the ones in schools, where we're SUPOSED to feel safe at and where we're SUPOSED to learn about society?<BR/><BR/>2. if it's ruled that teachers are free to talk about their oppinions, then wouldn't it be a double standard that teachers can't talk about communism? if i'm not mistaken, i think i remember hearing a teacher mention that history teachers can teach about communism, but can't express their opinions. ...doesnt that leave a double standard? a teacher can talk about why he or she loves democracy or capitalism, but not why he or she hates or loves communism. why?<BR/><BR/>just a couple thoughtsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-18811704346160126032007-05-16T08:07:00.000-07:002007-05-16T08:07:00.000-07:00I lived in Bloomington for over 30 years. Blooming...I lived in Bloomington for over 30 years. Bloomington is as moonbatty as Berkeley, especially the school administrations. There's more to this than what the story reports. No way would a teacher in Bloomington be canned for this--though I can easily imagine a teacher in Bloomington being fired for supporting the war.rightwingprofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12419372059353408855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-69530497082361594602007-05-16T04:22:00.000-07:002007-05-16T04:22:00.000-07:00I'm curious to see what precedents will be set on ...I'm curious to see what precedents will be set on this issue in the near future. As a staunch advocate of civil liberties, I certainly don't want to infringe on anyone else's. But I'm an opinionated guy and I love debate. (That may be why I've started commenting on a blog where my political views are in the infinitessimal minority.) What are my rights as a teacher? There's no Star of Atheism to wear around my neck, but if there were, could I be fired for it? I'll be teaching math and science, which have much to do with some fairly controversial subjects in today's political scene. How can I ask the students to participate in an open forum if I am forced to bite my tongue?Mr. Lucchesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489214765844797652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-19458023986089412642007-05-15T17:36:00.000-07:002007-05-15T17:36:00.000-07:00This has suddenly become a hot topic. It is a cons...This has suddenly become a hot topic. It is a constant struggle in class, especially when teaching history, not to allow your personal opinion to color the conversation. Students, like most people, have an unfortunate tendency to try to pull historical figures from their time and place them into today's situations. They want to know what Jefferson, Washington, et.al. would've done today. This his hard to counter without letting your opinion to show through. I find that students, especially, upperclassmen, have fairly polished opinions that they aren't afraid to share in class. This results in lively discussions. I merely referee to allow everyone to be heard. That absolves me of having to give my opinion while allowing them to engage in lively debate. Usually the discussions are very interesting. It is hard to not jump in but I fight the urge in order to allow their opinions to evolve through the discussion and airing of their views. <BR/>I surely am very suspicious of school boards that try to censor teachers except in the most egregious of cases. This then brings up the situation of who sets the standards.Law and Order Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11069306257334186404noreply@blogger.com