Lt. General Jay Silveria at the Air Force Academy spells it out plainly...

[EarnestPutz]

....to the students there, that after there were racist comments posted
at the Academy, that anyone there who could not treat everyone
with dignity and respect, they should "get out". This means leave the
prestigious school they worked hard to get into. His speech to the entire
school, staff faculty and all, is pretty amazing.

I've thought of the Air Force Academy, in recent years, as a crypto-fascist,
right-wing, ultra-christian collection of bigots. But this really shows that the
Obama administration cleaned that up. What do you think?

[BigmanPigman]

1. I had to give a talk to my former 6th grade class.

I was so angry I worked on it all weekend, kept 1/2 the class in from their break and read them the riot act after running it past my principal first. I was so serious and pissed and they could tell. It made most of them cry since they knew they were being total shits to one student in particular. She came to me in confidence and wanted to know "why she had to be alive?". It had been getting worse for a few weeks and that is what put me over the top. Parents spoke to me afterwards after they had heard about it and thanked me. More figures in positions of authority (like teachers when parents don't do it themselves) need to do this while they are young.

[EarnestPutz]

2. Thank you so much. Did not expect this sort of response.

But I am truly moved. "Why do I have to be alive?" From a 6th
grader. Unbelievable. Lt. General Silveria has a great partner in you, in demanding
the change that we need to make sure that we treat everyone with
dignity and respect. Thank you. Really.

[BigmanPigman]

3. I wrote this about something I did during my first year teaching

20 years ago. When I read your post it reminded me of my "talk" with my class over a similar behavior that I noticed was occuring in my classroom. I had control of my class and everyone's safety was my responsibility. I only had to address it that one time so I guess it had the desired impact.

That particular student moved the following year and we wrote letters and kept in touch for a while. When she was in high school she found me and ended up writing a book of poetry and dedicated it to me and another teacher. I am just glad I was able to help and I wish that today I could "talk" to the many adults who act as cruel and hurtful as my students did.

[3catwoman3]

4. Now THAT...

...is a leader.

[lovemydogs]

5. This guy has my respect and wish someone like him was our president

Instead of that vulgar bigot

[raven mad]

6. It was a little different when I was on staff.

We'd have kicked the racists collective asses.

[oberliner]

7. This turned out to be a hoax

Still a great speech though.