UPDATE: Principal defends teacher who made abortion remarks

[bbernardini]

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-04/11-06-04/a03lo694.htm

I can't believe this jackass is defending this woman!

[Heyo]

1. This doesn't say what she said.....

...she "gave a definition" for abortion?

It doesn't say what her actual words were.. I would like to know what she actually said before I would pass judgement on this.

Heyo

[bbernardini]

2. She told the kids to tell their parents not to vote for Kerry...

...because John Kerry "kills babies". First and second graders. In music class. Clearly this woman doesn't have the common sense to live, let alone be a teacher.

[RPM]

3. Bush kills babies

in iraq. And that is true.

[goddess40]

9. abortions are up in the last four years

What a sick women to tell kids this, she should have her license to teach pulled.

[RPM]

19. yeah....

bush kills fetuses too

[goddess40]

22. Bush is pro-death

If it puts money in the pockets of his rich supporters he's all for it no matter what it is

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. Why do first and second graders need to know the definition

of abortion? I can't imagine that the kids brought it up, and she has no business expressing her political views to the students anyway.

Would the principle support her if she told the kids that she was voting for Kerry because President Bush lied about WMD's and over a thousand of our soldiers have been killed and tens of thousands of innocents Iraqis, including little children, just like them? I DON'T THINK SO!!!

[sandnsea]

8. They're SEVEN

She has no business giving 7 year olds any definition on abortion AT ALL. These are the same people who shout parental control, then turn right around and violate that "moral value" when it suits them. She should be fired, no two ways about it.

[yardwork]

33. These stories have been all over the news and the internet

As far as I can tell, a whole lot of churches told their parishioners to go out and spread the word that "Kerry kills babies" in schools last week. I've seen a half-dozen threads about this here on DU, and numerous news articles. People say that their young children came home from school last week in tears because their teachers told them that "John Kerry kills babies."

Somebody knows the truth about what happened. I think it is no coincidence that the Bush administration has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into faith-based initiatives, mostly to fund abstinence-only programs through churches. I think that the word went out from Rove to the priests and ministers to talk about abortion and John Kerry as a baby-killer on the Sunday before Election Day.

[tanyev]

5. Related to this thread

I think.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x960572

[Pale_Rider]

6. Sounds like this woman ...

... is heading for a rewarding career as Bush's new Education Secretary! Look out Paige!

[jdj]

7. it's psychologicall abusive to give this kind of info to children

before they are ready to handle it.

had she talked to them about sex she would be fired and possibly jailed.

[Charlie Brown]

10. After reading the article

I can kind of relate to the teacher here. She claims the students asked her about abortion, and she tried to come up with a definition, which put her in an awkward position. She should have avoided the topic, saying "That's something you should ask your parents about." Or something equivalent. There are some things teachers shouldn't discuss with young children, and this is one of them. She should have known better, but it was an awkward situtation. I think she shoul be suspended for a few weeks without pay, and perhaps attend a seminar on child upbringing. Firing her might be a little extreme under the circumstances.

[Q]

11. It wasn't simply a discussion about abortion...

...this teacher actually equated 'baby killing' with Kerry and the election.

[July]

24. R-I-I-I-G-H-T.

SEVEN-year-olds in MUSIC class had a burning desire to know the definition of ABORTION.

Blame the little kids while saying she doesn't remember saying things the children told their parents she said. Blame them after traumatizing them.

And you can relate to her?

[Charlie Brown]

28. Okay, then

If you had been in this woman's position, and a child or children in your charge had asked you for a definition of abortion, what would your response have been? Do you think we should fire all teachers who let their guard down occasionally and perhaps let their personal sentiments show through? If this woman had defended a woman's right to choose, and the pro-lifers were complaining, would you be as vehement about demanding her resignation?

[BlueCaliDem]

29. She should've kept her mouth shut...

...and kept her personal opinions to herself.
She isn't hired on taxpayer's money to espouse her views in the classroom with political spin from the right! Facts, are different. And what she said was morally, and factually WRONG. Plain, and simple.
Not that she had any right to even bring Kerry's name into this, but I've read that she told the child that she should go home, and tell her parents to vote for Bush, because Kerry "wants to kill babies".
What kind of malarky is that???
Being pro-choice is NOT being pro-abortion! I'm pro-choice, but am personally against abortion, yet I have the brains to understand, that not everyone has the same liberal upbringing as I have had, and may not understand what I do in order to prevent themselves from finding themselves in a horribly hard situation.
Those so-called "pro-lifers" are narrow-minded, judgmental, lacking of ANY compassion, liars, because they have NO problem in being pro-death penalty, so the mantle of "pro-lifer" is a lie. They are anti-abortionists, plain and simple, and you might be surprised how many of them have had at least one abortion themselves!
Hypocrites!
As for me? NOT ONE, thanks to my father's strict, but fair and open upbringing--and the just introduced, emergency contraceptive pill available for decades in Europe, but what the "moral majority" fought to keep out of America.

[Charlie Brown]

31. That's all fine and well

but what would you have said if the topic of abortion was brought up in a classroom and the students kept pressing you to explain it? In a situation like that, a teacher's personal beliefs are likely to stand out and it's hard for me to rationlize FIRING her. There are any number of topics which I would advise teachers to stay neutral on, but with schoolchildren it isn't always easy.

[leesa]

32. What does THIS have to do with defining abortion??

'She was not telling the children to urge their parents to vote against Sen. Kerry, said Mr. Brodeur. "She was sharing her political opinion" about her own choice, he said.'

That IS NOT defining abortion. That is playing politics and spewing religious beliefs in a public school. Get her out.

[bbernardini]

12. Apparently the story has gone national!

CNN and MSNBC have picked it up, according to somebody from the district, who also says he doesn't think she should lose her job.

[Nimrod]

13. Lying is now a moral value

Right along with hatemongering.

[snippy]

14. This is the republican party in action, not just one nutty teacher. n/t

[ticapnews]

15. Great reporting

Let's actually talk to some parents, instead of passing along the principal's remarks that no one has an unkind word to say.

Obviously, at least one person (one girl's aunt) took offense. Let's get her quote, and some other parents as well.

[Bluebear]

18. It was on the news here, 3 horrified mothers commented

and a school board member who said first graders don't even comprehend the concept of death yet, let alone kerry "killing babies".

[yardwork]

34. First graders do comprehend the meaning of death

The school counselor told me that my three-year old wouldn't understand that his cousin had died, but he did. Quite young children understand death. They understand what is meant by "Kerry kills babies" and they were horrified - as the teacher intended.

[Amigust]

20. Last time I read about this, there were plenty of parents

up in arms about it. I think we should write letters to the editor and voice the outrage.

[The Zanti Regent]

16. I'm sure a KKKristian school can't wait to snatch this CENSORED up!

AMazing how many nephews and nieces of mine went to Xtian schools and came out completely unable to think for themselves!

[oldlady]

17. OMGosh--- click the "Discuss this Story" link

in the article. There's an argument on the war between three users: "Jesus", "Christ" & "Almighty"-- bizarre...

[Sydnie]

21. This is not the first time she has done this either.

I talked to a parent from that town and they told me she has done this before (not one of the parents from this story however). Perhaps it is time to contact the state ethics committee and see if they can't put some pressure on this principal.

I remember a local campaign not that long ago that a school janitor hung a campaign sign in his broom closet (he was also the campaign manager for this candidate) and he was summarily told to remove the sign or face disciplinary action. It was reported to the state ethics committee at the time as well. I happen to know that the teachers union in this area would NOT support her if she were to be fired.

There is quite a bit of difference between encouraging your students to engage in a discussion and "campaigning in any public building", and that is plainly what she was doing.

Remember the thread not that long ago here on DU about a teacher that had been called to the principals office because another teacher complained about the political conversation in the teachers lounge? No difference except the children are in a position to BELIEVE what she says. After all, she taught them that B comes after A and 2 plus 2 equals 4 and where the fire exits are, right? They are impressionable and she took advantage of their trust.

She should be dismissed right away! No doubt in my mind.

Even if she were teaching in a "private religious school" in the area she wouldn't be able to say these things without putting her church in jeopardy of losing their tax exempt status, would she?

[Hepburn]

23. Bull Shit...

....NO teacher has the right to do this. She used the politics of fear on 1st and 2nd graders. I dont care what the issue was....right, left or in between....this is just WRONG! :mad:

[Anakin Skywalker]

25. Bushit...

[AngryOldDem]

26. Not surprised at all

Next, look for big-mouth Catholic League head honcho William Donohue to chime in with his support, and turn this into an even bigger stink than it deserves.

[WarNoMore]

27. Gawd..

that man drives me absolutely crazy!

[AngryOldDem]

30. Out of curiosity I checked the Catholic League Website

Bill's still got his jockeys in a bunch over the election.

He'll get around to this story, though...guaranteed.