Maine GOP Convention-Goers Vandalize 8th-Grade Classroom

[orwell]

Although Maine is known for its two moderate Republican senators — Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins — last week’s state GOP convention showed the growing influence of far-right activists. An “overwhelming majority of delegates” voted to “scrap the the proposed party platform and replace it with a document created by a group of Tea Party activists.” Maine Politics called it “a mix of right-wing fringe policies, libertarian buzzwords and outright conspiracy theories.”

The Republican convention was at the Portland Expo, but participants went to the nearby King Middle School to hold their caucuses. While there, they went through eighth-grade teacher Paul Clifford’s items, opened sealed boxes, stole a prized poster, and vandalized the room with Republican slogans. Some details on what they did:

– For seven years, Clifford has had “a collage-type poster depicting the history of the U.S. labor movement” on his classroom door. He uses it “to teach his students how to incorporate collages into their annual project on Norman Rockwell’s historic ‘Four Freedoms’ illustrations.” When Clifford returned to his classroom on Monday, after the GOP caucuses, the poster was gone; in its place was a sticker reading, “Working People Vote Republican.”

more at link...

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/05/15/maine-gop-forced-to-apologize-after-convention-goers-vandalize-an-eighth-grade-classroom/

Classy bunch these Teatimers. Brown shirts optional...

[saltpoint]

1. Had actual eighth graders who attend that school vandalized their

classroom, they would likely have been suspended, and properly so.

I think a correspondent penalty should be imposed on the nutcases who assembled there for their hatefest and then proceeded to trash the students' learning environment.

They found NORMAN ROCKWELL objectionable? Jesus. He's white bread.

[orwell]

2. Trash the classroom...

...trash the country.

[saltpoint]

4. Yes -- I think that is the more succinct account. The Baggers have

contempt for anything federal, for any public works, not just including but ESPECIALLY the public education system.

This kind of vandalism destroys more than physical property -- it demonstrates to those 14-year olds who go there every day that their parents' wishes for them to do well and learn are subject to contempt and dismissal by angry other adults.

I'm as furious at the Baggers who trashed this classroom as I am at British Petroleum right now. And that's pretty furious.

[3waygeek]

3. Actual eighth graders wouldn't have been caught...

they're smarter than teabaggers.

[saltpoint]

5. They are smarter. Agree. And they're likely better citizens, too.

[donco]

6. Hhmm…wonder if any taxpayer dollars

were involved in subsidizing the rethugs renting of the school?

[handmade34]

7. the students are fortunate to have such a teacher

the behavior of the republicans in inexcusable and very disturbing. The entire article is good and includes an excellent letter from one of the former students, "...I am an unapologetic graduate of Paul Clifford’s eighth grade...I participated in the “Four Freedoms” expedition, and I made a poster decrying war quite similar to the one with which the Republicans took issue...I am not brainwashed, I am not a puppet, I am not anti-American or anti-religious, and I am certainly not stupid. Paul Clifford’s class taught me to think critically, to deductively reason and, if anything, to appreciate America for all the freedoms with which I am ensured on a daily basis...Clearly, the Knox County Republicans — who took a cherished, pro-Labor poster from Clifford’s room and who now are making slanderous and uninformed claims about Clifford — have a different agenda" (and I would add, the people who did this are NOT able to think critically, to deductively reason and to appreciate America for all the freedoms with which they am ensured on a daily basis...

[saltpoint]

8. Ok, I'm still angry with the Baggers who trashed this classroom and

destroyed the accoutrements of learning that their teacher put up on the walls at the King Middle School.

It does seem that the teachers of the school conduct themselves in the context of assisting their clients' children in the various fields of study felt to be relevant to their future lives, and do so by and large in ways that are genuinely interesting and purposeful for the respective age-range of their students.

It is an act of violence not only by the Baggers for trashing the classroom but violence visited upon the process of those kids' learning. It is by definition, barbaric.

For the Baggers to enjoy the benefits of a Constitutional democracy it seems to me they ought to be held accountable for its responsibilities as well.