Teacher's Aid tells my first grader "If Obama wins, your dad will lose his job"

[WindRiverMan]

The first graders were working on a book about President's when the Teacher's Aid, a roughneck's wife, spouts this little bit of wisdom to my seven year old. I am considering calling the Principal and having a few words, or just drinking a beer and letting them squirm on election night. Still, it kind of pisses me off.

[Kitty Herder]

1. I would call the principal.

That kind of thing shouldn't be allowed in classrooms. The principal needs to know so she/he can do something about it.

[mod mom]

20. absolutely!

[WA98296]

2. You're "considering" calling? Start dialing.

[brettdale]

3. Call the Principal

That is pretty disgusting.

[az chela]

4. A teacher has no right to say that and she should be

REPORTED

[Fuzz]

5. Call

[Dollface]

6. You need to stop in and ask them to explain their remark to you and your child because from what you

have heard it doesn't make any sense. You don't have to be rude, just be earnest. Then rip apart their argument very politely and sincerely. You know they have nothing to back up that comment. AFter that exchange you may need to confess your concern to the principal.:evilgrin:

[rpannier]

7. I'm pretty sure all states have restrictions against school personelle engaging in

partisan political activities on school grounds.

I'd report it, no matter which candidate that person is supporting -- It's illegal and a violation of state, district and school guidelines.

[HeeBGBz]

46. My sister is a school cook and they can't talk politics at school

Even amongst the employees themselves.

[proud patriot]

8. equip your son with witty quips

that's what my dad always did

[LiberalHeart]

9. Aside from the politics of it, consider the fear that instills in a kid. I'd be boiling.

[Lex]

14. That's solely what I thought of first too.

The 1st grader doesn't know any better than to totally believe it.

[pocoloco]

10. The Teacher's Aid husband's job may go first.

There are rumors of plans of stacking many rigs once they finish drilling their currant well.

[ashling]

25. And all this time I thought currants grew on bushes

Maybe I'll throw out the currant jelly which is currently in my fridge. :shrug:


:)

[babylonsister]

11. I also hope you either chat with the principal or confront the teacher's aid.

It's not her job to shove her political opinion down a possibly impressionable child's throat, especially with lies.

[Lex]

12. I would call.

That's a real nasty thing to say to a 1st grader.

[Arctic Dave]

13. Hmmm. I work in the oilfield and I have no fear of

losing my job no matter who becomes president. The only things that could get me run off is me or the tanking economy causing a crash in the price of crude.

[nannycee]

15. Please don't consider, please call! As a teacher...

I've posted before in similar threads. I guess I feel that my 17 years in education (teacher and administrator) just makes this kind of behavior far too personal.

There are a lot of problems with this besides the obvious.
1) Those kids should be on-task with their curriculum. If this aide is discussing this, she very likely is taking time from a curriculum which is already too packed to have such ridiculous distractions.
2) Children are so impressionable and, sadly, many won't share this comment with a rational parent who can help dispel the inaccuracies. Your reporting this does a service for the other students in the classroom.
3) It's a very scary thought to think that your "dad will lose his job." Depending on that young child's economic situation, it could be downright terrifying. Imagine being in a struggling family where food is at a premium and believing the teacher (because the kids all think they ALL are teachers and know everything). It's then emotionally abusive.

I urge you to report this immediately armed with the arguments above. If you do, you are not arguing based on any personal feelings, but rather on the welfare of all students' educational rights.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

16. In 1968 I was told that if Humphrey won we would have to go to school on Saturdays

I have never understood the politiking to kids racket.

[LiberalinNC]

17. There are somethings you can let go...but NOT this time...call the principal

first thing in the morning. This kind of behavior is unacceptable in school. In my kids school the teachers can not endorse any candiate. The TA's comments are differently inappropriate - report her!!!

[annunakigohome]

18. People, people, it's AIDE

Just seeing so many people spelling it otherwise.

Okay, proceed.

[treestar]

19. God what an idiot

Even if she honestly believed that, how rotten to tell a kid!

[TankLV]

21. call the principal and chew the bitch out in FRONG of him/her...

she needs to be read the riot act...

[Canuckistanian]

22. Trying to instill fear in children. Wonderful.

It's bad enough that their parents have been scared to death with lies for the past 8 years.

I think this "Teacher's Aide" should lose her job.

[FLyellowdog]

23. Report this. School employees are supposed to be non-partisan while on school time.

[femmocrat]

24. Yep. We just got a memo to that effect.

No political signs, buttons, tee-shirts, etc. are permitted. We basically have to keep our politics private.

The aide was wrong. In so many ways!

[Quantess]

26. Be sure to use the phrase "That's inappropriate!"

;) "I felt that was an inappropriate thing to say"

[Sydnie]

27. Put the complaint in writing. Call the principal. Provide the principal with the complaint

in writing and in person. Forward a copy of the complaint to the local school committee or board in charge. Request that they investigate a violation of the Hatch Act by the employee and forard a copy to your local ethics commission. Insist that a copy of the complaint be placed in the aide's file. Request that the aide apologize to your child, in front of you.

[RayOfHope]

28. This teacher says you should call the principal. Chances are

if she let this little gem slip out, there will be others. Politics aside, telling a SEVEN year old that their father could possibly lose his job is unexcusable.

[Beregond2]

29. She should lose her job immediately. Get on the horn!

[orleans]

30. call the principle and call the district office

this asshole is so into their prickish political bullshit that they are all for scaring first graders? this asshole shouldn't be working with children

[Mz Pip]

31. If McCain wins

this Nation will lose its soul.

[sandrakae]

32. She must think your husband is a lobbyist.

No matter what she thinks, report her damn ass.

[sierraok]

33. AFA "Voter Issue Guide" passed out at school!!

This biased "guide", provided by the schools, was
passed out at my children's PUBLIC school today (small, small
town in Oklahoma) - I need some advice please on how to handle
this!  Possible violation of church and state?

[frankowen7]

34. I'd would definitely call.

[scheming daemons]

35. Have your 7-year-old say this:

"If McCain wins, you'll lose your freedom"

[ColbertWatcher]

36. Are you always there when that woman is there? n/t

[SeattleGirl]

37. Call!

This woman had no business saying that to your child.

The principal needs to know, so that he/she can (hopefully) talk to this person, and remind them of this little thing called boundaries.

[Poseidan]

38. you can teach your child about idiots

Everyone is a psychic. It can be fun though, when the psychics are proven wrong. Like those religious nutters who believed Jesus would come back in the year 2000, ending the world. Even though Bush did fuck things up, the world is still here.

[norepubsin08]

39. Holy shit

not only would I call the principal..I'd go to the school board and get them to fire her..then I would sue the school district for inflicting emotional damage on my child and teaching her false things.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

40. My 5th grade teacher in 1960 was a big supporter of Richard Nixon

Ms. Warringer spent September to November bad-mouthing John F. Kennedy. She even divided the class and had the five JFK supporters (including me) line up at the blackboard to be singled out. When Nixon lost, I thought she was going to have a nervous breakdown and the morning after the election, she looked as though she'd been crying. She told the Nixonites in the class to keep hope alive because it was a close election and the electoral college would not support Kennedy. Her sadness was my joy. I guess things were different in 1960 and teachers could get away with that kind of crap. But honestly, I don't even recall mentioning that to my parents. The way I looked at it, she was just a teacher whose class I was stuck in and who had no influence over me. My parents who supported Kennedy were by far more influential in how I saw things.

[BeHereNow]

41. Against the law, in my state.

Report it.

I would say the same if she had said it about McCain, btw.

Educators are NOT permitted to express political views in
institutions financed by public dollars.
Period.

I won't even go into the emotional abuse issues of
such a threat.
Yes, it was a threat.
BHN

[Iwillnevergiveup]

42. Over the top

I'd request a meeting with your spouse, the aide and the principal. This way, you're all getting on the record. She might tell you one story and an administrator another one if you meet separately.

[lostnfound]

43. First grader! Their minds have no shields at that age. First vs Second grade,.

I see a big difference in my son's mind in just one year. Language is now something he can use -- not just spoken but written -- and he is starting to get enough comprehensive experience behind him -- of hearing different ideas and having it become a framework for the world around him -- that he is starting to be able to have a little judgment.

It wasn't that he wasn't capable of complex thought last year -- he was -- but now he has some frame of reference that says 'not everyone believes these things'.

It is particularly ironic that the teacher's aid is probably earning just over minimum wage..

[fujiyama]

44. That's very innaporiate to scare a child like that at that age

Call and tell them exactly that.

It's one thing to discuss politics with a bunch of 6th graders (my first real experience with politics in the classroom - the '92 election) and a freakin' 1st grader!

[Indenturedebtor]

45. She's intentionally trying to frighten your child

and is likely too stupid to be allowed to pollute the minds of children anyways.

Call the Principal.

[Maestro]

47. I am a principal and I would love to know

that one of my teachers or aides said this. I would not be a nice meeting between us.