What I think the answer is, is that teachers need better training. It's pretty obvious that academia as an entity leans more to the left. The bias shows, as evident by the video, from the lowest grades to top colleges. How can a person be properly trained if they are in an environment where the majority believes one side of the story? Apparently even some college educated teachers haven't learned the proper use of common sense. How are the children supposed to learn how to use common sense if the teachers don't know themselves?


Come on now. Look at what I said. I didn't spend quite a bit of time on anything. I posted a link and asked a question. I didn't go on my usual novel writing untill I responded to your post.

If you want to talk about what happened in Rexberg start a thread. It's general discussion, I'm sure that people would talk about it. The article didn't say much about what should be done. I didn't talk about what should be done about the teacher belittling her young student either, untill now.

I didn't read the comments. They aren't the article, they are the readers opinions. I think that if the secret service need to be involved, then do it. Send a bus load of second and third graders to Guantanamo, if that's what needs to be done.

If you think it's a credible threat, tell some one who can do something about it. I can't.

Thoes second and third graders didn't say anything about Bush did they? Bush is the president. The "threat" was directed at the president elect. Maybe that should be considered a criminal offense too.

 

Your judging all teachers by a video of one? Surely you jest.

 

That would be convenient, but no, I'm not judging all teachers by a video of one. This isn't an isolated incident. You might find more on it here, on a simple Google search. I've heard of several incidents where teachers didn't keep thier politics to themselves and weren't fair in thier discussion with their students. I've talked to teachers and professors, because my work can put me in a position to do so, and a majority of them take it apon themselves to open a discussion with a bias tone. I was also a student, though some years ago, and I remember the tone of discussion even then. I am not judging all teachers by a video of one. I'm making a general observation based on what I've seen and heard.


No, my comments weren't made in jest. I think that my concerns are legitimate.

 

Wow, I'm surprised your search is for liberal bias, not bias in general. Aah, I'm kidding, I'm not surprised at all. Didn't you just claim to be bipartisan or unbiased in a recent thread?

Funny, you missed one right on this forum, this student has obviously been affected by a bias to the right teacher, and here is a thread from an openly conservatively biased teacher. Funny, no one seems to have sued this conservative teacher though or brought the matter to the local news media.

Your concern seems to be that most teachers, according to you, teach with a liberal bias. I doubt you'd be so concerned if you felt they taught with a conservative bias. This is obvious when you joke about third graders possibly jumping to action to assassinate a president elect.

 

Excuse me but...
You cant teach Common sense.
That is er ummm...why they call it common.
Maybe this time in this election but I vividly remember my government teacher promoting Richard Nixon...even giving bad grades to dissenters...until he was impeached.

Perhaps you find what you seek.
Not sure about today what the ratio is but many teachers teach with political and social leanings.

Without oversight most people would.
There have always been two sides to stories.
One side taught Native American Indians were savages and books cosigned the fact that thanksgiving was just a gathering of the pilgrims and savages.
Other side taught Indians were victims fighting for their land and how pilgrims were starving and Indians fed them and they gave thanks.

History books are filled with one side of a story that is not necessarily historical fact.

 

I agree. Research can be found to coincide with whatever opinion a person might have. A person just needs to know that on the front end.

Teachers, as well as anyone else, can have an agenda. We are taught that it is good to have an opinion, are we not? Neutrality is best, but not real world for anyone. Our ego doesn't allow much room to be neutral.

The definition of common sense does not only cross racial lines but educational lines, socioeconomic lines, regional lines, and gene pools. This is not really an argument, is it?

I'm not looking to pick a fight here, but I find it humorous that educators are often made out to be different from the rest of society when they are people just like you and me. I've spent years teaching, coaching, and working as a school administrator. I've been called every name in the book, from Satan to Jesus. It just depends on how I handle your child, or your problem at any given time. Do I think the teacher in the video was/is an idiot? In the text shown, yep. I would say there are definitely issues there. However, we all know that what people say and do can all be taken out of context. Why was a crew there to film that particular day in that class anyway? Think about it.

 

Surprise, surprise. I think that you know what one would find if they searched using "bias teachers". I haven't done it yet, but if you search and find something about a prevalent conservitive bias from a majority of our educators, please pass it on.

You are correct. I did say in a recent post that I was "bipartisan".

To be factual, I didn't just claim to be bipartisan or unbiased. If you read my words and use the proper context, it's clear to see that I was expressing a discontent with both parties for their involvement in the royal screwing that they are perpetrating on the American people.

Thank you for offering some differing points of view. They are interesting examples of a conservative bias.

My concern is that some teachers are taking advantage of the influence that they have on their students. It really doesn't matter which ideology they espouse. Educators should be teaching children to look throughly at both sides of the situation. I can see that could be a challange for some, and we know which side an educator is likely to believe in based on statistics that I referred to earlier.

Honestly momalle1, the image alone of third graders possibly jumping to action to assassinate a president elect is ridiculous. It's the kind of stuff MadTV and SNL skits are made of. Children of the corn type stuff. Though it is possible, anything is possible, it's certianly a humorous image.

I'm sorry, I just can't agree with that. Common sense is sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts. It is absolutely possible to teach students to make judgements based on common sense. It's done all the time. You teach a child not to touch the hot stove. Why? Because it will burn them. A child will learn not to touch the stove. They may end up burning their hand, and will then learn an example of common sense.

Your teacher that supported Nixon and gave bad grades because of dissent isn't all that different that the teacher in the video, promoting Obama and belittling the student for supporting McCain. They are both doing the students a disservice.

I do understand that bias in our education systems isn't a new phenomenon. Using past examples doesn't make it right now. I think that people have become more complacent with the passage of time. The problem is getting worse, not better. Parents might not have a problem with it if the educators are bias in the same way that they are. That may not always be the case though. If it's let go for too long it'll be that much harder to fix.

I would say that you are in the perfect position to make a difference in the education of the children. If you teach students to make judgments based on a simple perception of the situation or facts, there shouldn't be the need for them to be influenced by the opinions of the educators. You are in a position to let the students know about bias, where ever it may be, and how to figure it in when making judgements.

I'm not so sure that the classroom is a good place for an educator to display their ego. Neutrality may not be real world now, but that could be because people have given up on trying to make it that way. Opinions are fine and good to have but it is necessary for us to keep them to ourselves at times. I'd say that in a classroom, teaching impressionable young students would be one of thoes times. The teacher is the adult. They are supposed to know wrong from right. They are supposed to have common sense. They are supposed to use sound and prudent judgment. If they can't or don't do that, they are doing a disservice to the student. In the long run it's a disservice to society.

 

By definition common sense relates to sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts. Sound and prudent judgment based on simple perception relates to personal experience.
If it could be taught, everyone could learn and no child would be burned by the stove nobody would have money problems and nobody would ever fight.
Some people have plenty of book sense and some people have plenty of common sense but it is rare to find people with an equal amount of both.
The child who burns his hand after the warning is an example of not using common sense. He misperceived the danger and the sound prudent warning.
Learning the hard way is an example of poor or no common sense IMHO.

I agree the teacher was wrong but for the majority of students at that age perceptions and ideas are shaped by much more than a misguided teacher by the time they reach voting age. The teacher I had that tried to cram Nixon down our throats was mostly singing to the choir of those that agreed and got silent contempt from those that didn't.

As far as 3rd graders chanting kill a government official...
It really speaks to the adults and their environment that allows thinking like that to thrive and become vocal.
I have never heard of so many vocalizing, wishing and predicting the death a government official prior to this election.
Which outcome do you think will hurt our country worse?
3rd graders being misled on facts to later be disproved if they are inaccurate or 3rd graders singing songs of anarchy.

 

I don't think that one is worse than the other. They are very similar and often one leads to the other.

In our history there was a person, a government, that convinced a large portion of that coutries population that they were superior and that the inferior people should be exterminated. These people had been misled but by the time they had been disproven, millions had been exterminated.

In current times there are children in other coutries being taught to hate us for the type of lives we lead. They sing songs of anarchy. Who knows, perhaps in our life time these children will become adults and will be able to commit attacks on our country similar to thoes on 9/11/01. Have they been mislead? Will they be disproven before they kill more innocent Americans?

One isn't better or worse than the other. They are both wrong and should both be stopped. An unbias education would be a good place to start to fix what is wrong.

 

I blame her parent's and the parent's , parents, and Grandparents... Dont ask me to go back any further... And my opinion of Obama was not quite as bad as it was until I watched the 60 Minutes episode last night... But the teacher was wrong not because she was black..... She was not well informed...Hope she doesn't own a gun...

 

It doesn't matter which side they are on, and I think it's fairly reasonable to expect that most teachers would lean Democrat, but it doesn't matter. They should keep their opinions out of the classroom.

No one came close to suggesting that third graders would jump into action.

Old Dogg understands the point, i suspect you do too.


Will they be disproved? If so, will they believe it? There are tons of conservatives that still believe that Obama is Muslim and that his tax plan constitutes socialism. While many simply don't understand socialism, the Muslim thing has been disproved.

 

Unbiased education is somewhat of a oxymoron because unless 2 sides and sometimes 3 sides of the story are told, education will bias the storyteller.

It is very odd to have a set of facts and 2 reasonable people come to completely different conclusions...bias is the cause.

You see a personal opinion being voiced by a teacher to 3rd graders the same as 3rd graders chanting kill the president? Ok. I don't. And I don't believe you would feel the same way if the teacher was republican and the kids were black chanting kill the republican president because you are bias.

Nobody is being taught to hate us for the way we live. They are being taught to hate us for who we support and most of all where we are and what we do in their country. I can show you plenty of quotes that say this.
How many quotes can you find from Muslim fanatics that say we hate their freedom and way of life? Maybe you dont listen to reasons or follow a crowd that picks their own reasons because you are bias?

 

What was she not well informed about?

 

I didn't see a teacher voicing her personal opinion. I saw a teacher indoctrinating her students. I can't surmise what her motives could be.

I didn't read an article about second and third graders chanting "kill the president". They didn't mention Bush once, according to the article. I read an article about a bunch of kids, of whom at least one has been influenced by an ignorant adult. That bunch of kids carried on that ignorance.

I can understand that you wouldn't believe that I would feel the same if republicans were involved, because it seems that you'd like everything to be black and white. I don't work that way.

You might think it, but I'm not a republican. I'm not a democrat. I live conservitively, and my problem is with the liberal agenda. Not all democrats are liberals, though the way the media portrays them it looks that way. Not all republicans are conservitive, though the way the media portrays them, none of them are.

I see a growing liberal agenda. It goes against what I believe is best way for me, for all of us, to be a productive members of our society. The government shouldn't take on the task of making life fair for the American people. It's not their job to make sure that everyone is fat and happy. I'm all for a hand up. I'm opposed to hand outs. We, the American people, don't seem all that interested in doing our part to make this a better country. We've become a selfish nation. We want some one to help the poor and disheveled. We're saying that it's ok for the government to take some of our money to help them out as long as we don't have to get our hands dirty. We are a huge part of the problem.

The government is, and has been, huge, corrupt and mismanaged. I think it's pretty short sighted of the American people to believe that the government can some how succeede at the task of making life better for all who feel that their life isn't good enough. We could go on day after day, and maybe we will, about how unfair this country is to some of it's people. So many people feel better saying that but are unwilling to get ther hands dirty doing something about it. Good intentions don't get a thing done.

Parents teaching their children that Obama is a muslim, or that it's ok to chant hate speach, are ignorant. They are teaching ther children to be ignorant as well. If what they are doing is criminal, then they should suffer the consequence. It's a little difficult to dictate how parents raise their children. I think that the best way to do something to help is to lead by good example.

Any educator who indocrtrinates (to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle) their studens under the guise of teaching is doing something very similar to that ignorant parent. Imagine if one ignorant parent had a classroom of twenty student as an audience to carry out thier ignorance. Imagine if that ignorant parent had several classes a day to spread the ignorance. Teaching with a bias is doing the same thing. Most children are taught in a public school system, funded by the tax payers. It is possible to dictate how teachers do thier job. There are standards already in place that are being ignored.

I refuse to believe that there is no way for educators to do thier job without bias. Maybe if they were to focus less on politics and a little more on the fundamentals of learing, the kids would have more to worry about than whether their father would be in Iraq for one hundred more years, or that the president elect is going to make nice with the rest of the world. There is plenty to teach without going into areas where bias may play a part. Even in areas where bias could play a part, educators should be trained to work to give the students a complete picture without interjecting bias or personal opinion. Education isn't about storytelling. There is plenty to learn that comes from hard facts.

Do you have a say in the way our elected representative carry out foreign policy? No, but we are hated anyhow. We, the people of our country, are hated because we don't believe the same way as thoes who hate us. They hate us because of our persuit for life, liberty and happieness. If they hate us because of our elected representitives foreign policy decisions, they are being misgiuded, wouldn't you say?

Bias? Me? I have a problem with the liberal agenda, so yes, I am bias in that respect.

 

I have been watching and reading this thread with great interest. I am now in my 32nd year as an educator. In my classroom we often discuss current events---while I teach British Lit, American Lit, Cinema and Speech, I believe that great literature means nothing unless one can tie it to the 21st century.

We debate ideas and concerns---and the I feel that it is important for the students to hear my point of view---not that I wish to force it down their throats---but rather, for them to see me as a real person and not just an automaton going through the motions of teaching. If my students do not step forward and argue with me, I myself with play the devil's advocate and show them that there are two--or even more---sides to issues.

My students probably know where I stand on gun control, abortion, foreign policy, the Bailout, politics (local, state, national, and international), capital punishment, euthanasia, censorship, etc. But I am not worried about them knowing what I think...I am worried about what they think---and why...that it is imperative for them not to just believe that something is good or bad, but have the thinking abilities and processes to understand how to come to a conclusion, as well as writing and speaking clearly about the issues.

I feel that my job is of the utmost importance, as many parents today turn their children over to us and let us do all of the work---many of my students do not have the role models that you and I did.

I keep telling the students that I do not teach them what to think---rather; I teach them how to think. I try my damnedest to teach them the thinking process...

Their speeches, as well as their essays, are graded not as to whether I agree or disagree with them; rather, I grade them on whether or not they presented a sound thesis statement (or controlling purpose) and then set up logical ideas in defending it.

If I do indoctrinate my students, it is the values of hard work, perseverance, dedication to oneself and to one's ideals and friends, as well as integrity.

My mantras to my students are the following: "History did not begin the moment you were born." I feel that it is vitally important for kids to learn about the recent---and not so recent past; you would be surprised to see how lacking the kids are in terms of cultural literacy.

My other mantra is, "If ignorance is bliss, many of you students are happier than pigs in slop." How can we guarantee our country's future if the true future of our country (our children) are ignorant as to what has been going on, what is going on, and what might be going on?

Many of you rip teachers---that is easy to do---and yes, just like cops, etc, there are indeed bad teachers that use the classroom as a podium to not only voice their feeling but force them on others. However, the vast majority of the men and women that I have had the pleasure to call my colleagues over the past 32 years are much more interested in the child's future, rather than forcing their future on the child.

Yes, as CSN& Y say, I do take great pride in trying to "Teach Your Children Well." They are, after all, our greatest hope for an even greater America.

Peace,

Tim C.

PS---Since I teach in a public school, if any of you are near the western suburbs of Cleveland, you are certainly more than welcome to visit my classroom and see for yourselves what goes on---not only in my room, but in the classrooms of my school.