132 replies to this topic

[2 Aces]

STEVE, ARE YOU WILLING TO CRITICIZE DEMOCRATS FOR SUPPORTING SLAVERY AND CREATING THE KKK. 

 

DON'T MAKE ME PROVE IT TO YOU.

[Carl G]

Doesn't the teacher have tenure? I'm guessing he isn't going anywhere.

 

I don't know one way or the other; I'd be curious what former students have to say about him.  He could be a great teacher and still a racist.

 

He strikes me as having filter issues.  Maybe he should run for public office.

[ghost35me]

If the OP is against the teacher, based on post history and without knowing the details here, I would likely side with the teacher, giving him the benefit of the doubt. 

 

It's apparent that the OP and the SJW from the article don't even know the full symbolism behind the flag. Just the superficial and emotional associations. Typical.

[Steve Heard]

STEVE, ARE YOU WILLING TO CRITICIZE DEMOCRATS FOR SUPPORTING SLAVERY AND CREATING THE KKK. 

 

DON'T MAKE ME PROVE IT TO YOU.

 

Sure I am. I'd be a hypocrite not to, wouldn't I?  

 

The Democratic party of yesteryear was a conservative, whites-only party, dedicated promoting and protecting that segregationist way of life, while the Republicans were the radical progressives of the day. They wanted hope and change.  

 

In time, conservative Democrats, Dixiecrats and 'States Rights' Democrats jumped ship and went to the Republican party. Strom Thurmond and David Duke are notable examples. Others, like Robert Byrd and Al Gore Sr., though segregationist, remained Democrats. 

 

Today, it seems that most admitted white racists are republican, and I think it's probably fair to say that most black racists lean Democrat. 

 

You don't have to prove anything to me. I paid attention in school, and educated myself further. 

 

I won't ask that you criticize anyone. 

[apeman45]

Sounds like another over reaction by school administrators before the facts were in.  No wonder teachers are afraid to go out of the box.  ALL history needs to be taught.  Sounds like a great teacher.  

 

Everybody's gut reaction seemed to be completely wrong about this guy.  I know a local teacher that wears his "State of Jefferson" shirt in his classroom.  I have a bigger problem with that than a confederate flags used in role playing for teaching.

[Chris]

The losers here are our kids in middle school, our town, and our country.  We no longer have a dynamic, well loved and respected teacher to inspire and challenge our children. This is no victory, having him retire early.  This is a loss to out of control political correctness in this country.  Chris

[2 Aces]

I won't ask that you criticize anyone. 

 

STEVE, THE ONLY PEOPLE I CRITICIZE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO OBSESS OVER RACE IN OUR SOCIETY (I.E: OBAMA, SHARPTON, JACKSON, BLACK LIVES MATTER, LA RAZA, MOST DEMOCRATS, AND THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA).

 

AND FINALLY, ANYONE WHO HAS A *MELTDOWN* OVER THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IS SIMPLY A *DRAMA QUEEN* SEEKING ATTENTION.

 

 

[bordercolliefan]

Here is what I posted on the thread started by the FCUSD communications director announcing the teacher's early retirement:

I am sad that FCUSD doesn't seem to be able to distinguish between BEING racist and TEACHING about racism. What lesson are other teachers to draw from this? That all negative or uncomfortable history must be swept under the carpet; that lessons must be BORING BORING BORING exercises in plodding through the textbook rather than active engagement; and that FCUSD will not have your back if, in 15+ years of teaching, you make one clumsy and unintentional comment. Very troubling. And by the way, I am a liberal and passionate Obama supporter--but I believe in teaching actual history (not a sanitized version) in a stimulating, thought-provoking fashion. My daughter (also liberal) had Mr. Hart, greatly enjoyed his class, and saw nothing inappropriate.

[bordercolliefan]

Folsom Trails, the fact is that learning about the South's views of black people during the Civil War is going to be uncomfortable--probably more so for black kids than other kids. Learning about Jim Crow laws will be uncomfortable, too. Similarly, I might find it uncomfortable to learn that women were not able to vote for the first 100+ years of our country.

It is the historical facts themselves that are uncomfortable--not whether they are taught by reading the book, lecturing, or having the kids role play or write essays.

Are you really willing to stop teaching these facts so that the black kids, or the girls, or the Jewish kids, won't feel uncomfortable?

Now I do agree that active engagement and visual aids can go too far. If the teacher brought in a mini-gallows and pretended to hang black dolls as a demo of lynching, that would go too far because it is too explicit of the violence and horror. If the teacher herded the kids into a utility closet and told them to pretend they were being gassed in a Nazi gas chamber, that would go too far because it makes the trauma too real.

Hanging flags--the same flags depicted in the textbook--so the kids could divide up into Union and Confederate and express the point of view of each side? That sounds pretty tame.

[bordercolliefan]

Have you never put your foot in your mouth accidentally? A couple weeks ago, I was with my daughters near the Army Recruitment Center. A couple of the guys began playfully urging my daughters to sign up for the Army. My older duaghter is in the midst of stressful college admissions, and before I thought, I said, "If college doesn't work out, we'll consider the Army!" I have felt absolutely terrible about that remark ever since, because it implies that being in the Army should be "second choice" to college, and that's not what I believe at all, and I would hate it if I hurt the feelings of these very nice guys. --Mr. Hart has been teaching for 15+ years. He said the remark didn;t come out as intended. In all those years, everyone has loved him as a teacher and there is no record that he has been racist; quite the opposite. Why no compassion and understanding??

[Carl G]

If you don't feel uncomfortable when taught history, you have no soul.  If you are unwilling to teach history in all its ugly reality, then we are doing a great disservice to us and our children.  My hope is that with a good understanding of history we can say "never again," mean it, and then follow through.