America, Is It the Great Evil
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Our schools are failing our children!
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If you have a child in school, grades 6 through 12, you should be afraid, be very afraid. April 12, 2010 was the day my 13 year old’s school set aside for interested parents to audit a class of their choice with their child. I chose Civics not so much out of interest, due more to the fact it was the class I could make it to during a work day. My wife later informed me it happened to also be the subject our son was having the most trouble with. When I arrived at the school very few other parents were there. Giving them the benefit of a doubt I assumed they couldn’t get away from work or were suffering from some ailment. Couldn’t be lack of interest could it?
As the bell rang and Miss X took her place in front of the classroom I couldn’t help noticing I was apparently the only parent present. It took less than five minutes for me to realize something was terribly wrong with Miss X’s definition of what Civics entailed. Standing before a class of 18 young students this 23 year old graduate from whatever liberal sausage grinder proceeded to launch into a 15 minute diatribe on America the great evil. Our greed was corrupting other nations of the world. Our colonization of the planet was responsible for the enslavement of more than half of its people. We were a nation of racists, homophobes, warmongers, and capitalist thieves. She referred to the United States as ‘the great evil’ six times in 15 minutes. Those 15 minutes were all I could take. I’d kept my eye on my son throughout her tirade noticing his look of utter confusion. The same look was worn by most of the other students, at least those actively listening.
I hate being one of ‘those’ kinds of parents but enough was enough. Being in a classroom, I raised my hand to get Miss X’s attention. Once she stopped talking I got up, told my son to get his books, we were leaving. Miss X, totally bewildered, asked if there was a problem. I responded there was and I needed to take it up with the principal. Without missing a beat, before my son and I even managed to leave the room, she went right back to her lecture on the great evil. As we walked down the hall toward the principal’s office my son asked if he was in trouble. I told him absolutely not. He then said, boy, she sure don’t like America does she?
After explaining to Mr. Z’s receptionist that there was a serious problem, and no, she couldn’t help me, we were finally ushered in to meet with Mr. Z. Mr. Z proffered the required niceties the proceeded to ask me how he could help. I asked him to explain the basics of 7th grade Civics, what were the expectations and goals of the course. Principals love when you ask these types of questions, let’s them display their working knowledge of the goings on in their fiefdom. He explained that 7th grade Civics entailed an organized presentation of American society and the workings of its government, local, state and federal. I assured him that had always been my understanding as well. I then placed my son’s Civics book on his desk and asked him to show me the portion that explained how America was the great evil. He just stared so I asked what I thought would be an easier question. Just show me the chapter that deals with how we’re a nation of racists, or warmongers or thieves. He still didn’t answer. I informed Mr. Z that I’d come to the school that day to audit my sons Civics class by invitation. I’d just spent 15 minutes listening to anti-American tripe being spewed by what could only be described as an avowed communist with no working knowledge of this country’s history, society or government and that my son would no longer be attending her class. I also informed him the school would make arrangements for my son to attend a Civics class taught by a) someone with credible knowledge regarding our history and government and b) someone who was not a member of the communist party. Yes, I’m sure Miss X was probably not a member of the communist party but I was on a roll. It helped that Mr. Z knew my older brother was on the county Board of Education. My son got a new class with a new teacher.
I only tell you that story as a basis for this question....where were the other parents? Is the education, or in many cases the indoctrination, of our children not important to us? Do parents know what their children are being taught is schools across this nation? The closest many parents come to being involved in their child's education is to ask if he or she has done their homework. I have friends that disapprove of my actions claiming I should have simply made it clear to my son that Miss X held a different world view than we did and just let it go. He was going to run into this kind of commentary from teachers throughout his educational life so he and I might as well get used to it. This nation is in the situation it's in now because for far to many years we've 'just let it go'. For the most part, the majority of Americans who've attended school during the past 25 years know little or nothing of the true history of this country. After Washington, Lincoln and the Civil Ware our younger generation draws a blank. In the words of George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it".
Do you know your children's teachers? What's their educational background? What do they believe? What are their aspirations for your children? These are our children, our future and the future of this nation. We cannot 'just let it go.'
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I've heard cases involving these kinds of teachers but never experienced it first hand. I got other parents of these 7th graders involved. i don't think Miss X will be teaching much longer and I'm not sorry
Very interesting hub! It really makes me glad that my husband and I chose and are able to homeschool our children. So, to answer your questions: Yes, I know who my children's teachers are, their background, beliefs, and aspirations. I know everyone is not able to homeschool, but if they don't, they really do need to be involved parents. I think you did the right thing and hope that more parents from that class will back you up!
When my children were in school, I tried to be involved, but once they were past the grades when parents were welcomed to help the teachers, I found I was not welcome in schools. My children also reported to me that their teachers would humiliate any child whose parents questioned their teaching or made any complaints. In fact, the biggest bullies in my children's schools were the teachers. Not all of the teachers, by any means, but every year there was at least one. So, before we damn all parents, we have to question why they aren't more involved. In my case, I volunteered for everything, but I was not welcome in the school otherwise.
Excellent Hub...A cautionary tale all parents should read...When we have a president that apologizes to the world for America's " arrogance ", a first lady that saw nothing good in America to make her proud until her husband was elected president, and when we have political correctness running rampant in academia, its no surprise truth is distorted for a progressive agenda...
I taught U.S. History for a number of years during the late 60's and early 70's...The curricula we were being given to teach during that period became more and more progressive and slanted...I became disgusted with the trends coming into education and went into private business...Thank you for this...Larry
Tobey,
Parents just don't seem to give a shit! As long as junior is at school and out of their faces, they don't care where they are, who they are with, or what they are doing. I received a letter this week fromthe parent of one of my students. This student passed Spanish 1 last semester with a "D". I took him aside before the beginning ofSpanish 2 and explained that if continued to make such small effort, he would FAIL Spanish 2. This mom wrote me about how this boy's dad had been wounded in Iraq, and J. (the kid) was the man of the house now. She also explained that if he fails, he will be unable to play football in the fall, and his wounded vet dad LOVES to watch him play. J. comes to school daily, turns in work, and STUDIES, she knows because she helps him. Well, I wrote her back, and explained that J. had BARELY made it thru Sp1, and he was lacking in the knowledge (obviously the motivation as well) and he never even bothered to come during the lab period before school to get extra help. Yesterday we reviewed for a test they took today. J. left several sections BLANK, and made a piss poor effort on the parts he tried. His grade 30 percent out of 100. His grade won't improve until his work improves. Oh, I almost forget that mom said if he fails MY class, he won't get into the field of study he wants when he attends
WVU. IF by a miracle he even got in to WVU, I have NO DOUBT he will NEVER earn a degree. Sorry I rambled on so much here, but the nerve of her just astounded me.
Fantastic hub and your reaction to this teacher's garbage was right on. While I was reading, I was hoping that you would do exactly what you did. Good question, where are the other parents? Second question, do you think the students will go home and tell their parent's what they experienced? Mine would have.
Excellent comments and stories. I fear we are the few and far between though. I especially appreciate Maven101 as a teacher that would not compromise. Wish he were teaching still.
While I'm not suprised this happened, I'm appalled. And for what it's worth, I absolutely agree with your actions! Sheri and I talked last night about the lack of interest and discipline on parents part and it is sad and pathetic. I more than dread the day Kesiah is old enough to go to school. Great hub Tobey :)
Great Hub really enjoyed reading it. I am sorry you had such a bad experience in your son’s classroom. The classroom teacher sounds like she is not only highly unprofessional but also failing her students. I am teacher and when I was trained to teach one of the major concepts that transcended all my college course work was the idea of teaching students higher order thinking skills. This is the process of allowing students to construct their own meaning of information provided by the teacher. This teaching style is less memorization and more critical thinking skills. The teacher in your son’s classroom was not doing this, however, I do not think this shows that public schools are failing our children. It could be that principal needs to be more active in knowing what his teachers are teaching; be more present in the classroom.
I am a big fan of public schools so I hastate to make over sweeping conceptual judgments in reaction to the actions of the few. However, I do think there needs to be some big reforms in education and I think Charter Schools are showing some promise (Go Arne Duncan)
I actually don't think its the teachers that are failing in most cases. I think its the parents for the most part. Sounds to me like we need more teachers like bfloyd79.
(wild applause & the loudest of loud whistles for a solid amount of time)
Wow!! Good for you tobey! My kids have been pretty open with me regarding teacher actions/subject matter they are learning, so if anything like this were to come up, I'm sure they would tell me. So far the only issues I've had to deal with have been personality conflicts with a couple different teachers - and of course, it was too late in the school year to change classes. (being a single mom, I didn't have the resources to fight it or push for what I wanted)
Now, are you sure Miss X doesn't have a work Visa that's about to expire?
Rafi, the sad thing is she's an all American young lady and my wife knows her parents very well. Conflicts with teachers I expect. Just happens. What she was spouting I can't. I think what really got me was she didn't care if a parent was in the room or not. She lives here and hates it.
tobey, I actually think it's a good thing she didn't care if a parent was in the room or not. that means she wasn't trying to hide her true self or feelings and definitely gave you the opportunity to remove your son from her class. Someone should remind her it's a choice to be an American and if you're not Proud To Be An American you are free to leave.
Tobey, What an appalling set of circumstances. I would have reacted the same way you did. It is pathetic that impressionable children are being fed such garbage, but it is also what college students are taught. There are more liberal professors than conservative ones. It is a shame parents don't take the time to find out what exactly their children are learning. Excellent hub.
Yes, great hub! We're pretty involved in what our children are learning in school. I get angry over certain things but have refused to comment to the teachers or principle over minor issues. I'm terribly afraid that the teacher(s) would become angry and take it out on my children. I finally did have to say something about one of them to the principle, she's just terribly mean to my son and has this thing with humiliating him continuously in front of other students. I have no idea what her problem is but hopefully my chat will resolve the problem. I've heard that "civil rights" is now referred to as "diversity" and there's even been talk about taking certain parts of history about slavery out of social studies books because some teachers don't believe children should even know about that part of our history. I think I would have done the same thing as you! Some of the things that go on in schools are just crazy, some teachers and a lot of parents are at fault. Parents just don't care or get involved anymore like they should, so glad you stepped up to the plate.
I couldn't agree with you more Miss Pam.
She-rah, I felt the same as you for a long time, worrying about the teacher mistreating one of my boys. I finally realized I wasn't doing all I could so I not only confronted the teacher but the principal as well. I let them know that one peep out of my son about his treatment in class and we'd all have a chat with my lawyer (which I don't have by the way). It worked in this case.
There are two views on this subject. Maybe you were taught one view. And now a second view of our nation has surfaced.
In some parts of this country Slavery never existed like Virginia and Texas, and the South won the War between the States.
If children learn fron their parents that America is always right, then America cannot improve.
America has done evil things and may be doing some evil right now, but it is not now nor has it ever been evil as a nation. It is the greatest country the world has ever seen and the world as a whole is better for it.
I have to agree with garynew and disagree with hi-jinks. We are becoming slaves to the federal government and regardless of what some think, this is the greatest nation ever to exist on the planet. Make a list of what the world would be like without us.
If America is so evil, why do folks struggle so hard to immigrate, legally or illegally, anyway they can? If they truly think America is evil, they are free to leave. Nobody here will add them to a mass burial site as they might in some other countries.
And that, Fitnezz, is the question. Notice they never leave?
Wow - Mind-blowing stuff! For a teacher to have the audacity to blurt out her opinions on America and denigrate her in that way, in front of a class of young impressionable children, is certainly crossing that line of professional integrity.
Whatever that teacher may have felt in her heart, she should have kept it to herself, and if she really does feel compelled then she should keep her opinion brief and not spiel out a lot of diatribe as you vividly described. It makes me shudder when I picture that teacher in the class with those children.
America is not evil - the American citizens are not evil - but there is evil almost certainly like anywhere, and the evil present can be found within the black hearts of greedy American corporations.
Also to set the record straight, you can't squarely blame America for all the woes in the world - the reason why America is being blamed is because of its politics and wide circle of global influence. That influence has been mostly seen as negative in the last ten years or so since 9/11 and would explain why certain people could see it as their moral obligation to explain certain evils. But there is a right time and a right place for all of us to express our opinions and we must exercise restraint so as not to compromise our professional integrity in the workplace.
Thanks Tobey for sharing your experience with us. I really enjoyed reading your hub and look forward to reading more.
Thank you richtwf.
It is bad when teachers are given this type of comment when they tell the truth. I guess mainstream America prefers to keep children out of touch by telling them about an imaginary America. Evil shows itself. You have provided clear evidence of such.
Zebo, sorry. Your comment's not worth responding to. Tell your uncle Obama I said hey!
tobey
It is bad when teachers can hide in the darkness of their classrooms and dis the country.
Teachers unfortunately are life incestuous, they have no concept of life outside school. They grew up in school, and became teachers with little to no life experience. They were taught with the same kind of teachers that they have become now.
It continues on to the college level as well.
Teachers used to report the facts on subjects, and when they asked students for their opinions, they treated them like opinions, and not facts.
Students need to be educated on the raw facts and be allowed to form their own opinions. Unfortunately, today the cable media is educating them at home.
Many students and people in general find it easier to adopt someone else's opinion rather than doing the work to come up with their own based on their own research.
Thanks
OD, I think the reason they do is they know they can get away with it with younger children.
This was an awesome Hub and you are absolutely right Parents need to know what there children are being taught. I disagree with your friend who said just tell him the teacher has different views. Don't you think if more Parents did like you did then eventually teachers who weren't teaching the correct subjects would eventually be out a job. Teaching that America is evil is one person's opinion, it's not fact. Teachers should be teaching facts. Thank you for standing up for what is right.
Thanks Rachell. I'd like to update this hub and let everyone know that teacher is no longer there. Thank God they didn't Like or agree with what she was teaching either.
The fact that you don't like what she had to say does not make her a "communist". Many do (IMO rightly) view the US as inherently evil; you only need step outside the country to see what effect US policies have on billions of lives around the globe. Perhaps it is actually pro-American to question what the country is doing, rather than to bury your head in the sand and pretend it isn't happening, and hurl accusations of "communism" at those with different, perhaps more informed, viewpoints.
I totally agree with your article on what they are teaching our children. I agree so much that I took my daughter out of school and am homeschooling her. Her civics book is the same one I used back in the 70's. I know you will continue to monitor your son's classes so that he learns what he needs to know.
By the way, my daughter had problems with long division from the start. I finally got her "Math For Dummies" and then she was mad at her 4th grade teacher for making it so hard. She understands it now.
Becky, you and millions of other parents feel the same way yet we've done nothing to solve the problem as of yet but....I think that day is coming. Thanks for an excellent comment.
zzron 2 years ago
This is an awesome hub. Its hard to believe this goes on in our schools.