The Nation's Pulse
Lessons Learned
When teaching takes a back seat to multicultural dogma.
In a cramped Philadelphia classroom, newly minted teachers and recent college graduates were unpacking. Rather than focusing on their belongings, which were located a few miles away at Temple University, these new teachers were unpacking their privilege —their whiteness, heterosexuality, college education, wealth, and health.
This exercise was part of Teach for America’s summer institute — teacher boot camp — for new corps members. Moreover, it was the centerpiece of a series called “Diversity, Community and Achievement.” However, TFA’s commitment to the rigid ideology of multiculturalism stands in the way of teaching students.
Teach for America is a service organization that recruits recent college graduates from every academic discipline with no experience in teaching and places them in struggling school districts for two years of toil. Each lesson is crafted based on how students perform on individual assessments and geared towards a specific objective. This is a critical and effective step in boosting the academic performance of students regardless of their individual level. But contrary to the program’s commitment to rigorously researched methods of instruction, highly ideological race and gender theory have worked their way into the TFA curriculum.
After teaching a summer school class, I attended a diversity discussion group with other TFA teachers and they were led by a TFA advisor. Each session focused on a particular topic, but the procedure was clear for each session. We were instructed to avoid “I” statements and those statements which revealed our personal beliefs. Instead, we should employ “people-focused language.” During one exercise, we would raise our hand and say “ouch” if we disagreed with a statement. The offended person would offer a reason for the “ouch.”
Without fail, each session included some type of crying interlude. Once, an advisor began crying when she revealed that one of the corps members had remarked in frustration, “These kids just don’t want to learn.” The same sobbing advisor later stated that she was raped and had treated one of her students differently because the student reminded her of her attacker — the treatment she visited upon that student racked her with guilt. This was the first conversation I ever had with this person.
On another occasion, a young lady broke down while recanting her reluctance to introducing her family to a transsexual friend. She was so sad. How could she be so prejudiced she would hide a friend from her family based solely on her friend’s alternative lifestyle?
At one point, we were asked why we were privileged. Many stated that their privileges included wealth, race, sexual orientation, health, whiteness, or education. For my part, I said I was fortunate to realize that truth was not relative nor subject to my whiteness, income, or college education. This was my first “ouch” offense.
I suggested multiculturalism precluded us from judging a culture different from our own. This meant we could not speak out or even assist Islamic women who were faced with oppressive conditions. A female corps member raised her hand. Others in the circle joined her dissent. How could I bring up the issue? Who am I to pass judgment? That is their culture. I was just asserting my biases.
When leading a 7th grade class for Teach for America, I led a discussion of Richard Connell’s classic short story, “The Most Dangerous Game.” It tells of the tale of a skilled hunter who, bored with his normal prey, turns to humans. I led the discussion into when it is permissible to kill or go to war. The students were thoughtful when their opinions were challenge. I was proud that when their ideas were challenged, the situation did not arouse their emotions; rather, they contemplated my objections with care.
When can we compromise our values? It was a natural transition to the Jena 6 affair. The staff that day had donned all black with a green ribbon as a show of solidarity for the six Louisiana youths. The ribbons were being distributed in the teachers’ lounge. Clad in my khakis, blue shirt, and striped tie, I felt even more isolated from the predominantly black staff.
The room, already cooking, got even hotter. The students’ voices and gestures grew tense. When I challenged their beliefs and opinions, their typically respectful and calm responses turned to anger and disdain. The most they could offer was that the victim of the Jena 6 attack “got what was coming to him.”
Students rose from the seats, raising voices, departing from the circle created to encourage discussion. I tried giving them all the facts of the matter and following up with probing questions. What responsibility did the six men have? What could have prevented this? What are the lessons for our school? How could we prevent this from happening at our school? Was this a simple schoolyard fight? If so, why did six kids attack one kid? Could it have been premeditated?
My principal, dressed in black, called me into her office. I told her how the discussion had regressed, and how our students deserved discussion, not dogma on the issue. “This could be helpful,” she said. She handed me a guide printed by the NAACP.
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Melvin| 7.16.09 @ 7:42AM
Multiculturalism is nothing more than Liberal horse squeeze causing more problems that it solves.
The premise is simple, instead of coming up with all this curriculum that is supposed to make people all warm and fuzzy inside, join hands and dance around the fire naked on a full moon there is another approach that doesn't cost anything, simple to implement, and doesn't require a degree.
This wondrous philosophy is called, "Treating others as you wish to be treated." If you treat people with respect you'll get respect in kind, treat people like an ass and it will be reciprocated.
My entire adult life I have practiced this interaction with my fellow humans regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation and it works to perfection.
This crap that is taught in schools is pre-packaged instant victim-hood that forces ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation on another group that is not allowed to respond without being labeled racist, homophobe, or male chauvinist pig.
Humans will disagree with each other and that trait cannot be legislated or forced out of existence.
Its all Jerry Springers fault.
KyMouse| 7.16.09 @ 7:48AM
Thanks, Mr. Van Horrick, for an excellent article. My grandmother taught in a one-room Kentucky schoolhouse for decades, and McGuffey's Readers were one of her favorite texts. I've started giving modern reprints of them to my young relatives, in hopes that they will learn a bit about not only the "three Rs," but also about literature, manners and morals from them. I agree with you, Melvin -- the good ol' "Golden Rule" ought to be taught early and often. It used to be.
Mass. conservative| 7.16.09 @ 8:17AM
Instead of "ridged ideology" did the author mean "rigid ideology"?
Hank Rearden| 7.16.09 @ 8:19AM
As someone who is intimately involved with educational issues I take your article and opinion very seriously. Unfortunately the same problem the plagues military decision making also plagues education. The people that are in charge and making policy have often not been in the trenches in years or have failed miserably so when they have been there; after all that's why most "educrats" leave teaching and go on to administration or curriculum design.
Robert Rosencrans| 7.16.09 @ 8:46AM
Could this type of mindlessness explain drop out rates in some cities in excess of 60%?
Tim| 7.16.09 @ 8:49AM
Ouch.
What makes a good teacher| 7.16.09 @ 9:51AM
What can these disfuntional people who have the cheek to refer to themselves as teachers teach?
when they know nothing themselves.
These so called teachers know about enough to get a job at Burger King.
To understand the dynamics of what's going on takes people with great minds, and the ability to demonstrate what is happening in the real world.
The changes that is affecting society across the world. Science and technology, is a moving target teachers that has the ability to keep up with that is hard to find.
The gap between global overpopulation and declining natural resources is the greatest crisis facing the human race.
What is the solutions to overpopulation include women's equality and mitigation of extreme poverty.
family planning to prevent unwanted children (world population increases 10,000 people per hour, births minus deaths)
The science of numbers, and how we sustain life on this planet is a major concern, more people and less food is a real issue.
And what we have today is a disfuntional society that lacks the basic ability to think.
How can these teachers teach the ability to think, when society does not require you to use the brain. These teachers are re-producing their own usless self, teaching what they have been taught, which amounts to ZERO.
Sean| 7.16.09 @ 10:00AM
Mr. Van Horrick I am surprised you didn't learn about this sort of stuff while getting your teaching certificate. You must remember that in multiculturalism everyone's culture and behavior is suppose to be tolerated and respected. There is one exception to this rule and that is Western Christianity and its views on proper behavior and expectations.
Education undermined| 7.16.09 @ 10:07AM
Every teacher I know, have left the profession, because teaching is being undermined by the Government.
Poor pay, is one of the major issues to younger teachers.
Others have left because what should be taught in school is been undermined.
As an adult, my thinking about poverty in developing countries became more strategic, taking firmer shape in 1990 at the Army War College. It was absolutely clear by then that poverty is the source of enormous social turmoil and social turmoil often results in civil unrest and disturbance, with the potential for negative ramifications worldwide.
One of the things we believe in defense intelligence is that people must have an investment in an orderly society. Economic deprivation and hunger lead to lack of education and illiteracy, which lead to powerlessness and despair, which lead to victimization and social chaos.
The world is interrelated more than we know. If we believe that bad things that happen in the world are a threat to our country, why would we not believe that good things are not a benefit to us?
*******************
Are you ready?| 7.16.09 @ 10:19AM
Posted August 25, 2008 15:14:00
Updated August 25, 2008 15:18:00
The prospect of global wars driven by climate change is not something often discussed publicly by our political leaders.
But according to one of America's top military analysts, governments in the US and UK are already being briefed by their own military strategists about how to prepare for a world of mass famine, floods of refugees and even nuclear conflicts over resources.
Gwynne Dyer is a military analyst and author who served in three navies and has held academic posts at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst and at Oxford.
Speaking about his latest book, Climate Wars, he says there is a sense of suppressed panic from the scientists and military leaders. ....
He says a fall in crops and food production means there will be refugees, people who are desperate.
"It may mean the collapse in the global trade of food because while some countries still have enough, there is still a global food shortage," he said.
"If you can't buy food internationally and you can't raise enough at home, what do you do? You move. So refugee pressures - huge ones - are one of the things that drives these security considerations."
In Climate Wars, even the most hopeful scenarios about the impact of climate change have hundreds of millions of people dying of starvation, mass displacement of people and conflict between countries competing for basic resources like water.
"India and Pakistan are both nuclear-armed countries. All of the agriculture in Pakistan and all of the agriculture in northern India depend on glacier-fed rivers that come off the Himalayas from the Tibetan plateau. Those glaciers are melting," Dr Dyer said.
"They're melting according to Chinese scientists to 7 per cent a year, which means they're half gone in 10 years.
"India has a problem with this. Pakistan faces an absolutely lethal emergency because Pakistan is basically a desert with a braid of rivers running through it.
"Those rivers all start with one exception in Indian-controlled territory and there's a complex series of deals between the two countries about who gets to take so much water out of the river. Those deals break down when there's not that much water in the rivers."
And then you have got the prospect of a nuclear confrontation, Dr Dyer says.
"It's unthinkable but yet it's entirely possible. So these are the prices you start to pay if you get this wrong," he said.
"Some of them, actually, I'm afraid we've already got them wrong in the sense that there is going to be some major climate change."
Dr Dyer explains the least alarmist scenario for the next couple of decades still involves enormous pressures on the US border.
"That border's going to be militarised. I think there's almost no question about it because the alternative is an inundation of the United States by what will be, effectively, climate refugees," he said. ....
But the real insight into the US study is that the more severe climate change scenario is the one that analysts think is the more likely one.
"And it's not just the analysts. I spent the past year doing a very high-speed self-education job on climate change but I think I probably talked to most of the senior people in the field in a dozen countries," Dr Dyer said.
"They're scared, they're really frightened. Things are moving far faster than their models predicted.
martinestl| 7.16.09 @ 10:24AM
Public school districts are spending tons of money on diversity training, exactly what this author describes down to the sobbing, and defending it as a way to eliminate the black-white achievement gap. Of course it's doing no such thing. Lots of guilty white women feeling bad about themselves is what you get.
Complete idiocy and a lot of diversity consultants making off with taxpayers money.
DB| 7.16.09 @ 10:25AM
How is it so obvious that liberals ruined public schools, yet no one talks about it? Teachers are now daycare providers/nannies whose hands are tied by the insanely inneffective liberal ideaology that reigns in the schools. That's exactly why I left the profession. Then the NEA bemoans the fact that they can't retain young talent. I told them exactly why most of my friends and I left public school teaching, but they didn't want to hear it because it doesn't fit their narrative. I'm sure they smugly assumed that we weren't qualified and needed more training.
DB| 7.16.09 @ 10:27AM
Sorry, typo...I meant "ideology"
Mr. Obvious| 7.16.09 @ 10:39AM
Less than a month after taking office, Obama was griping about the performance of American public schools. Duh ! The liberals have controlled education for 30 years, whaddya expect ? I'm sure the answer from this Administration will involve huge gobs of money we don't have to teach kids more untruths.
Appleby| 7.16.09 @ 10:45AM
"Hank Reardon", the Peter Principle doesn't only apply to education and the military; it is the same in every profession. The last place I worked, a multistory law firm, was notorious for the decisions regarding everything from purchase of supplies to build-outs of entire floors being taken by the Nomenklatura that bore no relation whatever to the actual functioning of the firm... simply because they refused to consult the Proletariat that actually had to use the stuff.
I also worked for a large firm in the USA who hired an Interior Designer to build out the offices to which we moved when we were Acquired by them. She had never worked in an office and among the many mistakes she made (all very beautiful to look at) were these:
(1) She had the desks built for writing by hand; therefore, they were much too high for ergonomic comfort when using computers. (This was in the 1990s). One was required to extend one's right arm at approximately the level of a Nazi Salute in order to operate one's mouse (assuming one was right handed). An extensive re-do had to be made, including the purchase of taller chairs and stools for our feet because we were now too high off the ground to reach.
(2) The "pods" in which we worked were designed so they fit together in twos. This meant that 50% of the desks were designed for left-handed people.
(3) Each desk had a little decorative lamp that looked eerily like a flying saucer (some of us drew little windows on them with markers, too) that was SCREWED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR BOLTED-DOWN IN- BASKETS. The lamp burned out about once a week, and was designed so that someone from Facilities had to change the decorative bulb, and its position made it impossible to use the in-basket for its intended purpose.
(4) The office was designed without a single, solitary coat closet. Not one.
(5) The "Staff Lunchroom" had a two-way mirror in it.
(6) The final outrage was the installation of a factory-style time clock that all Proles were required to punch. This ended up costing them, or so we heard, an extra half-million smackeroos in the first year, since they were required to pay us from the instant we punched in, not as in the past, from the instant our time sheets recorded we actually started work.
In addition, some bright light in the upper eschelon decided that since all books were now available on line, they would get rid of the entire library. In the first week, the computer system went down four times and absolutely no work could be done (they had forgotten to hire an IT guy, too). They were forced to buy the library back and find a place to put it.
Old Texican| 7.16.09 @ 10:47AM
Many ex teachers I have visited with are not so much frustrated by their low pay as they are about the OVERHEAD of so many "Administrators" with very high pay who won't let them teach.
Dave M.| 7.16.09 @ 11:06AM
Are You Ready, There have been famines, climate change and natural disasters in the past. And there will be in the future. One way not to be ready for such is to impoverish the U.S. by instituting draconian "cap and trade" restrictions on our economy. There is reason to be scared, but "climate wars" is just another boogeyman to divert your eyes from the insidious back door to communism goal of the progressives.
Invest in your children| 7.16.09 @ 11:24AM
I don't see nothing wrong with having well educated Black teachers teaching Black kids that want to learn.
What is being taught in school is not enough to educate any one these days. It's like Obama said switch that TV off.
Parents forming groups to teach after school classes. Self help after school clubs nothing wrong with that.
Children learn at different rates. Regular school don't account for that.
The money given to Churches give it to people willing to work for the good of many.
Emily| 7.16.09 @ 11:46AM
As a former Teach For America teacher, and someone closely involved with the 7th grade students mentioned by Mr. Van Horrick in his article, I am shocked and disappointed by the representation of the 'multicultural ideology' he suggests that TFA pushes onto their recruits. The DCA sessions implemented at the TFA 'boot camp' training period were hour-long sessions, held once a week. The purpose was not to expose differences in gender and equality among corps members, but rather to expose all corps members (many of whom are predominantly white, affluent college grads) to the culture and climate in which they would be working, and to ultimately help them achieve significant academic gains with the students (who were often of different races and ethnicities) in their classrooms. While discussing race, gender and equity issues can be thought-provoking and emotional for some, the conversation held by an advisor (mentioned in the article) was not only private and personal, but rare throughout such sessions. Most conversations centered around the ultimate goal of the organization - how to invest and motivate low-performing students to achieve. Through my own 'unpacking of biases' learned in DCA sessions, I was able to better facilitate discussions on a wide range of multicultural topics, while still keeping in mind the differences in culture between my students and myself. Perhaps Mr. Van Horrick would have achieved greater success if he considered how the DCA discussions could improve, not hinder, his teaching practices.
Big Leo| 7.16.09 @ 11:51AM
I remember a consciousness raising session we were required to attend back in my civil service days. We were given a test on Black culture so we could experience the oppression of being judged by a racially biased test. I came in first. Turns out the Black workers didn't know jack about jazz, cooking, or Black history. Yo, bro.
Andy Schmitz| 7.16.09 @ 12:47PM
I'm interested in where Mr. Van Horrick actually gets his context to write this article. As someone whom I know did not finish his committment with TFA, Mr. Van Horrick does not have the full perspective of how diversity and multicultural issues play out over the course of a year in a classroom. Furthermore, he is writing this article about sessions in the summer of 2007; these sessions are continually refined and updated to make them the most useful for corps members and their teachers and as such, Mr. Van Horrick, has no context for the content of these particular session currently in 2009. What bothers me is that Mr. Van Horrick is purporting to be an expert on these issues, when he clearly does not have the experience to match the argument in his article. Writing for the sake of writing is no profession at all and this article has done a shame to all those who write about issues like education and actually have a long, and in depth knowledge with them.
JerseyJ| 7.16.09 @ 1:10PM
Sean seems to think ... "You must remember that in multiculturalism everyone's culture and behavior is suppose to be tolerated and respected. There is one exception to this rule and that is Western Christianity and its views on proper behavior and expectations. "
As a Christian it really bugs me when someone takes their entire knowledge of my faith from the liberal media who paints Christians as intolerant, condescending radicals when nothing could be farther from the truth.
It is a Christian's task not to pass judgement on others, as that is reserved soley for Christ, but rather it is to inform others as to the one true way to salvation. You are, as am I, free to ignore or accept that truth. Your eternal salvation or punishment depends on the choice you make. I pray that you and all those who haven't yet, make the right choice.
We know that we are all imperfect. Christians SHOULD be the first to admit their own imperfection. That some don't is simply part of that imperfection. Thankfully, our salvation does not rely on us being perfect. To think we expect perfection or require certain behaviors from others is to fall victim to the stumbling blocks on the path to salvation laid by those who've given up their own. We are here to give you the Good News ... what you choose to do with it is up to you.
That being said you claim the only exception to tolerance and respect in today's world is western Christianity. That is simply foolish to believe. I assure you there are other religions, groups and movements far more intolerant of opposing opinions than is even your perception of Christianity. Abortion proponents, environmentalists, socialists including our own teleprompter-in-chief (e.g. "don't bet against us"), homosexual rights activists, certain Islamic sects, La Raza ... are all, in general, intolerant of opposing views to varying degrees. That's not to say that every member of these groups is intolerant, just as it isn't fair to say that all Christians are or are not tolerant. Christians as a group however, are taught biblically to forgive, to show mercy and compassion, to counsel and not judge, and to tolerate and admit imperfection. I can't say the same of the others.
Take some time to learn what true Christianity is before you pass judgement. It is extremely important for you.
Marc Jeric| 7.16.09 @ 1:37PM
Show me a strong union and I will show you a dead or dying industry. Given time all unions fall into the hands of either the Mafia goons or the communist agitators. Teacher unions are an example of the second.
Louis Jenkins| 7.16.09 @ 2:36PM
A middle school teacher told me last weekend that some of his students cannot tell time unless they're using a digital watch. How about calculators instead of simple math? Students are unable to write using cursor because they're typing on keyboards. What happened to the three Rs? Most of us are well aware of the problems. Instead of social engineering knowledge should be taught! Education, real education, is a privilege. This article causes my stomach to churn. Pardon me, I gotta' go vomit.
Le Cracquere| 7.16.09 @ 2:59PM
If Mr. Van Horrick had the sense to quit the TFA program and the confederacy of window-lickers who set its terms and those of public education in general, he has earned my respect. To the extent that Andy Schmitz has been steeped in modern educational theory "long, and in depth" and is a contributor (however minor) to its current status and direction, he has earned my contempt and the contempt of every other educated American.
By "educated," I mean, of course, someone who either evaded the public schools and timeserving jacklegs like Mr. Schmitz, or who managed to educate himself after enduring them.
Pete| 7.16.09 @ 3:15PM
This type of crap is exactly why we have the moron in office that we do. To those indoctrinated by public educators, it "felt good" to vote for a black man, no matter how inexperienced, radical and anti-American he is. After all, they have been taught that there is no greater crime than racism, and you have to be racist if you didn't vote for him. This is a serious issue - have you seen some of the polls? Young people answer in stunning percentages that they favor various forms of socialism over capitalism (in some cases, it is clear they don't comprehend the questions they are being asked), because all they have been taught is how capitalism exploits people, etc.... This is a truly sad state of affairs and I fear it will take something massive and terrible to wake these people up from thier 20yr teacher's union-induced intellectual slumber.
Pecos Pete| 7.16.09 @ 3:52PM
Hey Pete:
"This is a truly sad state of affairs and I fear it will take something massive and terrible to wake these people up from thier 20yr teacher's union-induced intellectual slumber."
Your "something" is coming down the train track mighty fast. Example: Cap & Trade and Nationalized Health Care. Not to mention maybe 100 trillion dollars of federal government debt that can only be paid back by printing money, thus very very high inflation.
It is going to get very interesting, very fast.
Pete| 7.16.09 @ 4:07PM
I was thinking more along the lines of a terrorist attack or missle strike as a direct result of the Messiah's misguided, "everyone really loves everyone, especially me" foreign policy. I agree with the severity of your items, but with the media in the tank for him, these train wrecks will be spun and spun hard. Things like, "the evil, profit mongering, Bush/Cheney loving utility companies are really the ones costing you hundreds more and, grandma was going to die anyhow, why not save a minority child?" Then again, now that I think of it, the media would probably spin an attack just as badly and OStupid would get on TV and apologize some more.
jen| 7.16.09 @ 4:10PM
Hey, Andy,
It doesn't take years in the ed biz to know the PC "sensitivity" they push is the reason we're in this fix with an inexperienced, corrupt president today. But since you seen to think it does -- I've taught since '96, and I'll vouch for the writer -- and add that "knowing how it plays out" during the course of a school year only solidifies one's negative opinion of multiculturalsim. Plus, the kids know all they have to do is drop a hint to the princpal that a teacher has been "insensitive," and that teacher will be in for consequencs much worse than just an"ouch" moment.
Peter McGrath - CLOSE 'EM| 7.16.09 @ 4:37PM
The above offers more anecdotal evidence of the appalling, inane way government schools operate. Mr. Van Horrick's observations provide additional reasons for closing them all down, permanently.
Consider the mediocrity and mayhem, commonly occurring illicit sexual activity between teachers and students, lousy curriculum, low standards, violence and, worst of all, unionism, the latter of which is the primary motivating factor (certainly not educating children) of these utterly failed institutions.
Let's close the crummy government schools. Let's try relying on parents to ensure that their kids are educated.
If parents can't or won't educate their kids, or if the parents cannot come up with sufficient funds to send their kids to what will inevitably be a proliferating industry of private educational concerns, then the State can provide ONLINE instruction, free of charge, to these kids at home.
Of course, annihilation of the government school teacher unions would be icing on the cake. Educators worth their salt will do well in the private system. The rest can go teach gym, or work for some other rotten, stinking government bureaucracy.
janet| 7.16.09 @ 4:56PM
The goal of public education is simply to indoctrinate. Multiculturalism has nothing to do about learning about and respecting different cultures. It is about rewriting history, especially the Western European. As long as kids can graduate knowing how to put on a condom, and not to be judgmental of anything, then that's a mark of success according to liberalism. Now we have a whole group of young voters who have been indoctrinated for so long by the state that they not only fail three Rs, cannot compete with foreign students, but have not been taught the real American history of what made this country great. If you don't learn about how liberty was won, how the hell will you defend it, especially from an overreaching, despotic government?
MartineStl`| 7.16.09 @ 8:36PM
As someone who has sat through hours of the multi-culti unpacking, complete with "ouches" and tears, I found the author's description of this so-called training accurate indeed. And, by the way, a few years down the line we still aren't seeing academic gains for minorities. But the consultants are getting rich.
Patrick M | 7.16.09 @ 11:46PM
"I suggested multiculturalism precluded us from judging a culture different from our own. This meant we could not speak out or even assist Islamic women who were faced with oppressive conditions. A female corps member raised her hand. Others in the circle joined her dissent. How could I bring up the issue? Who am I to pass judgment? That is their culture. I was just asserting my biases. "
My retort to such illogical gibberish in response to your valiant defense of fixed morality is to simply assert: "If I have no right to judge another, then you have no right to judge me. You are asserting your own anti-moralistic prejudices. You are hypocrite for doing so since you are doing to me what you claim I cannot do to others."
At which point, you will either be assaulted by a stream of epithets, a crying jag, or dumbfounded rage. Congrats: You caused meltdown.
Jim D'Arpino| 7.17.09 @ 6:01AM
Thank you, I have been teaching "on the hood" for ten years and I seen and listened to much of this similar crap (Teach America) before. Improving education in America can only be accomplished by removing the students who don't want to be there. Sorry, but all children cannot learn and many will be left behind. OUCH
JosephineSouthern| 7.17.09 @ 8:12AM
I have been following the jena6 case since it began and I have written many times comments to articles about this unjust media event. In all the articles I have seen I could count on one hand any reference to the VICTIM. The black activist has used this twisted story to make the black criminals victims, sorely for the aggrandizement of their black power grab. Why do you let this work for them? Why do you want blacks to win the have and havenot war they wage? Their culture has not proven to be superior to the White Culture so why would you want to change to a black culture?
Is it really possible that white people will be reduced to poverty by this administration and thus force us into a nation of black culture values, ie, Michael Jackson.
Choey| 7.17.09 @ 4:30PM
If you don't judge others then how do you decide who you want for friends and associates and who you don't? How do you decide who you want your children to play with and who you don't? How do you warn your children to stay away from certain people who would harm them and places where they could be harmed?
I think there is a whole lot more judging going on than you would think.
TheLastDuchess| 7.18.09 @ 8:53AM
I am a black person who quit teaching public school after one year in a predominantly black urban high school. A paycheck is insufficient reward for having to deal with kids who are foul mouthed and insolent; content with their ignorance (it assures them they're 'black') and angry that their inability to answer a question makes them conscious of their ignorance, even while they refuse to do the work to end it; possess an unwarranted and extremely high sense of self esteem—they know they have brains and ability, and are smug about it even though their performance shows neither; violent; disinterested in anything but making money, sex, having babies, and dressing trashy. The administration was equally disgusting. Benchwarmers should all pass whether they work or not, even the ones who sleep through class or want to talk about their babies or text message. In all my years of teaching, I'd never met students like those. No amount of encouragement or motivational effort work. In the end, I decided to leave and let them stew in their ignorance; the stress of working with those kids raised my blood pressure sky high on a daily basis. The pittance I made was insufficient reward for dealing with ignoramuses and barbarians.
Ben Van Horrick| 7.19.09 @ 3:25PM
Andy and Emily,
I hope you are enjoying your summer vacation.
Feel free to drop me a line. I would like to discuss this article and other issues facing TFA.
Jack Neidlinger| 7.20.09 @ 12:32AM
To hell with the ignorant little bastards. Teach in private schools where the disinterested student can be rossed out on his/her duff. Public education is just commie indoctrination.
Pingback| 7.20.09 @ 11:04AM
“Lessons Learned” – Teaching in Chicago links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 7.20.09 @ 8:24PM
I was a math/science teacher in Florida and so many of my black kids would razz the black kids who were trying by asking the question "Why you acting White"? I forgot. The black experience is mindless illegitimacy, illiteracy, and corrections. What WAS I thinking? The sad thing is I spent WAY too much time sending these folks to the discipline office, calling the on-site police officer, and writing conduct violations. This is what the schools seem to be for. Crowd control instead of teaching. This level of accepted aberrant behavior rubs off on all the other students.
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One party classroom | FortPatriot.com links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
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