Ms. Rochman, you are always welcome to come to California and teach. We've made teaching anti-intellectual activism an art...we'd probably make you governor....

dustinchicago "Furthermore, no one- even CD readers- have THE answer."

You just gave the answer "You don't tell them what the truth is… YOU ASK THEM!"

Some of the best teachers we ever had use the book as a guide, passed out flyer's of related information, require us to read them in class, then started asking us questions about it. They always encourage multiple opinions also.

Most people now days, if you question their opinion, think your insulting them.

Hoo boy!.

I know Boulder has a reputation as a "liberal" town; but the moment tells her students to please read the inside back page of the "A" section of todays Daily Camera, she will seal her fate...

But considering the egrigiousness of the crimes, merely impeaching and ejecting from office would be scandalous; it HAS to be followed by criminal indictments and prosecution - the whole bunch needs to spend the rest of their lives in prison at hard labor.

The principles on which I oppose the death penalty are certainly put to the test in this case, however.

Dear Ms. Rochman,

Unfortunately, given our uber-politicized education system in public schools, legally you are caught in a Catch-22 situation. Thanks to "No Child Left Behind" and a hyper-sensitive litigious society, teachers hands indeed, are tied. But if you really want to reach your students as you have done in the text of your article, do not be afraid of telling them the truth. I have been teaching History and Political Science in colleges and universities for five years, and granted that my situation is different from yours, I unabashedly teach my students the truth. They often walk out of my classrooms angry because they were not taught the truth in high school, thanks to political control and corruption of the education system by the government and administrators who bow to the government instead of supporting teachers. Your students will appreciate you even more when you teach them the truth because it empowers and gives them a greater appreciation for learning, which is one of the cornerstones of academia. It is incumbent upon those of us in the teaching profession to do so. Thank you for your willingness to make a difference in your students' lives.

Best regards,
Dan

Tell me about it -- I teach college history and have to compete with the noise generated by right-wing megaphones. So my classes hear news from this website, from www.democracynow.org; www.cursor.org; www.therealnews.org; www.goleft.tv; etc.

Democrats and Republicans -- you're forcing people who have some commitment to reality to sacrifice you to the greater good of democratic-republican constitutional learning. A lot of students in this country don't know what century Lincoln was president or when the Vietnam War happened. And now, in the state of Kansas, you know longer have to teach U.S. history before 1900 in the school system. Who's brilliant idea was that? Democrats and Republicans.

We need a 3rd Party that is committed to economic justice, education, and environmental concerns. Progressives, Greens, Socialists, Libertarians -- we need to unite and soon.

Teachers are losing their jobs all over the country for trying to teach rather than parrot the board of education's party line, and the Superior and Supreme Courts have backed the boards of education, stating that a teacher has no right to express an opinion contrary to a board's edicts, or to answer a student's questions honestly. About the best they can do is refer the child to the principal.

This article was written early in the history of this case. Since then, she has taken it on appeal after appeal. She, and the teaching profession, has lost at each level.

http://www.populistamerica.com/if_it_was_good_enough_for_hitler

An educated people is the surest bulwark against tyranny, so for the past couple of decades our "leadership" has been carefully downgrading education to by rote memorization of tests, and discouraging critical thinking by either teachers or students. So sad. Ms Rochman is obviously a dedicated teacher and person of character and conscience. Those qualities may well limit her career in this day and age.

That said, good on ya for speaking out! And best of luck to you.

Follow-up to Dan's comment -- I, too, experience a backlash -- but I use the phrase "commitment to reality" A LOT and most of my students -- not least among them Iraq War vets -- very much appreciate it regardless of their political views. The ones who walk out are the one's so steeped in propaganda that alternative views are mind-blowing. They haven't learned how to deal with information that confronts their views. Why not? That's a very important question -- we should WELCOME information that challenges our views! The fact the one becomes so committed to a "party line" that they can't process conflicting information is disconcerting, but fairly common. Psychologists call it "neurosis." That's why the arguments of such unfortunates tend to increase in decibels rather than sophistication. This can be overcome, however, and it is very liberating.

Back in the '80s -- remember the "de-programmers"? The people who brought kids back from their "Moonie" trance? The "Reverend" Moon is now an insider in the Washington power structure.

Teaching has nothing to do with truth, justice or democracy. It has everything to do with showing the proles how to behave properly, to not make waves in society. Education in the U.S. has become a joke. The handful educators who believe they should teach critical thinking are given no respect in the U.S. Compare the salaries of those in the teaching profession with those who coach college sports. Teachers? Who needs them?

Hooray for Ms. Rochman!

Tell it how it is. Unfortunately, in some places in this country- most notable the supposedly liberal enclave of Seattle, Washington- there are many prohibitory rules and regulations that seek to prevent teachers from speaking out on local questions of education policy, which is viewed as a "conflict of interest" when done by any employee of the public sector in many quarters around here. It's total horseshit, of course. The military of the United States, last I checked, is owned by the public, but nothing prevents military officers from speaking out on questions of war and peace, particularly when they follow the hup ho. No one sees a conflict of interest there.

And yet teachers- who, despite our reputation in many quarters, including some of the posters here- labor mightily in many places to be in the front lines of the defense of the democratic process, but are prohibited by many local regulatiions from doing so. that ain't right.

As sacred as our country, our democracy, and our Constitution are, none of these is as sacred as our teachers.

You don't tell them what the truth is... YOU ASK THEM!!!! Teach them how to learn, and learn yourself so you can question either side of the argument THEY come up with. You are not paid to deliver your opinion, you are paid to develop theirs (is that impossible to seperate?) Furthermore, no one- even CD readers- have THE answer.

Best of luck with the lawsuits though, we must defend teachers or all we will have left are coopted babysitters.

The writer notes that teachers have a "duty" to report even suspected neglect and abuse of a student. This is the loophole through which the truth is taught, as most BushCo (and Dem. for that matter) policies will abuse children and promote their neglect. As a former teacher, I agree with what the other educators are saying and ratify their observations.

But at all times, teach what you know to be the truth; that's the moral obligation of all teachers. Unfortunately, not all teachers know what the truth is, especially regarding history, polysci, and economics; because unless you are very lucky to have candid, unafraid profs at both the highschool and collegiate levels, you will not learn what the truth is unless you are determined to find out for yourself. Take the topic of the US as Empire, which is never discussed in any general textbook other than perhaps a paragraph about the quite vocal anti-imperialist league during the age of yellow journalism and Spanish-American War because it involved Mark Twain and T. Roosevelt. An example of programmed ignorance: Prior to the anti-WTO protests at Seattle in 1999, I weas shocked to discover that not one member of the History Taeching Methods class I was involved with had ever heard of the WTO or its predecessor the GATT, nor of the series of meetings and agreements that gave it birth, Bretton Woods--out of 28, NOT ONE KNEW--and the showdown in Seattle was only a month away. I can cite many other examples, but this sticks out in my mind because it showed me the lack of interest in current affairs and the quality of information/news being read/heard/seen by university seniors who were going to be in classrooms teaching secondary students in the near future. And I'm certain that this sort of "under-education" is still the norm at teachers' colleges.

One can see how easily propagandized people are in the USA.

I'm a teacher, and I believe Bush and Cheney should have been impeached by now.

HOWEVER, i agree with Dustin that the social studies teacher's job is to engage students in meaningful discussion. Teachers should help students to think critically, and form their OWN opinions (it's the whole 'teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime' adage.)

Teachers should expect, accept, respect, be at peace with, and even cherish the idea that after a wonderful discussion, many students will arrive at different conclusions than their own.

Also...

If we want to follow the constitution, let's also not forget that U.S. citizens are innocent until proven guilty.

Even though I agree that BushCo lied us into an illegal war, out of respect for the constitution I cannot support any teacher telling their students that the president is a criminal. This would be unconstitutional, since he has not been tried.

~bejugo

Very courageous. We treat teachers like trash in this country, and turn our noses up at anything with a whiff of intelligence. This explains perfectly why a chickenhawk-oilmen cabal figureheaded by a dry-drunk fratboy have conquered us so easily.

Great discussion, as usual. I teach a class called "Critical Thinking" at the freshman level of college. The day after Bush gave his "yellowcake" state of the union address (I believe it was January 2003) I copied it from the newspaper and passed it out to the class. I asked to them to read it closely, line by line, and find logical inconsistencies in the speech, or to write questions that the speech provoked (they needed a total of 3). One of my students (an avowed Bush supporter) got mad, thinking I was pushing anti-war views, and I replied that it is ALWAYS appropriate to question authority, no matter what YOUR political party, no matter what the political party of the authority figure. The speech was, as we know, full of holes and provoked a lot of questions. We talked about them and moved on. I felt like I managed to get them all thinking about the so-called rationale for war that day without shoving my views down their throats. Just turn Bush's speeches into texts and deconstruct them; discuss his actions alongside the Constitution. Let them figure it out for themselves based on reading and discussing the primary texts.

"Let them figure it out for themselves based on reading and discussing the primary texts."

Their smart enough to do it too, even in the sixth grade. Well as long as they were taught to read and write in the previous grades. Every thing taught in the first five years should be emphasizing reading and writing. I don't care if it's math or gym. Every teachers during them first five years should be teaching reading and writing along with the subject their teaching.

As a veteran of over three decades of teaching high school, I applaud your courage in submitting this article, which could itself sound the death-knell for your career. If it does, come to Canada where freedom of opinion and speech are still considered 'essential.'

My English and Psychology classes were always free speech zones, places where the entire political, religious and philosophical spectrums were welcome, and explored. Learning theory suggests that the only way learning is internalized is through an open, questioning, consciously skeptical (as opposed to cynical) stance. Never once was I challenged from either left or right regarding what went on in my classroom.

Most assuredly we too have our "red-necks and pinkos" but somehow within this culture they accepted that they were all fair game. And by the same token I too was subjected to the light of truth, challenging my students to stop me in my tracks whenever I overstepped bounds of fairness.

What troubles many around the globe deeply is that Americans, from whom we learned the very essence of open thinking and free speech, are in the process of losing what they so aptly modeled.

Ms. Rochman, if you ever need a safe harbor, come north to the land which was inalterably enriched by the tens of thousands of American idealists who arrived during the Vietnam era, the last major American departure from sanity.

In the meantime, take courage, the lady in NY harbor still stands proud.

"The day after Bush gave his "yellowcake" state of the union address (I believe it was January 2003) I copied it from the newspaper and passed it out to the class."

You could do this with the speachs of just about any politician. As a group, I don't think politicians are very apt to use critical thinking principles as a basis for arguments for the consumption of the public, nor is the public particularly demanding that they do.

Bravo! Wouldn't you just like to shove the NCLB down his throat! I know I would!

This is a situation that is really important and needs to be constantly discussed, and that is
the role of teacher.

Obviously they are the cheapest daycare there is; so call it that, Public day care.

When servants raise the kids, do you what servants telling the kids about the flaws of the masters, no, that's unheard of.

If ever there was need any proof of the irrelevence of the current President of the United States, Wendy Rochman has provided it in spades! As a former teacher myself I fully concur with her analysis, understand her dilemma, and respect her candor and honesty.

This was the judge's decision in Ms Mayer's case. It has been appealed and upheld all the way to the Supremes.
-----------------------------------------------
On March 10, Judge Sarah Evans Barker dismissed Mayer's case, granting summary judgment to the defendants.

The judge said the school district was within its rights to terminate Mayer because of various complaints it received from parents about her teaching performance. (Note: Her performance evaluations had been exemplary until her dismissal. The bad evaluation was written two years later in preparation for the trial.)

But beyond that, Judge Barker ruled that "teachers, including Ms. Mayer, do not have a right under the First Amendment to express their opinions with their students during the instructional period."

The judge ruled that "school officials are free to adopt regulations prohibiting classroom discussion of the war," and that "the fact that Ms. Mayer's January 10, 2003, comments were made prior to any prohibitions by school officials does not establish that she had a First Amendment right to make those comments in the first place." The judge also implied that Mayer, by making her comments, was attempting to "arrogate control of the curricula."

And the judge gave enormous leeway to school districts to limit teachers' speech in the classroom.

"Whatever the school board adopts as policy regarding what teachers are permitted to express in terms of their opinions on current events during the instructional period, that policy controls, and there is no First Amendment right permitting teachers to do otherwise," Judge Barker wrote

So, it is now official. Teachers can teach only the approved party line, with no interpretation, discussion or opinions expressed. Hitler or Stalin would have loved it. Cheney/Bush does, I'm sure.

Oh, what was her crime?

On January 10, 2003, a teacher of fourth, fifth and sixth graders at Clear Creek Elementary School in Bloomington Indiana was leading a class discussion on an issue of Time Magazine's "Time for Kids." This was a regular routine and part of the school's curriculum. Some of the articles related to the imminent Iraq war and one mentioned a peace march

One of the children asked the teacher if she would attend a peace parch. She answered that she usually honked her horn when she went by a local demonstration that said "honk for peace." She said she felt it was important to seek peaceful solutions before resorting to war and that was why they trained the kids to mediate disputes on the playground, to seek peaceful solutions to their own problems.

According to the records, apparently a student mentioned the conversation to a parent, who complained to the school that her teacher had advocated "peace." The teacher was told never to discuss the war, or "peace " in her classroom again.

At the end of that day, Principal Rogers circulated a memo, entitled "Peace at Clear Creek," that said: "We absolutely do not, as a school, promote any particular view on foreign policy related to the situation in Iraq." And she canceled the annual "peace month" that the school had been holding.

I agree with dustinchicago... in fact I ought to mention that I do not impose my political views on students. I think it is not fair to do so. I let them decide for themselves. And critical thinking is the centerpiece of how I teach.

Sorry, I am typing in between meetings here. It is imperative that students learn how to critically think, and it is incumbent upon teachers to teach them how to do so.

It's great to see that there are so many teachers posting. It's interesting to note though that the subject of what level of subjectivity in education is appropriate as regards different educational levels.

I agree that in College it should be a free for all- a grand battle royal of ideas from which students form their own world view. I was fortunate to have been taught in college by both Father Drinan and yes, Henry Kissinger- vastly different world views forcefully presented by great intellectual minds.

But I can't help but think that at the elementary school level the emphasis should be, as has been noted, on reading, writing and arithmetic. Then a gradual move to more challenging and thought provoking subject matter as children learn to think critically for themselves. Teachers, especially of young children, have a position of authority and I believe have to use more caution in their stating their opinions as fact, and perhaps stating too many controversial opinions at all. What do the educators think?

I'm currently reading a book by Alfie Kohn called, The Schools our Children Deserve. It's an absolute must read for all teachers, parents, and anyone who is simply interested in the future of the world - which is, of course, the children. (I'm a member of the last category.)

dustinchicago has it right. Teaching is not about filling up empty pails (i.e., children's minds) with information (i.e. truths) from the fountain of knowledge (i.e. the teacher's head). This kind of schooling came out of the patriarchal and parochial schools that 'transmitted' religious dogma to children. (And is nearly always the method of teaching still found in developing countries.)

That six generations of individuals have been 'schooled' in this authoritarian way - using repetitive drilling, and grading on performance - have brought us to the place where critical thinking and questioning are labeled 'terrorist' (similar to the previous pejoritave - 'heretic').

It's time for a DRASTIC switch in how we teach the future (i.e. teach the world's children). And unfortunately, there are only a few teachers out there, in this country, (and nearly none in developing countries) who are strong enough to go against the grain of the authoritian structure that they were 'schooled' in.

And it isn't just about the schools. After all, parents and the family structure form children for the first five years of their lives!!! And so many parents use the authoritian practices that they learned from their parents and school masters. And even with the most progressive teachers and the most nurturing schools, children go back into their home environment at the end of each day.

Yes, this is about the schools. But it is equally about parents and other 'role models' responsible for the development of young human beings.

We're caught in a dreadful cycle - a cycle that needs to be broken. NOW!!!

I am a retired teacher. Since the Reagan era public schools and public school teachers (especially the dreaded teacher union members) have been attacked. There is an organization out there called Alliance for the Separation of School and State which advocates the total destruction of public education. If you want to do a little research, you will find a wonderful bunch of supporters, mostly neocons, some libertarians and some good honest business people like the Walmart heirs! It is all about thought control.
Although I miss my students and my wonderful colleagues, I do not miss the censorship. Now I can and do stand on a street corner with my PEACE sign, write letters to the editor of the local paper and sign my name and not worry about being fired. For those of you still teaching, keep on demanding that your kids think. Teaching is a subversive activity!

Under the test-directed NCLB regime, elementary school students are subjegated to constant skills-oriented teaching.

However, the expansion of each student's knowledge and the developing the basic respect for and the following of the basic rules of discussion and thinking are neglected.

In addition, children are not, for example, exposed to a wide range of cultural expression especially the world's traditional folk music nor Western Europe's classical music.

In other words, education has little to do with cultural "up-lift."

Teachers and intellectuals are the first to be criticized and persecuted in facist societies. Is this an opinion or a fact?

Claudius, I find it very hard to believe that someone who posts on this blog as often as you do, has never expressed an opinion in the classroom. Of course, I could be wrong, but those of you who posted on this subject would have your teaching positions whisked away simply for participating. That's the real objective of the court's decision. It has nothing to do with rights, it has more to do with interpretation. At some point in the future, if you've ever posted on this site you could be investigated for anti-American activity. Any of us could be subject to prosecution. You're all guilty of thinking.

ruthru,

I have expressed an opinion in my classes, however I say "you all do not have to agree with me, this is just my opinion." That is what I tell my students before I actually say what I think. I believe that teachers can teach objectively. I know too many teachers who expect students to adopt the teachers' opinions and grade accordingly, which to me, is completely unfair to students. Sometimes I get into arguments with colleagues about this point. I think DUSTINCHICAGO hit it on the head... where teachers are not paid to give their opinions, but rather get the opinion out of their students.

But at the same time, it is frightening to think that the classroom as one of the last bastions of free thought is slipping into political corruption, government manipulation, and a fleeting memory.

Students need to know that teachers are real people, are active as citizens, and do, therefore, have personal opinions. There is nothing wrong with saying to students that "This president has led us into a disastrous war through lies and deceit." As long as the classroom is open to all opinions and their careful examination, teachers can also be people and express their conclusions. In this particular case, this article is an example of great moral courage. She reminds me of Lt. Ehren Watada. And students should learn that not all opinions are equal. Some are based on compassion, on law, on evidence, on a quest to reduce suffering. Others are not. It is important to help students to develop their own standards for constructing their own conclusions.

GLK - I checked out the Alliance: http://www.schoolandstate.org/proclamation.htm

Here is an old version of their proclamation (which hasn't substantially changed from their current one.) See my [emphasis] comments:

May 24, 1995: Proclamation for the Separation of School and State

Whereas parents want their children to grow into responsible, competent, caring adults, and whereas more and more children are failing to reach this goal, and whereas parents have both the responsibility [emphasis: the UN recognizes education as a basic human right for all - that means ALL of us have the responsibility, parents or not] and the right to provide an education for their children [emphasis: and ALL children who might not be theirs!], it is now time to ponder our schooling difficulties and propose a genuine solution.

Our difficulties

Education and values cannot be separated. [emphasis: WHAT?!?] The diversity of values held by parents—and the differing hopes they hold for their children [emphasis: research conclusively shows that there is no difference in what parents want for their kids - to be happy!!!] —cannot be addressed adequately by a "common school system," even if it is well funded and staffed with talented, caring teachers.

We cannot have a society that is both free and peaceful when government legislators and regulators use our schools to shape attitudes or control the content of anyone's mind. [emphasis: CORPORATIONS do the controlling!] Serious disagreements arise between parents and school boards over whose values will be taught. [emphasis: I didn't think it was the job of schools to teach VALUES - I thought that they were to teach kids to THINK!] These conflicts have harmful results:

· They reduce parent support for teachers,
· They undermine student respect for teachers, parents and ultimately, all authority, [emphasis: This is the crux - submission to authority is what it's all about!]
· They cause dissension among groups contending for control of schools and children. [emphasis: Contending for CONTROL - again, all about authority]

No conceivable reform of state schooling can ever resolve the conflicting values in education. [emphasis: love the way they reject every idea - past and future - as unworkable. Good teachers they would make.]

Our solution

We can find the solution by studying America's experience with religion. A major reason Americans enjoy a high degree of religious harmony, despite holding diverse religious views, is that government may not compel religious funding, attendance, or practice. Similarly, government must be prohibited from compelling school funding, attendance, and curriculum [emphasis: one agreement - government should not decide the curriculum - the children should]. Only then can we protect parent's rights, and enable schools, teachers, and students to flourish in an environment of full educational freedom.

Seriously scary people, all of them.

The government is currently funding sub-rosa Christian missionary activities in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are funding ostensibly secular projects such as hospitals and trade schools that are in fact run by missionary groups such as Brother Marc and require conversion BEFORE employment or service. One such project was the Hospital of Hope in Baghdad. After complaints and investigation by Afghan government, the entire staff was changed and control given to a Euro

We badly need more teachers like you, more administrators who support your academically solid approach and more board members with the backbone to stand up for the excellent public education you provide your students.

Thank you.

As a teacher educator, I often ask myself, "What would Paulo Freire do?" I find it amazing that many teachers with a master's degree have never heard of him. He's not only for teachers. Anyone interested in grassroots activism and community organizing needs to read him.

Teacher education, unfortunately, is going the way of K-12 education. It's becoming more and more burdened with "standards" and "accountability" measures from NCATE and TEAC that discourage the emergence of a critical pedagogy. Prospective teachers learn how to become technocrats that can write a formulated lesson plan for "best practices." To me, best practices are those that enable students to become not only critical thinkers but also global citizens for social justice. We need democratic classrooms in which views of dissent are neither shamed nor hidden.

And let me say something about NCLB. It serves the interests of the status quo, plain and simple. Politicians will not listen to teachers on this. Parents need to organize against it. Teachers who are parents, you need to raise hell while wearing your parent hat. We don't need a protest here and there; we need a movement.

Actually, you could devise an exercise or game in which the kids themselves come to the conclusion you wish them to. Student-centred learning. Much more effective than writing an article none of them will read.

Wendy Rochman and the rest of you teachers, I recommend that you take advantage of the fact that when Canada gets her hands dirty, the odds are that America's hands are not completely clean. You can also take advantage of the fact that history is repetitive - that only the names of the players change.

For example, Maher Arar is both a Canadian scandal and an American one. While you can't talk overtly about American scandals, it is strange how much the US comes up while you are talking about the Canadian side of it. When your student puts up his/her hand and says "Well if it is wrong what Canada did to Arar isn't it also wrong what we did" you just smile and say "I can't really say."

You want material on Arar - I can give you all you need.

Instead of talking about prisoner abuse, talk about the history of the formulation of the war crimes tribunal and of the Geneva conventions and the reasons behind its implementation. It would take me 10 minutes or less to find you all the info you need on that.

Thyssen seems like a company that has a history, at least, with the Bush family - and now, it seems, with Brian Mulroney.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney's eulogy at the funeral of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/reagan_ronald/mulroneyeulogy.html

Mulroney's testimony on Thursday December 13:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071212/mulroney_testifies_071213/20071213/

TruOrange, did you see the list of contributors and sponsors to the Alliance for the Separation of School and State? I was shocked to find the connection to Tom DeLay, and Abramoff. That scandal never ends. As for NCLB, I am soooo happy to be out of that one. I have always believed that tests, especially the multiple choice type are simply a snapshot, and a fuzzy one at that, of student progress. An education takes a lifetime. I taught ESL (English as a Second Language). Under NCLB students who had been in the US for one year were required to take the tests. All research shows that it can take 7-10 years for students to become competent with academic language. Conversational language can be acquired in about 6 months.
My district had about a 16% ESL population and a 40% poverty population. Funding is tied to those test scores. Talk about pressure.
I for one am feed up with unfounded allegations that public schools are failing.

And Karlheinz Schreiber's interview with Peter Mansbridge (to serve as a primer for the whole story):

http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/video/politicseconomy/karlheinz_schreiber_a_feature_1.html

Schreiber testified in front of the ethics committee on December 4, 6 and 11. "Politics" devoted the show to Schreiber's testimony on those days but it might only be available in podcast now and I know nothing about podcast. Will give you the link anyway:

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/

And, instead of focusing on Bush's Environmental policy - There is stuff I can give you on the Alberta tarsands - including how Alberta's Environment Minister has been accused of sounding like a spokesperson for the oil company. All the language Bush uses is the same language they use. It is three links so it would take two posts.

Instead of talking about Bush's inaction in New Orleans directly, talk about Stronach's Canadaville.

Around the second week of September might be a good time to teach your kids about the October Crisis of 1970 and the implementation of the War Measures Act and how many years later in 2001 Canadian politicians were comparing Bill C-36 to the War Measures Act - and let them debate whether or not that was the case and whether or not it was justified. It is about as close as you can get to teaching about 9/11 and the Patriot Act.

Canada: A People's History is on line (if you know where to look) and it is surprising how much the United States comes up during a discussion of Canadian history.

claudius says: I have been teaching History and Political Science in colleges and universities for five years, and granted that my situation is different from yours, I unabashedly teach my students the truth. They often walk out of my classrooms angry because they were not taught the truth in high school

Your situation is different that hers - she has to deal with underaged kids and "concerned" parents. Universities have student councils rather than PTAs. What she needs to do is teach stuff that seems innocent enough but leads, near the end of the lesson, to the more scandalous side of history. A University prof can tell their students that Washington grew pot in his back yard or that one of the grievances which led to the American Revolution (according to Benjamin Franklin, Washington and Alexander Hamilton) was how the British were treating the French Canadian Catholics of Quebec. Specifically, they saw the Quebec Act as a "betrayal." Hey, a University History Prof can tell the students which American President is rumoured to have been gay!

GKL says: I am a retired teacher. Since the Reagan era public schools and public school teachers (especially the dreaded teacher union members) have been attacked. There is an organization out there called Alliance for the Separation of School and State which advocates the total destruction of public education. If you want to do a little research, you will find a wonderful bunch of supporters, mostly neocons, some libertarians and some good honest business people like the Walmart heirs! It is all about thought control.

Wow! Walmart! I guess there will be no discussion of the Three Amigos and 30 CEOs at the SPP meeting in Montebello!

Few things scare me. That did.

28 years working with high school kids, and here's the attitude I live and die by, communicated (in much cleaner language of course) to my students:

Figgety, figgety FUCK any school board, court or administrator that tries to censor me in the classroom.

And another thing: Any little brat thinking of secretly recording me and sending a copy to Bill O'Reilly will be SUED so fast his parents won't know whether to poop or go blind!

(Hell, you gotta have a little fun in the classroom with kids these days, no? It works to endear them to you, too!)

Cheers.

Thanks, libertas fugit, for the background. I take your warning, however, "Now it's official," with a grain of salt. What you've done with your post is add to the case for not speaking out. When the main consequence of a comment is to add to evidence for not speaking out, how can we tell it from an insidious plant? Merely recounting the truth is not enough. We can scare ourselves into paralysis reciting breaches of constitutionality in this country. Rochman chose not to. Maybe she didn't bother to check with right-wing judges before she followed her well-thought-out decision to speak. Cynicism, sarcasm, and "I'm merely telling the truth" are awfully short-term responses. They make it easy for plants to join in and generally aren't useful---unless they're hilarious.

Wasn't it Horowitz, the same "brain" that gave Bush the moniker of "compassionate conservative" who asked college students to essentially turn in their teachers who take an anti-war/Bush stance? I remember an article on CD citing the "100 most dangerous professors" or some such.

Many moons ago when I taught HS English and Speech I used to set up "moot courts," so that students could debate both sides of issues. This is an innocuous way to bring various perspectives into discussion. If the anti-war team (= anti Bush) is well informed, even students brainwashed in households that "vote red state" may have their consciousness inadvertently raised. Just as the networks PRETEND to show both points of view, a classroom that sets the polarity into the context of debate, might be able to get more Truth across than would otherwise be the case.

Think how it must feel for military members sworn to uphold the constitution and obey the orders of the president...

Everyone remember that the conservatives are pretty much experts at controlling the message, defining it in terms so one can't really argue against it.

So we have to frame the issue and control the message before they hijack it. It's really not too difficult.

The following phrases should be used on this issue:

"Attack/Assault on Education-Academic Freedom."
"War on Education-Academic Freedom."
"Resctriction of Academic Freedom."
"(so and so) is going after Teachers."
"Attacking (certified) Teachers."
"Assualting Classrooms."
"Agenda against Education/Academic Freedom."
"Indoctrination Agenda."
"Propoganda Agenda."
"Chilling effect on Education."
"Chilling effect on Free Speech."
"Tying the hands of Teachers nationwide."
"Handcuffing Teachers nationwide."

and remember how effective they were marginalizing Kent State, and Columbia students back in 1968. Turn their own rhetoric against them now.

"A few college kids at (name ritzy university here) are complaining again."

"There's nothing that's going to stop these college kids from complaining, now they're complaining about...."

"Are they making excuses because they don't to do the work?"

Along those lines. Make it out to be just a bunch of rich spoiled whiny college kids complaining (which is what this is). I wasn't alive in 1968, but I know how well they used this rhetoric/propoganda to get 80% of the nation behind it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFGit_tZDqs

My generation, Generation Y is the Couch Potato War Mongering Generation, or the Apathetic "we care, but not enough to do much more than say we care" Generation.

Children are our future, and Teachers are their guides.

May all teachers be blessed with abundant compassion, and steadfast commitment to instilling our most valuable treasures with their common future's possibilities.

May your keen sense of empowerment and love of knowledge, be as Sacagawea, leading us through the wilderness of mendacity.

As DREAMER TOO aptly stated, teachers serve a sacred duty beyond all compare, to tenderly metamorphose our quintessential kinship.

I am honored (as are we all) to have had my mere potential transformed into wonderment and possibilities, and commend you all as exemplar and adventurer of truth.

Namaste … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Mahatma Gandhi … … … … … … … … … …
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By the way, My Political Economy professor in college, a 100 level general requirement class, basically taught out right out of far right winger Milton Friedman's "The Lexus and the Olive Tree." In fact made us read and memorize the whole thing.

All of this in the supposed "liberal bastion" of UCONN.

I still live and work in this area. CT/NYC Metro area. It's different here. While we may be liberal politically, I don't consider people here as open minded or wise as they think. But we're certainly much more educated and skilled than nearly all the red states, and I realize that's a pompous statement, but it's true. Look at education at all levels, including college, along the Bible belt, lower midwest, etc. It's in the absolute shitter all accross the board. Here in the Northeast, I, a Uconn Graduate with a Masters has to compete with degrees, MBA's etc from Cornell, Yale, Harvard, Columbia, MIT, NYU, Princeton, UPENN... to name a few. THus increasing the demand at work. Im basically average around here when up against all that.

Let me tell you, I move out midwest or down south, say Missouri, Arkansas... suddenly i'm a genious, valued much higher than in the northeast.

I work for a major market research firm with 22 offices in the United States alone (more worldwide). I work with clients like Proctor and Gamble, S.C. Johnson, Johnson and Johnson... who have dozens of offices in the United Stated. But the key is, has it ever occured to anyone why there's nearly no major business offices in States like Mississippi, Arkansas, Utah, South Carolina etc. They're all in NYC, Boston, Seattle, Cinci, Phili, LA, DC, San Fran... you get the picture. Heck, Hartford CT is the "Insurance Capitol of the United States." Those other states I mentioned, it's got nothing to do with a lack of people/population. It's a lack of talent, and a complete lack of education down there. No wonder no major business will setup shop in these backwards states. They're falling behind the rest of the Country, and the World for that matter.

Are you going to find Financial Institutions or Actuaries produced down south/midwest, let alone working down there? I don't think so.

mastershake,

As someone who taught at colleges and universities in the Midwest, I would say you are wrong. There are many intelligent people who teach in those states (in public schools too) who have degrees from solid universities that are the equivalent of the ones you mention. You would not be viewed as a genius. In fact, nobody would really give a shit about you. Additionally, one reason why there are not as many businesses in those states is because there are too many taxes. You need to spend some time in the Midwest before you make statements about the Midwest and South, even if you acknowledge the Eastern view as "arrogant."

And the irony is that federal TAX DOLLARS FROM BLUE STATES LIKE CT, MA, CA (ie the people paying most of the federal income taxes) are having their income taxes siphoned and laundered (earmarked) to the Red States.

I wouldn't mind the Fed redistributing our income (isn't that communism/facism?) as much if those red states invested that money in something worthwhile like education, but you have States like Alaska building 337 million dollar bridges to nowhere.

Whats the war budget next year? 980 Billion (that we know of). And again, which states are paying the majority of these taxes. Hypothetically, you're a conservative, lets say (not you personally Claud, insert anyone here)... don't look at me with a straight face and say you can't allow a mere 5 Billion more for succesful programs like SCHIP, and another 5 Billion towards education (which would go a long way. And don't give me that crap about cutting taxes. A tax cut is meaningless if your treasury keeps getting dinged for hundeds of billions of interest every year. It's like Lewis Black says, you can't cut money that's not really there.

Yeah we're going to cut taxes alright. No offense to women, but we're really like a high school girl with her first credit card. APR is like a ridiculous 25%, and we have no idea how the rate structure works. We just buy a bunch of shit we don't need, pretend we have the money for it, but end up paying 4-5 times the ammount for it years down the road because of interest.

Those interest payments gotta come from somewhere.