I am hoping this is an unusual occurrence.
A good reminder to choose wisely when choosing when and where to speak up.
Teachers sharing their own political views is probably not uncommon. Inappropriate but common unfortunately.
2 Likes
I only read the article and did not listen to the video because there is no sound on the computer I am using. However if the things she said are represented accurately in the article this is one of those rare occasions where the headline understates the situation. It was a bit more than just sharing political views.
Here’s what the report says (from the article, not the video):
"The teacher begins by voicing her exhaustion with the pandemic and concern over coronavirus variants, saying she’d be proud if a student chose to get vaccinated. She then goes on to say she hates former President Donald Trump, adding that he “sucks,” and urges her students not to watch Fox News.
Utah County is one of the most conservative areas in the state.
In a statement that drew ire from people on social media, the teacher tells her students they don’t need to believe what their parents believe because “most of ya’ll parents are dumber than you.”
She later warns students in the video not to ask her about politics and says she “can go off on it” the whole class period, but that she’s not going to. She then adds that if students don’t believe in climate change, they should “get the hell out.”
When one student is heard giving a muffled response, she says: “That’s pathetic that you think that. You’re the problem with the world,” prompting laughter from class members."
There’s more than one red flag to me.
But otherwise, if you don’t want your kids to hear views other than your own, don’t send them to public school. Plenty of teachers share their views on all aspects of life. Can’t recall hearing of a single one telling students, “most of ya’ll parents are dumber than you.”
Plenty of students share views too.
When sharing of views/ideas is done in respectful manners it’s called conversation and helps students learn to get along with all sorts of people in the world - those who agree with them and those who don’t. It’s a good life lesson to have.
8 Likes
This teacher doesn’t strike me as someone I would want teaching my kids. I have liberal views, and my kids attended a conservative parochial school where they definitely heard political views that didn’t match mine. The difference is in the way the teacher spoke. Frankly, based on the interaction in the video, she doesn’t seem quite cut out for teaching. Just my opinion … but unless this particular teacher is incredibly gifted at teaching her subjects (and if my kid was old enough to understand why the teacher shouldn’t talk the way she does in the video), I would request a teacher with more common sense.
6 Likes
If you don’t want your kids to hear views that are different than your own, homeschool them or send them to a school that hires teachers and accepts only students who have certain views.
Teachers can share their political and/or religious views in a way that is respectful and mature. Belittling kids who have different viewpoints or don’t agree is rude and ineffective.
I also think it can be a problem when teachers spend the whole time sharing their political views instead of teaching the subject they’re supposed to be teaching. At my school we had a math teacher, who would spend the entire class talking about religion and abstinence instead of teaching the AP and honors class he was supposed to be teaching. He was let go. The kids weren’t learning any math!
I’ve heard parents say they don’t want their kids to be “brainwashed” or be “exposed to different views,” or indoctrinated." Anyone who has any sort of intelligence probably won’t be brainwashed. When parents say things like that it makes them sound insecure or like they don’t have any faith in their children.
Teachers can share their views. There is just a right and wrong way to do it. It’s good for kids to hear views that are different.
That said, I do believe that teachers do need to be careful, read the room, and know their audience. At my school we talk about certain topics and issues with our high school students, that probably wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about with elementary school kids. And there are some topics that just aren’t appropriate in a school setting. To be honest, most teachers I’ve worked with won’t share their political and religious views unless it’s relevant to the class or topic being taught. And even then, they’ll share it in a way where they aren’t proselytizing and expecting other people to agree. And this goes for teachers who are liberal and conservative.
2 Likes
No matter which way her political views run, her use of language is completely inappropriate as is her comments about the students’ parents. Teachers should deal in rationality and facts and should never use vulgarities or tell the kids their parents are dumb. Who does she think pays her salary?
3 Likes
I probably would agree with many of the views of this teacher in a discussion in my living room … but many of her statements seem very inappropriate for the classroom.
1 Like