An interesting way to get Kids Attention

[christabelll]

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies schoolteacher at Robinson High School in Little
Rock, did something not to be forgotten.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room, they discovered that there were no desks.

Looking around, confused, they asked, 'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'

She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me what you have done to earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.'

'No,' she said.

Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television, news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk less classroom.

Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.

Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall.

By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it is up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

By the way, this is a true story.

If you can read this, thank a teacher.

Since you read it in English, thank a soldier.

If anyone questions whether this is, true or not, send them to this link:

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/nodesks.asp

It is true. Kudos to the teacher

 

[DesertPirate]

Great lesson and I hope she got a raise!

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Brilliant!!!

 

[Recidiva]

Actually I hate that idea.

I really do. Children get desks because we want them to grow up and be healthy and strong and have respect for themselves. Childhood is the time to be protected by adults. Not held responsible for adult behavior.

It's way too early to be giving them a social inferiority complex. That'll hit somewhere around junior High.

Ick. I'd pull my kid out of that class or tell the school board to take away her desk until she joins the fire department or the EMT squad and stops terrorizing little kids.

 

[JagFarlane]

Actually I hate that idea.

I really do. Children get desks because we want them to grow up and be healthy and strong and have respect for themselves. Childhood is the time to be protected by adults. Not held responsible for adult behavior.

It's way too early to be giving them a social inferiority complex. That'll hit somewhere around junior High.

Ick. I'd pull my kid out of that class or tell the school board to take away her desk until she joins the fire department or the EMT squad and stops terrorizing little kids.

Something to be of note. If you go to the link provided and read the background of the story, you will find that this was a military history class. This was also a high school class.

 

[Recidiva]

Something to be of note. If you go to the link provided and read the background of the story, you will find that this was a military history class. This was also a high school class.

I'd have said "We get desks because our parents paid taxes to ensure our education and those taxes buy desks."

Which happens to be true. And is why the desks shouldn't have been removed by the person in charge. Removing a civil right because you think the people don't deserve it is bad government.

This is how I also get kicked out of many classes, but there you go.

Had the children burned down their own desks, that'd be a different matter.

 

[christabelll]

Any kid under the age of 12 - possibly a bit much - however - please keep this in mind
Little Rock is a Huge Military town - It is an appropriate "idea" for the area.
I am assuming most of these kids are 10 to 14 years old - just when they come out of being so dependent on us adults and start looking outside the family unit for examples to live by.

There is truth in what she said and how she did it --- but then I would gone a little bit further and brought in the State Treasurer and The IRS to show them that its their future work( and there parents current work) that pays for those desks and teachers and Soldiers -
Legalized Robbery to make sure those kids get an education

As a Teacher of Living History - subtlety is lost on most kids - broad terms and vivid examples are great educators - just like this Gal did down there in Little Rock. I praise her and applaud the School District for being open to alternative ways of teaching several different things at once.

Complacency is the biggest killer to a growing learning mind there is. She shook things up in a context quite PROPER to Social Studies and taught a valuable lesson -

We may not agree with need to have a military force in this nation - but I for one - though I do NOT LIKE nor AGREE with our current policies/government = I am glad we do - And if they can have a positive impact on our children - great!

 

[Recidiva]

Any kid under the age of 12 - possibly a bit much - however - please keep this in mind
Little Rock is a Huge Military town - It is an appropriate "idea" for the area.
I am assuming most of these kids are 10 to 14 years old - just when they come out of being so dependent on us adults and start looking outside the family unit for examples to live by.

There is truth in what she said and how she did it --- but then I would gone a little bit further and brought in the State Treasurer and The IRS to show them that its their future work( and there parents current work) that pays for those desks and teachers and Soldiers -
Legalized Robbery to make sure those kids get an education

As a Teacher of Living History - subtlety is lost on most kids - broad terms and vivid examples are great educators - just like this Gal did down there in Little Rock. I praise her and applaud the School District for being open to alternative ways of teaching several different things at once.

Complacency is the biggest killer to a growing learning mind there is. She shook things up in a context quite PROPER to Social Studies and taught a valuable lesson -

We may not agree with need to have a military force in this nation - but I for one - though I do NOT LIKE nor AGREE with our current policies/government = I am glad we do - And if they can have a positive impact on our children - great!

My kids are smarter than this. My parents were smarter than this and taught me better. I was smarter than this. If I were on the board I would have vetoed it. If I were a student I'd have led a revolution on the basis of taxation without representation. If I were a mother I would have protested that my children should not be taught that they need to "earn" the right to go to school when I was already the hero who had paid the price for them. Do not deny them admission. If I were one of the military "heroes" brought into the class I would have mentioned to the kids that the constitution doesn't just suggest revolt against tyrrany, but requires it and then pointed at the biggest tyrant in the class.

Don't teach low standards.

I don't accept shock value in art, I won't accept it in "education" that's full of logical flaws.

 

[R. Richard]

An interesting story. Now, let's look at the story.

Obviously the kids couldn't 'earn the right to a desk' by Martha Cothren's standards. They don't allow young children to enlist in the United States military. In areas where they do allow young children to 'enlist' in the military, they are heavily criticised for such practice.

Why were the children in the classroom in the first place? Did the children 'enlist?' No, the children were forced into the classroom in a sort of reenactment of the old British press gangs.

How did Martha Cothren earn the right to stand in front of a class of 'pressed' children? Did Martha Cothren serve in the United States military? Martha Cothren not only deprived the children in her class of desks, but also of textbooks. It wasn't explicitly stated as to how the children were to 'earn a textbook,' but it appears that they will have to wait for Martha Cothren's magnus opus. I don't know if the children can wait; I can wait.

As to the veterans. Doubtless some of them were combat veterans who 'earned a desk.' Doubtless some of them were 'Remington's Raiders' or similar who didn't 'earn a desk.' [Remington's Raiders is an imaginary WW II Marine outfit, the typewriter brigade.]

 

[Recidiva]

An interesting story. Now, let's look at the story.

Obviously the kids couldn't 'earn the right to a desk' by Martha Cothren's standards. They don't allow young children to enlist in the United States military. In areas where they do allow young children to 'enlist' in the military, they are heavily criticised for such practice.

Why were the children in the classroom in the first place? Did the children 'enlist?' No, the children were forced into the classroom in a sort of reenactment of the old British press gangs.

How did Martha Cothren earn the right to stand in front of a class of 'pressed' children? Did Martha Cothren serve in the United States military? Martha Cothren not only deprived the children in her class of desks, but also of textbooks. It wasn't explicitly stated as to how the children were to 'earn a textbook,' but it appears that they will have to wait for Martha Cothren's magnus opus. I don't know if the children can wait; I can wait.

As to the veterans. Doubtless some of them were combat veterans who 'earned a desk.' Doubtless some of them were 'Remington's Raiders' or similar who didn't 'earn a desk.' [Remington's Raiders is an imaginary WW II Marine outfit, the typewriter brigade.]

I imagine Martha Cothren doesn't understand that heroes provide a service whether or not it is appreciated. And that's what good government does.

 

[christabelll]

'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it is up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

Recidiva - I dont think it has anything to do with being "smarter than this"

As kids they cant earn anything but good grades and their parents esteem...

But it goes deeper than that- very few of todays children (unless they've parents who serve the military/nation) truly understand what has to happen in order for them to be ALIVE to enjoy the right of an education. From Budgeting straight on to the ultimate sacrifice - of dying for these "rights".

I am an american therefor I am entitled to it all - and who cares where it comes from or how its gotten - Its mine I want it- wah wah wah wah



I am always amazed that a lot of kids don't know where milk or eggs come from - that losing a button means throwing away the shirt. It absolutely stunned me that my last batch of students had no idea what a needle and thread were for! How many of them really understand that paying extorted taxes makes it possible for them to go to school, consider entering the military etc?



Oh I know lets just regulate the hell out of it bore them to tears with dry iconoclastic maunderings from a presentist administration - egads -

I hated history and social studies because it was all about "dates" of this or that battle or treaty -it wasnt until I experienced "Living History" that I got bit by the bug - so to speak -

I teach my children where it comes from, what happens to change it, and what the results are - the desk they sit on, the tombstone they put flowers on etc.
I stand by my earlier statement I applaud the teacher and the School District

As mentioned earlier these were not little kids these were "teenagers" about to disembark from the parent ship - the schools can only each them so much - its up to us parents to teach them the whys and wherefores and the bottom line... whether they listen and ascribe to it is really up the kid.

And vivid example is sometimes the only thing that gets through to the Teen mind

 

[Recidiva]

I think the teacher is lowballing her kids and treating them like they're stupid. I'd prefer she treated them with respect and as if they were intelligent enough to grasp the concept without the fixed kangaroo court.

I think she lacks the actual understanding of sacrifice she's trying to portray, and I think you teach by example, not drama.

We can agree to disagree here, I'm just saying what my honest reaction to this is, and what I'd do if confronted with it.

Children are not cared for, and citizens are not cared for because they earned it. Just like you don't "love" someone because they deserve it. They're cared for, sacrifices are made for them, and they're loved because they are our children, they're our countrymen, they're our fellows in the human race.

I prefer a higher standard. I expect teachers, parents, and civil servants to be doing a hard job not because they're appreciated, but because it needs to be done. This teacher's "appreciation" is in her paycheck. If she cashes it, great. She's not a charity. She doesn't need kids to fawn over her sacrifice. If they don't take the opportunity to appreciate education, that's their choice. Provide it anyway. There's still free will in the world. Don't punish the entire group because you think some of them aren't trying hard enough. I don't need or want some moral passion play that actually sells the entire concept of responsibility short.

I see enough of that in the news every day to want to teach my kids not to fall for that sort of crap.

 

[christabelll]

I think the teacher is lowballing her kids and treating them like they're stupid. I'd prefer she treated them with respect and as if they were intelligent enough to grasp the concept without the fixed kangaroo court.

I think she lacks the actual understanding of sacrifice she's trying to portray, and I think you teach by example, not drama.

We can agree to disagree here, I'm just saying what my honest reaction to this is, and what I'd do if confronted with it.

Children are not cared for, and citizens are not cared for because they earned it. Just like you don't "love" someone because they deserve it. They're cared for, sacrifices are made for them, and they're loved because they are our children, they're our countrymen, they're our fellows in the human race.

I prefer a higher standard. I expect teachers, parents, and civil servants to be doing a hard job not because they're appreciated, but because it needs to be done. This teacher's "appreciation" is in her paycheck. If she cashes it, great. She's not a charity. She doesn't need kids to fawn over her sacrifice. If they don't take the opportunity to appreciate education, that's their choice. Provide it anyway. There's still free will in the world. Don't punish the entire group because you think some of them aren't trying hard enough. I don't need or want some moral passion play that actually sells the entire concept of responsibility short.

I see enough of that in the news every day to want to teach my kids not to fall for that sort of crap.

I prefer a higher standard as well. My ex has gone so far as to call me crazy because I want desire and try to build a better world for ourselves - the human race - Hes in the military btw - and flaunts with all the power of his purple penis (LOLOLOLOLOL). He would just as soon blow it all up and start over ----

For me - I teach right from wrong - and where the shady areas are - I teach if you can help do and you cannot find out who can and pass it along - I make bread from scratch and explain that hamburger doesnt come from the grocery store first! These were teenagers with reasoning, albeit hormonal, minds to think for themselves. Younger kids I would havent done something like this per say - but I might have dragged in various statesmen and military folk to help illustrate whatever lessons are being taught...

My Ideals are very lofty - but pragmatism gives me feet of clay - We - and I assume this includes you - want our children to be well rounded and educated and its OUR JOB to make sure this happens... not the government and certainly not the schools...

This wasnt really a shocking thing - it took all day so the shock of it was paling by the time she brought in the soldiers. Putting two and two together like that - sometimes it does take a bat to accomplish the connectivity.



And I agree most the crap out there is shock-value twisted and thats it... its not about education its about ennuring us to the harsh reality of being human and how long you can dance on someone elses pain or loss... money - yeah pain and shock make money -

 

[Recidiva]

I prefer a higher standard as well. My ex has gone so far as to call me crazy because I want desire and try to build a better world for ourselves - the human race - Hes in the military btw - and flaunts with all the power of his purple penis (LOLOLOLOLOL). He would just as soon blow it all up and start over ----

For me - I teach right from wrong - and where the shady areas are - I teach if you can help do and you cannot find out who can and pass it along - I make bread from scratch and explain that hamburger doesnt come from the grocery store first! These were teenagers with reasoning, albeit hormonal, minds to think for themselves. Younger kids I would havent done something like this per say - but I might have dragged in various statesmen and military folk to help illustrate whatever lessons are being taught...

My Ideals are very lofty - but pragmatism gives me feet of clay - We - and I assume this includes you - want our children to be well rounded and educated and its OUR JOB to make sure this happens... not the government and certainly not the schools...

This wasnt really a shocking thing - it took all day so the shock of it was paling by the time she brought in the soldiers. Putting two and two together like that - sometimes it does take a bat to accomplish the connectivity.

And I agree most the crap out there is shock-value twisted and thats it... its not about education its about ennuring us to the harsh reality of being human and how long you can dance on someone elses pain or loss... money - yeah pain and shock make money -

The bat thing's actually illegal.

It's my job to make sure that teachers aren't so burned out that they think they can teach "2+2 = 7" and get away with it. This is a bad idea. The idea to have an idea is a good idea, and I'm with you on that. But this one in particular - bad idea.

This is how I'd teach my kids the difference. The taxes from citizens pay for schools. The children have an opportunity to pass or fail the class. Parents encourage children to pass. There are mechanisms in place that already reward kids who are involved and interested in their own education. Teachers should pick another job if they are so burned out and hyped on their own martyr complex that they feel they must share. There are people that are going to be uninvolved and uninterested, and they tend to fail. More social math.

Doctors in the ER shouldn't hang out in the waiting room telling the patients how hard their job is. They should pick a job that suits them better - radio show host.

Setting the kids up that they've failed before they crack a book sucks. The social math here is off unless you're trying to teach "Codependency 101"

I'm with you on needing to be involved and fresh and enthusiastic about education. I'm not with you about this being the way to do it in this particular case. I think it can't show its work. It's a poor social equation that can be picked apart by anyone with a basic knowledge of civics.

I'm just as opposed to this as I was to my daughter's English teacher who couldn't spell and thought that wasn't really a problem. When I pointed out that her note to me at home was misspelled and ironically it said "Encurig your child to spell." she got insulted. I was a "crazy mom" who was hung up on details and couldn't see the big picture. I had to fix her spelling list every week when she came home and "Pandemonium" was listed as "Pandemoneminium" or some other WTF moment.

Less attitude. More demonstrable knowledge of what you're proposing to teach.

You are only a hero if you're actually doing the right job, and not just getting credit for belonging to an honorable profession and behaving as if that's a curse instead of a blessing.

 

[cloudy]

My kids are smarter than this. My parents were smarter than this and taught me better. I was smarter than this. If I were on the board I would have vetoed it. If I were a student I'd have led a revolution on the basis of taxation without representation. If I were a mother I would have protested that my children should not be taught that they need to "earn" the right to go to school when I was already the hero who had paid the price for them. Do not deny them admission. If I were one of the military "heroes" brought into the class I would have mentioned to the kids that the constitution doesn't just suggest revolt against tyrrany, but requires it and then pointed at the biggest tyrant in the class.

Don't teach low standards.

I don't accept shock value in art, I won't accept it in "education" that's full of logical flaws.

Thank you. I didn't like it, either. And when I got to "Since you read it in English, thank a soldier," I was disgusted. Who gives a shit what language I read, speak, or whatever?

As if reading/speaking English means we're something better than anyone else.

Please.

 

[3113]

I prefer a higher standard. I expect teachers, parents, and civil servants to be doing a hard job not because they're appreciated, but because it needs to be done. This teacher's "appreciation" is in her paycheck. If she cashes it, great. She's not a charity. She doesn't need kids to fawn over her sacrifice. If they don't take the opportunity to appreciate education, that's their choice. Provide it anyway. There's still free will in the world. Don't punish the entire group because you think some of them aren't trying hard enough. I don't need or want some moral passion play that actually sells the entire concept of responsibility short.

Applause! Bravo!

I agree entirely, and I would have taken my kids out of that school and I would have made one hell of a stink about it. I'm amazed at those of your saying, "Great lesson" and "Brilliant"! It's neither. It's propaganda! It's propaganda because she picked *the military* and ONLY the military to make this point. That implies that anyone who doesn't serve in that particular way doesn't earn the desk. So everyone has to go into the military? There were no Quakers in the class I suppose.

Would you all have agreed if the people bringing in the desks had been draft dodgers? And the lesson had been that they earned their desks by fighting what was wrong in their government? Would you all be saying, "Great idea!"? It's history! I think not. You'd be demanding the teacher be fired for...propaganda!

Do you get it? I'm sorry, I know it's Patriotically Correct to worship soldiers right now, but I don't think we should indoctrinate kids to do more than respect that particular decision. I see it as dangerous to give high school kids the implication that people who go off to war are all doing so for one particular reason--to serve their country. There was a show on recently called "Carrier" where they profiled life on an Aircraft Carrier. 9 times out of 10 the kids said they joined the military because their life was going nowhere and they didn't want to flip burgers.

I respect that kind of honesty. And facts. Which are what ought to be taught in a history class...not propaganda.

What is the teacher saying? That all vets volunteered to fight? A lot in Vietnam were drafted. That all vets protected their country? Really? I think that's really bad American History. Not all wars America has fought were necessary or right. So if American goes into a really, and I mean really questionable war, are the lesson these kids are to assume, as American citizens, that they shouldn't question that or any war? That all wars the U.S. goes into are for our protection? Period? And they should just join the military and shut up because this is the best way to pay for their education?

Propaganda. And it's not the place of a history teacher to teach propaganda. That's why this was not a "great" idea. It didn't teach the kids to think, nor did it teach them facts. It taught them what the history teacher wanted them to believe. She might as well have had missionaries come into the classroom and told the students that unless they go out and spread the word of god they haven't earned their desks. Because missionaries risk life and limb spreading the word of god.

And everyone here would have protested that. Rightly so. She's a history teacher. She should be teaching facts. NOT her beliefs.

 

[cloudy]

double post

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

How stupid.

Someone remind stupid bitch that the kids' parents paid taxes so they could sit in their desks and cope with her nonsense.

 

[Recidiva]

Thank you. I didn't like it, either. And when I got to "Since you read it in English, thank a soldier," I was disgusted. Who gives a shit what language I read, speak, or whatever?

As if reading/speaking English means we're something better than anyone else.

Please.

I'm not sure if you've seen this.

Here's something demonstrating the lowball - only funnier.

Clear mouths of anything spittable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_Uvg56U_o

 

[3113]

Thank you. I didn't like it, either. And when I got to "Since you read it in English, thank a soldier," I was disgusted.

I'd say this makes it even worse in your case, Cloudy. So...your kids aren't reading it in their native tongues and you should thank American soldiers for massacring tribes of natives and forcing them to give up their culture and language and speak only English?

Historically, American soldiers did that. Historically, a lot of American soldiers fought to maintain slavery. And historically, those veterans who fought in WWII came back and fought to maintain Jim Crow laws, burned down churches, and keep certain Americans from getting an education.

Funny that our History Teacher chose to leave all that out of the lesson.

Like I said. Propaganda. It is, IMHO, reprehensible for a history teacher to teach propaganda over facts. Teach the fact and let the students reach their own conclusions.

 

[cloudy]

I'm not sure if you've seen this.

Here's something demonstrating the lowball - only funnier.

Clear mouths of anything spittable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_Uvg56U_o

"Al-beeno Nubian"

I'm with you: I'd have jerked my kids out of that class, and made a huge stink. Teach them facts, not to just go along like sheep.

 

[cloudy]

I'd say this makes it even worse in your case, Cloudy. So...your kids aren't reading it in their native tongues and you should thank American soldiers for massacring tribes of natives and forcing them to give up their culture and language and speak only English?

Historically, American soldiers did that. Historically, a lot of American soldiers fought to maintain slavery. And historically, those veterans who fought in WWII came back and fought to maintain Jim Crow laws, burned down churches, and keep certain Americans from getting an education.

Funny that our History Teacher chose to leave all that out of the lesson.

Like I said. Propaganda. It is, IMHO, reprehensible for a history teacher to teach propaganda over facts. Teach the fact and let the students reach their own conclusions.

Yes, and that's probably why disgust is my first reaction - MAJOR disgust.

 

[Recidiva]

I'd say this makes it even worse in your case, Cloudy. So...your kids aren't reading it in their native tongues and you should thank American soldiers for massacring tribes of natives and forcing them to give up their culture and language and speak only English?

Historically, American soldiers did that. Historically, a lot of American soldiers fought to maintain slavery. And historically, those veterans who fought in WWII came back and fought to maintain Jim Crow laws, burned down churches, and keep certain Americans from getting an education.

Funny that our History Teacher chose to leave all that out of the lesson.

Like I said. Propaganda. It is, IMHO, reprehensible for a history teacher to teach propaganda over facts. Teach the fact and let the students reach their own conclusions.

Yes, please teach your children to protest this sort of bigoted and self-serving crap.

I'd appreciate it folks stopped wrapping total thought turds in the flag and expecting us to salute.

It's not the flag I'm disrespecting, it's the action of turd wrapping.

 

[Recidiva]

"Al-beeno Nubian"

I'm with you: I'd have jerked my kids out of that class, and made a huge stink. Teach them facts, not to just go along like sheep.

Firefly:

Saffron: Are you gonna kill me?
Mal: What? What kind of crappy planet is that? Kill you.
Saffron: In the maiden's home, I heard talk of men who weren't pleased with their brides...
Mal: Well, I ain't them. And don't you ever stand for that sort of thing. Someone ever tries to kill you, you try to kill 'em right back.

 

[christabelll]

Applause! Bravo!

I agree entirely, and I would have taken my kids out of that school and I would have made one hell of a stink about it. I'm amazed at those of your saying, "Great lesson" and "Brilliant"! It's neither. It's propaganda! It's propaganda because she picked *the military* and ONLY the military to make this point. That implies that anyone who doesn't serve in that particular way doesn't earn the desk. So everyone has to go into the military? There were no Quakers in the class I suppose.

Would you all have agreed if the people bringing in the desks had been draft dodgers? And the lesson had been that they earned their desks by fighting what was wrong in their government? Would you all be saying, "Great idea!"? It's history! I think not. You'd be demanding the teacher be fired for...propaganda!

Do you get it? I'm sorry, I know it's Patriotically Correct to worship soldiers right now, but I don't think we should indoctrinate kids to do more than respect that particular decision. I see it as dangerous to give high school kids the implication that people who go off to war are all doing so for one particular reason--to serve their country. There was a show on recently called "Carrier" where they profiled life on an Aircraft Carrier. 9 times out of 10 the kids said they joined the military because their life was going nowhere and they didn't want to flip burgers.

I respect that kind of honesty. And facts. Which are what ought to be taught in a history class...not propaganda.

What is the teacher saying? That all vets volunteered to fight? A lot in Vietnam were drafted. That all vets protected their country? Really? I think that's really bad American History. Not all wars America has fought were necessary or right. So if American goes into a really, and I mean really questionable war, are the lesson these kids are to assume, as American citizens, that they shouldn't question that or any war? That all wars the U.S. goes into are for our protection? Period? And they should just join the military and shut up because this is the best way to pay for their education?

Propaganda. And it's not the place of a history teacher to teach propaganda. That's why this was not a "great" idea. It didn't teach the kids to think, nor did it teach them facts. It taught them what the history teacher wanted them to believe. She might as well have had missionaries come into the classroom and told the students that unless they go out and spread the word of god they haven't earned their desks. Because missionaries risk life and limb spreading the word of god.

And everyone here would have protested that. Rightly so. She's a history teacher. She should be teaching facts. NOT her beliefs.

I never ever have been a "military" worshipper - even if Choker Whites are HOT!

I get what you are saying - my thing was the responsibility part - not the political correctness or incorrectness of it...

I am a great fan of "drama" per say - lolol - but in an informed and educated manner. With out being there we cannot say what "really" happened.

On the one hand she didnt present the WHOLE picture only a part (small bloody part)... on the other - she proved a point - whether we like how she did it or not....

America's young lads and lasses- better than flipping burgers- attitude - well good grief - I wouldn't want that person to come and defend me! But I've always said and have proven it out a time or too --- I do not seek conflict nor do I give the value of my life to it... But you come to my door - I will cut your fucking balls off and feed them to you.

I am a living history teacher - I teach the social mores behind the "facts" the dress, manners, goods, foods, skills, class, laws and punishments of the time as a "character" from the time period I am interested in educating some one on. The wonder and the marvel on these kids faces make it very gratifying. and I dont get paid! I do this because I love the subjects and truly enjoy the "drama" of "lecturing" a bunch of bored to death kids...by the time I am done with them they are talking about all kinds of things and how they relate todays society and social mores.....

Sigh -

I am glad she did it - but in reading everyones comments I guess I missed the propaganda, I missed the stupidity, the political hooha that must be dragged out every time some one farts too loudly.

So ===== just a question ====== how would YOU have taught this particular lesson....