Michelle Malkin » Child abuser: Obama-supporting teacher bullies soldier’s daughter

Child abuser: Obama-supporting teacher bullies soldier’s daughter

By Michelle Malkin • November 6, 2008 04:28 PM

This is ghastly. If you are a parent with elementary schoolchildren, you will hit the roof. A teacher in Cumberland County, N.C. near Fort Bragg (NOTE: she is no longer in Asheville) was caught on tape by Finnish documentarians making a film about Barack Obama’s supporters. The teacher, Diantha Harris, uses the classroom as a propaganda vehicle to shove her politics down the children’s throats.

Watch her bully a little girl who dares to answer “McCain” when asked whom she supports for president. The child is the daughter of a soldier. Watch the teacher mock the girl and her father (”So that mean yo’ daddy could stay in Iraq for another hundred years!”). Watch the little girl’s eyes well up in tears. Is this the kind of education reform Barack Obama advocates?

This is child abuse plain and simple. The “educator” should be disciplined, fired, forced to apologize publicly, and banned from the classroom. From Belch via Allahpundit:

Partial transcript:

Harris:We want to talk about the presidential election. I want to ask you, who are you pulling for? Raise your hand.

Student: Obama.

Harris: You pullin for Obama. Who you pullin for?

Student: Obama.

Harris:Any of you pullin for John McCain? That’s fine, say him as well.

Student: Obama.

Student: Obama.

[Cathy, the daughter of an American soldier answers McCain.]

Harris:John, oh lord, John McCain.

Oh Jesus, John McCain.

Ok, now I wanna axe you somethin.

Why are you pullin for John McCain? It’s ok, but why are you pullin for John McCain?

Cathy: I thinks it’s because my parents are going for him too.

Harris: Ok, your parents are going for him. Why are you pullin for Ba-RACK. Barack.

Student: I just want a black president sometimes.

Ok, you want a black president.

Student: The reason why I want Barack Obama is because he’s making good changes in the good country and stuff like that.

Harris: So, he’s making good changes for our country. Now can you tell me just a little bit more, like what type of changes?

Like not having big fights between Iraq and having soldiers killed.

So in other words, Barack is going to end that war in Iraq. What do you all know about that war in Iraq?

[Harris addresses Kathy] Talk, cause yo daddy in the military. Talk. It’s a senseless war! And by the way, Cathy, the person that you’re picking for president said that our troops could stay in Iraq for another hundred years if they need to!

[Camera pans to Cathy, in near tears.]

Harris: So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years!

Posted in: Education

Send to a Friend
Printer Friendly

comments (338)

trackbacks (59)

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

Trackback URL

Comments

Comment pages: « 1 2 3 [4]

#301

On November 7th, 2008 at 7:38 am, expat said:

olblueyes #299

You should have no problems with the DODS schools in Italy. My teenagers went to school here in Germany and the school was fine. I heard only good things about the schools in Italy. My son got to go play against Vicenza in soccer. Speaking to the parents they were happy with the school. Not sure if this helped or not.
#302

On November 7th, 2008 at 7:53 am, Right_Wired said:

Truly horrible!

Further, don’t our school teachers need a basic grasp of the English language?! No wonder the street thugs sound like they do. Hoooray for teacher unions!
#303

On November 7th, 2008 at 7:58 am, GraniteMan said:

One thing this teacher forgot to tell the little girl is that Barack Obama will be the Commander in Chief of that little girls’ father. How will teacher feel then? Also that teacher had all the subelty of Al Capone.
#304

On November 7th, 2008 at 8:05 am, SoCal said:

If that woman wasn’t teaching she would be on welfare, that is obvious from her fat body, poor speech, and stupid ideas.

THIS is what is teaching your children… are YOUR kids listening to rap, do they sag their pants, do they think thug thizzle is sooooo cool?

Welcome to the NEW America!
#305

On November 7th, 2008 at 8:44 am, CantCureStupid said:

What an ignoramus!! Exhibit number 9,999,999,999,999,999,999 of what is wrong with our education system… This stupid woman is a disgrace to real, intelligent teachers everywhere.

I WISH that some moron would say this to one of my kids. I WISH!!
#306

On November 7th, 2008 at 9:08 am, Baxter Greene said:

It is kind of long,but this is the E-mail I sent the school:

First of all,it is clear that your “teacher” either has no idea what comes out of her mouth or is ignorant.

She states that she simply asks the children who they voted for and went on.Does demeaning this girls parents sacrifice and military service come across to you as simply “moving on”.

Then she lies about McCain’s “100 yrs.statement”.It has already widely been shown as being taken out of context:

COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW

The U.S., Iraq, and 100 Years
Press needs to call Obama on distortion of McCain’s statement
By Zachary Roth Tue 1 Apr 2008 05:07 PM
http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/the_us_iraq_and_100_years.php?page=all

Ever since John McCain said at a town hall meeting in January that he could see U.S. troops staying in Iraq for a hundred years, the Democrats have been trying to use the quote to paint the Arizona senator as a dangerous warmonger. And lately, Barack Obama in particular has stepped up his attacks on McCain’s “100 years” notion.

But in doing so, Obama is seriously misleading voters—if not outright lying to them—about exactly what McCain said. And some in the press are failing to call him on it.

BUT GUESS WHO DOES THINK BEING IN IRAQ FOR 100 YRS. IS A GOOD THING.
ONE OF OBAMA’S LEADING MILITARY ADVISER’S:

A Century in Iraq, if it works right: Obama adviser
posted at 7:00 am on March 22, 2008 by Ed Morrissey

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/03/22/a-century-in-iraq-if-it-works-right-obama-adviser/

Yesterday I noted the accusation of McCarthyism against Bill Clinton by Barack Obama military adviser Gen. Tony McPeak. The former Air Force Chief of Staff has a history of interesting statements, including a couple at the beginning of the war both McPeak and Obama oppose. In an interview with the Oregonian, posted here but confirmed by me through its purchase from the archives, McPeak essentially makes the exact same argument that John McCain makes about staying in Iraq — and which Obama ridicules:
Is Iraq the last country we confront in the Middle East?
Who wants to volunteer to get cross-ways with us? We’ll be there a century, hopefully. If it works right.

Obama Adviser Suggests Up to 80,000 Troops Remain in Iraq By 2010
by FOXNews.com

Friday, April 4, 2008

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/04/obama-adviser-suggests-up-to-80000-troops-remain-in-iraq-by-2010/

As Barack Obama continues to criticize John McCain for saying he’s willing to keep a 100-year troop presence in Iraq, another Obama adviser has suggested U.S. forces could stay in Iraq longer than the Democratic candidate initially thought.

Adviser Colin Kahl wrote in a policy paper for the Center for a New American Security that the United States should transition to an “over-watch” force of between 60,000 and 80,000 troops by the end of 2010, according to an article Friday in the New York Sun.

WHEN IS YOUR “TEACHER” GOING TO CALL FOR THE RETURN OF TROOPS IN JAPAN,GERMANY,AND N. KOREA??????

IT SEEMS LIKE IF YOUR TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BERATE CHILDREN FOR THEIR PARENTS SERVING IN A WAR THAT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS VOTED FOR,THEY SHOULD AT LEAST KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

IF YOUR TEACHER IS SO HAPPY WITH THE OBAMA TICKET AND THINKS THAT FREEING 25 MILLION PEOPLE FROM ONE OF THE WORST GENOCIDAL TERRORIST DICTATORS IN HISTORY(I HOPE SHE DOESN’T HAVE A “SAVE DARFUR” BUMPER STICKER ON HER CAR)THEN SHE NEEDS TO EDUCATE HERSELF ON WHERE THE OBAMA TICKET STOOD WHEN IT MATTERED.
HERE IS THE DEMOCRATS SUPER INTELLIGENT FOREIGN POLICY MAN AND OBAMA RUNNING MATE ON IRAQ WHEN IT COUNTED:

http://www.gop.com/obamasvp/

Biden Voted For The Iraq War Resolution. (H.J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #237: Passed 77-23: R 48-1; D 29-21; I 0-1, 10/11/02, Biden Voted Yea)

Biden Called Saddam Hussein “An Extreme Danger To The World.” Biden: “This is a guy who’s used weapons of mass destruction. This is a guy who’s destabilized the whole neighborhood. This is a guy who in a war with the Iranians, over 800,000 people on both sides were killed. This is a guy who is an extreme danger to the world. And this is a guy who is in every way possible seeking weapons of mass destruction. That case, in and of itself, ought to be sufficient.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 8/4/02)

Biden: “We Have No Choice But To Eliminate The Threat.” NBC’s Tim Russert: “If the president of the United States was saying four years ago clear evidence of mass destruction, do we have any choice but to eliminate Saddam Hussein and the threat?” Biden: “We have no choice but to eliminate the threat.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 8/4/02)
Biden Said The Bush Administration Had Enough Classified Evidence On Iraq To Gain A Conviction At A Jury Trial. “Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-Del., said Tuesday on Capitol Hill that ‘the administration has evidence now that can change people’s minds.’ However, Biden said, ‘It’s a very tough call as to how much to release.’ Biden said he did not think the administration would make photographs public, as Adlai E. Stevenson, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, did in 1962 to back the Kennedy administration’s claim the Soviet Union had deployed missiles in Cuba that could strike the United States. But, Biden said, ‘I know there is enough circumstantial evidence that if there were a jury trial I could convict you.’” (Barry Schweid, “Administration Plans Disclosure Of Intelligence On Weapons,” The Associated Press, 1/28/03)

In July 2003, Amid Questions Concerning A Lack Of Stockpiles Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction In Iraq, Biden Defended The War As “Justified” And Said “I Still Believe That Saddam Possessed Weapons Of Mass Destruction.” Biden: “I still believe that Saddam possessed weapons of mass destruction and that the war in Iraq was justified.” (Sen. Joe Biden, “Statement Of Senator Joe Biden On The White House’s Acknowledgment That Iraq-Uranium Assertion Was Wrong,” Press Release, biden.senate.gov, 7/8/03)

AND THIS STATEMENT FROM THE OBAMA TICKET WHEN IT MATTERED SUMS OF YOUR TEACHERS IGNORANCE OF WHO SHE IS SUPPORTING QUITE WELL:

Hard Choices for America’s Future: Strategic Opportunities for a New Century
But we can’t seem to talk about what comes next without talking about Iraq. It’s obvious we must end the reign of Saddam Hussein. It would be unrealistic, if not downright foolish, to believe we can claim victory in the war on terrorism if Saddam is still in power.
– Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in Remarks On Saddam Hussein At The Center For Strategic And International Studies Forum, Washington, D.C., February 4, 2002

And of course Mr. Biden voted for the War in Iraq.

AND EVEN HER HERO OBAMA BELIEVED THAT SADDAM HAD WKD’S AND DEFIED ALL EFFORTS BY THE UN TO DISARM.BUT FACTS OBVIOUSLY DON’T MATTER IN YOUR CLASSROOM.

OBAMA’S SPEECH ON IRAQ IN 2002.

Lest you question the context, here is the full excerpt from the 2002 war speech:
Now let me be clear – I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity.

AT THIS RATE,THE STATE EDUCATION SYSTEM WILL CARRY THE SAME CREDIBILITY AS THE MEDIA HAS NOW:

Most Voters Say News Media Wants Obama to Win
http://people-press.org/report/463/media-wants-obama
Summary of Findings
Voters overwhelmingly believe that the media wants Barack Obama to win the presidential election. By a margin of 70%-9%, Americans say most journalists want to see Obama, not John McCain, win on Nov. 4. Another 8% say journalists don’t favor either candidate, and 13% say they don’t know which candidate most reporters support.

———————————————————————-
Poll Reflects Continued Mistrust of Media Election Coverage

Contact: Patrick McKiernan

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/cpl-media-election-oct08

Cambridge, MA— Most Americans do not trust what they hear or read in media coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign. Poll results just released by the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School and the Merriman River Group show that 62% of those surveyed are distrustful of campaign media coverage and that same percentage think that the media does a poor job of separating their own opinions from the facts in their reporting. The public’s trust has not improved since one year ago, when a statistically equivalent 64% said they did not trust the media’s election coverage.

Among the reasons for the lack of trust:
89% agree or strongly agree that the news media focuses too much on trivial issues
77% agree or strongly agree that the news media is politically biased
82% agree or strongly agree that media coverage has too much influence on who Americans vote for
———————————————————————–

Matthews: My Job Is To Make Obama Presidency a Success
By Mark Finkelstein

Created 2008-11-06 09:35

http://newsbusters.org/node/25966/print

Just in time for the new James Bond movie, Chris Matthews has earned himself a new moniker: Odd Job. Matthews says he sees his job as a journalist as doing everything he can to make the Obama presidency a success.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Yeah, well, you know what? I want to do everything I can to make this thing work, this new presidency work, and I think that –

WHO DOES THIS REMIND ME OF,OH YEA,YOUR TEACHER.

JUST LIKE THE MEDIA,IT IS NOT HER JOB TO TEACH OBJECTIVELY,WITH BALANCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT.IT IS APPARENTLY HER JOB TO PUSH HER BIAS,IDEOLOGY, AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ON TO THE CHILDREN IN HER CLASS.

CONGRATULATIONS!!YOU WOULD MAKE THE EDITORS AT PRAVDA PROUD.
#307

On November 7th, 2008 at 9:16 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

She’ll be a kommandant in Obama’s new Teachers Korps
#308

On November 7th, 2008 at 9:33 am, Misscheryl said:

Well, some apparently believe getting a black person in the white house covers a multitude of sins eh? I wish I could say the behavior of this teacher is a surprise and not at all expected, but sadly I would be lying.
#309

On November 7th, 2008 at 9:42 am, Ed Mahmoud abu al-Kahoul said:

The good news, that little girl is very unlikely to vote Democrat ever in her life…
#310

On November 7th, 2008 at 9:51 am, gunslingerpatriot said:

#308
Thats the difference between a liberal and a conservative; a conservative is just a former liberal who was a victim of a crime or public humiliation.

GSP
OT-Bad Penny-Name of my ex-girl friends dog Penny (a blue tick hound) who when being a bad dog would be scolded as “Bad Penny”
#311

On November 7th, 2008 at 9:57 am, Misscheryl said:

GSP
OT-Bad Penny-Name of my ex-girl friends dog Penny (a blue tick hound) who when being a bad dog would be scolded as “Bad Penny”

Interesting, I had black and tans and my husband had walkers.
#312

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:24 am, rightwingnutjob said:

I emailed The Fayetteville Observer. They wrote me back and are pursuing the story.
#313

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:27 am, Flyoverman said:

If that was my daughter, I would have said to her, “Don’t cry sweetie, your teacher is just a civilian.”

NUFF SAID.
#314

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:29 am, sbw999 said:

Interesting how her interview at the end of the tape differs so greatly with the in-class behavior of the teacher. If she doesnt think she “brow beat” that young child, then she needs some education herself on the topic. Im not sure if I would fire her; she does seem amiable enough, and maybe she is otherwise a good teacher. But I think she needs to view that tape herself, and understand that what she did was dead wrong, and demeaning/embarrassing to that child.
#315

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:30 am, SoCal said:

This is why a democracy can’t work… most people are damn stupid… and now they vote.

I just hope when the dictator rises, that he wants to try to keep some of what makes America great… but right now, it doesn’t look good.
#316

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:32 am, jdsbc98 said:

Here are all the email addresses you’ll need. These are education board members, her principal and Vice Principal. The only e-mail I did not include is Ms. Harris’s because I figure the choice wording for her email will sound a little different than that which will be written to her supervisors.

KimberlyPFisher@aol.com,
GregWest@nc.rr.com,
MacWilliams@nc.rr.com,
hfarrior@nc.rr.com,
DLaHuffman@nc.rr.com,
fkbarragan@nc.rr.com,
Royalme@nc.rr.com,
MackyH@nc.rr.com,
LolaW@ccs.k12.nc.us,
MicheleCain@ccs.k12.nc.us
#317

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:36 am, SoCal said:

Harris was a subject in the film because former President Bush visited her home in 1992 after an invitation from her then-husband Roy Harris, who was serving on the Asheville City Board of Education.
#318

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am, rightwingnutjob said:

The Fayetteville Observer has published an article.
#319

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:51 am, DBNinKY said:

This is child abuse plain and simple. The “educator” should be disciplined, fired, forced to apologize publicly, and banned from the classroom.

Hear! Hear! Heaven bless that poor child and her family.
#320

On November 7th, 2008 at 10:59 am, CJ said:

Gee, and here when Obama told his supporters “I want you to argue with them and get in their face,” I thought he meant adult-to-adult.

Silly me, making assumptions like that.
#321

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am, reshas1 said:

http://www.mmes.ccs.k12.nc.us/email/diathaharris.htm

The principal:

LolaW@ccs.k12.nc.us
#322

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:04 am, SoCal said:

This is child abuse plain and simple. The “educator” should be disciplined, fired, forced to apologize publicly, and banned from the classroom.

Get the state to revoke her credential, or she will just move her fat butt on to the next district.
#323

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:14 am, Lilycat said:

If this woman is an example of those who are supposed to be educating our children (and I’m afraid she is) it’s no wonder our young people are growing up unable to read, write or spell. Much less be able to use rational though or logic to solve problems. She should be fired for incompetence, and then barred forever for her treatment of that child.
#324

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:23 am, SalsaNChips said:

Disgusting. After watching that video, I just stared at my screen for about 10 minutes seething in anger.

Find that so called “teacher” (child abuser). Call her out. Expose her for what she is. Humiliate her.

And please let us know how we can tell that little girl how brave she was and re-assure her what that woman did was WRONG.
#325

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:27 am, JohnnyAngel said:

Way to go lady… “Kill Whitey”, right? What a despicable goon.
#326

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:44 am, yohannbiimu said:

The point of all of this is that this is just a typical classroom in America. This abomination of a children’s classroom is not an aberration. This is the curriculum.

This is the message that we get from Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Jon “Stewart,” and David Letterman. This is what is openly spoken on the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives by Barbara Boxer and John Murtha.

For folks to come here and say that the disgusting filth that is coming from this “teacher” is not the fault of Obama and his Party, they are either intellectual frauds or simply have no ability to connect the dots. Diantha Harris (the evil whore featured in this video) is saying NOTHING that hasn’t been said openly throughout this campaign season by Obama (both of them), Biden, and all of the Democrats who’ll be shredding our freedoms and liberties as fast as they can the moment BO gets into office.

This is simply a microcosm of what is seen in classrooms throughout this land. No education. No preparing children to be functioning and contributing members of a responsible society. Just indoctrination. Indoctrinating impressionable little minds to follow a man and his historically refuted ideology.
#327

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:51 am, flmom said:

To think that child’s father is serving and risking his life, so that this teacher is safe and free to spout her propaganda, just makes my blood boil. What makes me even angrier is that she obviously thought that the airing of her views were more important than the feelings of this child. She is not fit to be an educator, it’s obvious that she was not considering the best interests of the child, which is rule #1 for anyone who has the charge of children.
#328

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:57 am, yohannbiimu said:

On November 7th, 2008 at 11:51 am, flmom said:

She is not fit to be an educator, it’s obvious that she was not considering the best interests of the child, which is rule #1 for anyone who has the charge of children.

My point is that this is going on everywhere. She is simply spouting the NEA-supported classroom curriculum. How many so-called “teachers” in all of the country are fit to be educators of children.

The proper interests of the children are not considered at all in the minds of liberals. It is only the interests of the PARTY and the interests ever-growing Federal Government that are considered. To hell with the interests of any MERE individuals.
#329

On November 7th, 2008 at 12:16 pm, flmom said:

yohannbiimu

Which is why my kids go to Catholic school. If the schools went back to actual teaching, then I would consider availing myself of all the tax dollars I spend on public education, but until then, I’ll just suck it up and continue to double pay for my kids education. This is why we need vouchers.
#330

On November 7th, 2008 at 12:17 pm, rightisright said:

#316, have you researched these names to make sure they are correct and valid. I myself yesterday after losing my self control shot off an email to a list of folks a poster #139 left for us to use as valid email addresses, to my embarrassment I had 2 returned saying the woman never has taught or worked in Buncombe County School District, I obviously, embarrassed as I have sent emails of apology to all on the list.

Listening to Luara Ingraham this mornig, she has the tape of the exchange or should I say “brow beating” by the teacher. So, obviously the cat’s out of the bag, now let’s hope this racist, misplaced woman gets what she deserves from Odumbo, welfare money to fulfill all her needs after she is fired from her teaching job(what a joke that is).
Let me emphasize I do not blame #139 I blame myself for not doing the proper research before acting.
#331

On November 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm, Bruce said:

And the number one union that supported Obama is …..

wait for it …..

The NEA. Teachers union.

Go figure. Then make a guess why the NEA is so opposed to higher qualifications and proof of competence for “teachers.”
#332

On November 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm, William Amos said:

School is investigating Harris but parents of girl say they arent upset by the video
#333

On November 7th, 2008 at 1:01 pm, sandyb said:

GraniteMan said:
One thing this teacher forgot to tell the little girl is that Barack Obama will be the Commander in Chief of that little girls’ father.

Hey, Granite, it’s bad enough this little girl was reduced to tears. Being reminded of the above brings me to tears.
#334

On November 7th, 2008 at 2:27 pm, Member-VRWC said:

On November 6th, 2008 at 9:14 pm, operamama38 said:
What don’t you get? How is it if a Republican candidate is merely ACCUSED of missing his national guard drills (on the basis of forged documents) that it becomes the basis of a huge scandal that eventually brought down the CBS “news” network, but when it’s brought out that EVERY SINGLE Obama association is a radical America-hating scumbag, then WE’RE being dishonest by doing so?
Amen- sing it! This is the crux of the issue where credibility of the media is concerned, and what it meant to this election. Well said

While I have been guilty of feeding the trolls myself in the past, I’ll do so nevermore.

Here are the rule of engagement as established on this board by lgm, Chapoutier, Mistress Justice, Rusty, watershed, Red State Skeptic, Omu, Ilovemycountry, and the others that don’t come to mind at the moment. While I have referred to Palin and Obama specifically, it follows that these rules apply to all things conservative and liberal respectively:

1. Palin has no experience and her views are ignorant, so if you support her, you’re ignorant too.

2. Even if I were to accept the premise that Obama might have no experience (and I don’t), he speaks well, so if you don’t support him, you’re ignorant…and also a racist.

So you are not going to be able to engage in a meaningful discussion with a troll because everyone on this board who isn’t a troll is either ignorant or a racist or both.

So it’s a rigged game … rigged by the trolls who come into our house and proceed to throw a turd in the punch bowl at every opportunity.

Others have said it before. I’ll be heeding it from now on. DON’T FEED THE TROLLS.
#335

On November 7th, 2008 at 3:34 pm, Durangodarlin said:

I bet the teacher works for ACORN on the weekends.
#336

On November 7th, 2008 at 8:32 pm, newton said:

Yet another reason to homeschool your child…
#337

On November 7th, 2008 at 9:54 pm, Jipc said:

When my two oldest children were in 1st grade and kindergarten, my husband was stationed in England. After some investigation into the base school, we elected to send them to the local parish (small British) school. While the school building itself was old, drafty, small (I think it was an old converted church) and they had to utilize pods for some classrooms, the educational experience was outstanding for my children.

You see, this school used the “PACE” program where the children did work from progressive workbooks at their own pace with the teacher and sometimes the help of an aide walked around the class and assisted the children in whatever level they were at. At the end of the first semester, both children progressed to the next grade.

Unfortunately, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, so we opted to move back to the states instead of staying in England so we could be closer if needed. It turned out to be a good move for the family as a whole because my mother passed away two years later, then my husband’s mother died the following year.

However, in regards to the children’s schooling, it was a complete disaster. We were stationed in Howard County, MD which was an “educational testing ground” for many of the changes made to school curriculum nationally. They would not move the children into more advanced grades because “the year age difference would be too traumatic” for our children. Instead, for TWO years our children were bored, disenfranchised and USED as tutors (usually for the lowest level children… some being the worst behaved as well). From there it was an uphill battle to keep them interested in school at all; it was THAT debilitating an experience for both of them.

If the U.S. school system were to utilize the “PACE” program, they wouldn’t have to teach at the lowest common denominator (which is one of the downfalls of our educational society) AND our children would probably be able to compete globally with other countries with higher-educated children/people. Some charter schools already use the PACE program successfully.

I remember a couple years in a row; at the beginning of the school year (after summer break) all three of my children (4 years apart in age difference) were relearning the same basic math in three different grades for the first couple months. It was ridiculous! Teachers and their unions pretty much control what is in textbooks AND the curriculum taught, so the PACE programs may be a threat to them if less teachers or even schools are needed. But that is only my opinion and experience! I’d be interested to know if others have experienced the same or something similar.
#338

On November 10th, 2008 at 10:00 am, Weary Citizen said:

On November 7th, 2008 at 9:54 pm, Jipc said:

Actually, some schools do have the “PACE” program. My daughter goes to a public school (just could not afford tuition at private any longer) and she in in PACE courses. Fortunately, it is a very good school district with no inner city nonsense robbing the other schools to “level the playing field”. PACE works best when the parents are engaged. And unfortunately, that is not the MO of today’s parents. Many, espceially inner city parents, see schools as baby sitters while they go about their lives.

The gov’t always beleives throwing more $ at the problem will solve it. It never does. Until the education averse, victim cultures are cast aside, the education system will never get any better. Throw PC and the belief that socializaiton is more important than the 3 “R’s”, and the future of our public school system is very bleak.

Comment pages: « 1 2 3 [4]

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Categories: Education

Child abuser: Obama-supporting teacher bullies soldier’s daughter

See what others have said

Trackbacks

Comments

Nice “work” if you can get it

Recessionista: The cost of MichelleO’s commencement appearance

Showdown at Notre Dame

JROTC gets a reprieve…for now

Paying teachers not to teach

Rally for school choice in D.C.

More speech-stiflers at UNC-Chapel Hill Updated

Update: The fiasco at UNC-Chapel Hill

Where are the adults at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill?

Stop The ACLU

Stop The ACLU

NewsBusters.org

Riehl World View

Pundit & Pundette

Pundit & Pundette

Riehl World View

Sister Toldjah