How could a public school teacher support * in 2004?

[senseandsensibility]

My husband, a fellow DUer, and I are both teachers in the public schools. Yesterday he went to an in service that was taught by teachers and attended solely by teachers. Not only that, at least half of the participants were of color, and the vast majority were women. He wore one of his Kerry 2004 T-shirts, and expected some positive comments from such a crowd. After all, he gets positive comments every time he ventures out in a Kerry T-shirt, sometimes from unlikely sources.

Instead, the instructors, who are public school teachers, made negative comments when they saw the shirt. They were fairly mild comments, but they let it be known in front of all the other teachers in the room that they disapproved, and wouldn't be voting for Kerry. He said that the other attendees gave him the thumbs up, and didn't seem to agree, which is something.

My question is, what do these teachers think will happen to education if * wins in November? No Child Left Behind has been a disaster. Our schools in California have been starved for years, and NCLB just made it worse. Our jobs have been reduced to test administrators. The children are stressed out from all the testing. Teachers' salaries have been stagnant under *. and our working conditions are worsening. What could be causing them to support *? :eyes:

[Fenris]

1. Mental retardation.

[senseandsensibility]

2. Naughty

but I love it!:bounce:

[buycitgo]

3. there are several in my school......maybe more

one takes a LOT of heat for it, but it's mostly funny

he's a real die hard Limbette; no reasoning with him

[whistle]

4. No real teacher could ever support Bush....

...:eyes:

[Vincardog]

35. No Real teacher could ever support Bush

I was working a voter drive on the 4'th of July. One of the people working the table had a 'Buck Fush' button on. The woman on at the table next to us was very offended. She told me she was a Bush supported and a Kindergarten Teacher. I asked her how she could support the Idiot Bush when he was at war with Public education. What reason do you have for supporting him? She couldn't come up with one. Later in the day her husband showed up to help her get home. It turns out he was the mayor of the town. When ever I see people working against their own best interests it seams that they imagine themselves to be something other than they are. In this case this poor woman supports the folks that want to bankrupt the education system. Why? Because she wants to believe she is one of the 'chosen who will be spared'

[zbird]

5. My sister has a dear friend who is a public school asst. principal...

(former teacher) and a lesbian. She is a HUGE fan of the chimpster. My sister cannot figure it out at all. He represents everything this woman should be running from, yet she is worshipping at his feet. Go figure.

[mitchum]

9. Out her

Let her find out how so many of her fellow Bush-worshippers feel about her.
I'm serious.

[AZCat]

6. Never underestimate the power of repetition

Have you ever seen those articles that talk about the number of commercials/murders/swear words a child is exposed to by a certain age? Think about how many times a listener to RightWingRadio or a watcher of FoxTelevision is exposed to propaganda that glorifies Bush and crucifies Kerry?

It doesn't have to be true (or even a clever lie) as long as you get it to ripple through the public. If it makes it to the water cooler stage, you have successfully penetrated the public consciousness.

[mediaman007]

8. As a teacher I observe that

some teachers consider themselves better than the profession. Others consider themselves the second job, and as such yield to their spouse's (husband's?) political views.

Sometimes teachers have such difficult jobs, that they become cynical. Working with difficult students and unappreciative parents and administrators can take its toll.

On the other hand most teachers will continue to work the extra hour and walk the extra mile. These teachers are optimistic and provide encouragement and hope to their students. They see the glass half full. They will support Kerry and Edwards.

[senseandsensibility]

16. Very perceptive!

I agree that your first two sentences apply to most teachers who vote Republican. Very few who don't fit into those categories would vote for *. I think you've nailed it.

[Bozita]

7. Most inservice instructors are major league suck-ups

They are there to change your behavior.

Think about it.

[senseandsensibility]

19. Yes ,sadly

I've observed this too. In our district, we have "coaches", and they do tend to be suck-ups big time, as * would say. They consider themselves a cut above, yet they are still members of our union and benefit from its protection.

[Bozita]

27. The administrative ladder now has a rung for "staff development" folks

Look for footprints on your back.

[liberal N proud]

10. Are the retired Military?

(Now don't jump all over me for the Military remark. I support the Military, my whole family is career Military except me).

I just know that my brother-in-law is a public school teacher, retired Military and he has voted repub. since leaving the Military.
He believes the RW lie that the Democrats are out to destroy the Military. I often wonder if they brain wash these people? He lives in MO and I in OH so I haven't seen him for over a year.
Unless my emails have working, I assume he will not vote for Kerry because he saw the pic of Kerry with Jane Fonda in the background.
I don't understand how teachers can honestly support dub after seeing so many programs cut in schools to fund NCLB.

[senseandsensibility]

22. I don't think so

We don't have too many retired military in our district. On the other hand, I have a relative who is a retired teacher who taught on military bases,and she is very right wing.

[Vincardog]

36. Vets for Kerry

Most of the retired Military and even the active military I have talked to know what an Idiot * is. They are tired of him cutting benefits and closing VA hospitals. There are a few die hard military families I know of that are violently opposed to Kerry. I do not know how they can choose a AWOL frat boy over a decorated veteran. I am looking forward to seeing their faces when we take our government back in November.

[Chomskyite]

11. Bush increased the need for such in service

. . . and those giving the in service probably feel they owe their increased income to Bush.

You'll be seeing more and more such infiltration of the classroom by Bush enthusiasts if he wins.

[senseandsensibility]

23. Yes, I'd thought of that

I wanted to give them more credit than that, but I think you might be right.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. When I went to orientation for my son

last week, I donned my "Liberal and Proud Of It!" t-shirt and a Kerry/Edwards button and had my son wear his Kerry t-shirt. Only ONE person said something to me and she was a parent who wanted to know where I got all of my Liberal/Kerry "stuff."

I wore my Liberal/Kerry "stuff" to show the teachers that I support THEM...NOT Bush and his NCLB policy. I was a little surprised that no one said anything. Maybe after I get to know the teachers they will feel comfortable saying something? :shrug: I have a game plan. EVERY TIME I go to school (I volunteer) I will be wearing a Kerry t-shirt and my son has plenty of them to wear too. ;)

I DO live in a repub village Soooo, I suppose they could all be repubs. I don't know how they could be.......but it's very possible in this town.
:(

As a teacher, would YOU feel comfortable acknowledging your political affiliation to a parent who is like-minded? Just curious. :)

[senseandsensibility]

24. If they were like minded

I probably would. That's not the same as trying to influence a parent, which I wouldn't do. Strange that you got that reaction.

[BillZBubb]

13. Ideology trumps reality and experience.

It happens all the time. Once the reptilian center of the brain is locked on, the higher cognitive functions cease to operate. It is a common Freeper disease.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

14. I have no idea!!!

I used to be a public school teacher and my husband currently is a public school teacher. How a teacher can be a republican these days makes no sense to me. Republican politicians these days like to vilify teachers and teacher organizations such as the NEA (remember the NEA was called a terrorist organization by the secretary of education). They love to blame teachers for everything that is wrong with the school systems and then use that as a justification for giving them low wages.

In actuality, teachers have very little control over many of the problems our schools have today. Teachers have to deal with large class sizes of children who are undisciplined and who are not prepared to learn. I had to teach high school geometry to a class of forty kids who couldn't even do 6th grade level math. Often kids that used to be in special ed classes are now put into regular classes, but teachers must some how "accommodate" them. Kids are not being held back because many school districts are overwhelmed by large student populations. Some schools, like the one I worked at, couldn't afford text books for all the kids. I think most problems extend from schools being underfunded and kids not learning discipline, respect of authority, responsibility, manners, etc. from their parents. I agree that No Child Left Behind does not address these problems.

All I can think is that these are not the brightest teachers. They will be voting against their own best interests and the best interests of their students by voting for Bush. It's just plain sad.

[MissouriTeacher]

15. I teach in a rural district.

Most teachers I work with are pretty quiet about their politics. One teacher I know has a Bush-Cheney sticker on his SUV (what else?) from the last election. I'd be interested to know if he still supports Bush.

It's a complete reversal from the district where I used to teach which was much more urban. All the teachers were Dems and very vocal in their support for Gore in 2000.

I don't know how a teacher could support Bush. I don't know of a single teacher who likes NCLB, but then again, Kerry did vote for it. Maybe they figure the candidates aren't much different in terms of education policy so they look to other issues.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

17. But I think Kerry voted for it

with the idea that it would be adequately funded, which it wasn't.

[MissouriTeacher]

18. Of course...

you and I know that, but do they?

[Vincardog]

Do they?

The hard core bush leaguers never accept responsibility or blame for anything. We need to reach out with the facts and pray that the American voting public is not brain dead. I hope they are not. But then I do not see how anyone can support * he is clearly insane and his criminal crew is not far behind.

[iwantmycountryback]

20. Explain to them

NCLB is a great act, but George Bush is the one who's completely underfunded it.

[MissouriTeacher]

25. NCLB is NOT a great act.

Funded or not, it still stinks.

The method it uses for measuring school performance is completely ridiculous.

Not to mention mandating that every child will read at grade level by 2014 is just unrealistic.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

21. We are in an urban area...

but there are still lots of republican teachers. I think it might have more to do with Christianity than anything. There are lots of Christians in this area. Many people seem to think that if they are a Christian, they must vote republican.

[Philostopher]

30. That was my guess, too.

Religion, plain and simple. I think there's been some encouragement from right-wing groups and churches to 'infiltrate that dirty communist-atheist teaching profession and give those children Gawd's truth!' in some places. These people are probably real die-hards, since they were able to be convinced they should take on a profession that's highly abused and only pays moderately in comparison with other jobs requiring the same amount of education. They didn't get into it because they wanted to impart knowledge to children in the first place, and I'm sure they think they'll have jobs at those new private/church schools Bush* is going to fund with 'faith-based initiatives' and voucher programs.

[jackieforthedems]

26. They All Need To Go Back To School Themselves

Maybe more job cuts and program cuts within the school system is what they need to finally wake up. That's what they'll get with 4 more years of the shrub.:dunce: Get out the dunce hats for all of them.

[senseandsensibility]

28. LOL

I don't think it's fair that the rest of the teachers and the students have to suffer for their studpidity, though.:mad:

[jackieforthedems]

31. You Know What I Meant Though

I shouldn't have said "all" of them - I meant the ones who want him in for 4 more - all of those! Sorry if I offended anyone.

[senseandsensibility]

32. Not at all

Teachers, unlike a certain chimpwad, have a sense of humor about themselves. Are you kidding? Facing thirty kids a day without being able to laugh at yourself would be impossible!:)

[jackieforthedems]

38. Gotta Give You Credit There

Hey, you really do deserve a raise!!! Wish I could do something to help!

[Killarney]

29. Social issues trump their jobs

for example, pro-lifers, religious nutbags, gay marriage, etc all trump their jobs.

Tons of teachers in conservative areas of the country are conservative due to social issues.

[michigandem2]

33. this is what I don't understand about normal people

why would people who are directly negative affected by what * has done...still vote for him...

like these teachers OR my MIL who makes a small income and she falls in the group like we do where the tax burden falls on us from those wonderful tax cuts...

anyway....i dont' get it..it really confuses the helloutta me?

[bobbieinok]

34. 1 of my brothers is a school teacher, VN vet, conservative christian

We don't talk politics.

Before 12-12-2000, I got a bit of an idea why he's so strongly republican.......it has something to do with the fact that he thinks democrats failed the VN people and vets at the end of the VN war.

He's an excellent teacher, is certified both for elem and secondary teaching, and really cares a great deal about his students.

He reads National Review and the Weekly Standard regularly and thinks the Nat Educ Assn is way off base. Yet he worked hard for the teachers in his building when he was their representative to the city group.

He's a great guy.......with very strange political beliefs.

There is no black and white.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[skippysmom]

39. I put teachers who vote for *

in the same category as the Log Cabin Republicans: masochists.

[MoonRiver]

40. 'Lemming Syndrome'

:shrug: No such dx, but there sure should be! Oh, wait I think their problem is masochistic personality disorder, on a mass scale.
:argh:

[ncteechur]

41. NCLB is based on fiction.

As we know from the CBS story, NCLB is based on trumped-up statistics and a shell game of moving kids around testing. This is Rod Paige's crapola from Houston. It didn't work for Houston, and it didn't work for Texas, and it ain't working for America. I work in a high school and we are making gains but it ain't because of NCLB. The penalty for NCLB is Title I money but my school isn't Title I. So I get the penalty if things don't go well and zip if they do. There are a lot of things wrong with our educational system and there is no silver bullet. There are good and bad teachers just like there are good and bad doctors, lawyers, and any other profession. Reforms are needed and many are being implemented that have profoundly positive effects. NCLB is not one of them.

PS> I like the new data on charter schools. Maybe Bush can incoporate that into his education spiel.

[senseandsensibility]

42. Update

My husband just returned from another day at the in service. Guess what? When the instructor returned his homework, she'd written "Go W" at the top! I was floored. Am I overreacting?:puke:

[bbernardini]

43. UNACCEPTABLE!!!

Report this instructor to as many people as you possibly can. I'm an educator as well, but I would never do this or tolerate it from either side.

[ncteechur]

44. ... and it may very well be illegal!!

AT least in North Carolina. Teachers are to refrain from any action which may be construed as proselytizing their students. This would included religious as well as political endorsements. You may want to check your state's education laws.

[senseandsensibility]

45. I was really shocked.

Glad to hear someone agrees with me.