Here we go again (NC teacher??)

[Spaldeen]

I just got up this morning to find one of my 'friends' had sent me this video of a teacher in North Carolina (rightfully) telling a student you can't just say what you want to about the President.

Does anybody know if this is real or fake? This person has sent me other things like this before, and I'd really like to throw it back in their faces on this one. It seems to over the top to be real. It's a youtube link, but just audio supposedly recorded by another student.

&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thanks guys, the DU is awesome!!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Its been making the rounds

on Breitbart and else where.

First looks says the teacher could have been more poised.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

2. if it's real...

the teacher has some serious problems...

sP

[Spaldeen]

3. Yes, but

Ok, fair enough- but progressive professor says that it's 'making the rounds' as it were, so how do we counter what others are thinking for themselves about the video?

I still think the teacher is right in her assertion.

[joeglow3]

14. The fuck she is.

That whole free speech thing, and all.

[cali]

31. oh for fuck's sake. of course, she's not right.

she's a fucking moron.

[deutsey]

4. Yes, if this is legit the teacher is way off base

She has the perfect opportunity to facilitate a discussion about politics and politicians and what passes for political discourse these days.

She comes across as a knee-jerk ideologue, not an educator.

[salin]

5. No - if you listen to the whole thing - she is consistent, not an ideologue.

Now she also comes off as fairly uninformed, and as having poor control of her classroom - the kids took over any control she had of that classroom for a side discussion that lasted a long time and wasn't productive. Wonder what the lesson for the day was supposed to be about. Also wonder where she learned civics (people can be arrested for speaking disrespectfully about sitting and former presidents... really?)

However she is consistent on this point - asserting the same 'respect' was and is due to W. as for Obama.

[Spaldeen]

6. Listening to the whole thing

Yes, she could have done a better job of controlling her class, and keeping them on topic and staying with the narrative.

I also think that there is no way that W should be afforded the same respect as President Obama. W doesn't deserve to lick the ground President Obama has walked on, regardless of any minor issues he's been set back with.

We aren't talking apples and oranges here, and the teacher knows it. You know it. I know it. She's just a strong enough person to say what we're all thinking inside. I'm not going to fault her for that, and I don't think anybody here should, either.

[joeglow3]

15. Horseshit

She "educated" these students with a bunch of made up shit that they will probably, ignorantly, pass on to others. At least have a teacher who knows her facts before presenting them. I thank GOD I never had a teacher like this. If she is an example of teachers in the South, no wonder their schools suck so bad.

[bbinacan]

17. That teacher should be fired.

What a fucking idiot she is. And she teaches social studies? WTF

[cali]

32. sniff, sniff, sniff

the underside of a bridge odor is wafting from your posts, honey.

[deutsey]

7. I couldn't make it to the end

She was too much of a "true believer" for me. Obama is not above scrutiny and criticism, imo. That whole "equal justice under law" thing still means something to me.

Maybe I'll give it a complete listen later, but I think what the kid was saying about Obama early on was not disrespectful (I didn't hear anything after about 5 minutes, I guess...it just got boring) and she seemed to be completely overreacting.

At the very least, she was a very poor educator in this instance.

And BTW: Ideologues are often consistent to a fault.

[Zalatix]

10. Ideologues are often consistent to a fault, and, occasionally, like this woman, mis-informed.

[Skip Intro]

8. NO.

So the teacher is telling her students they shouldn't speak their minds about Obama?

Because he is president?

Bullshit. She is waaaaaay off base.

I only listened to about the 4:00 mark, but I'd heard enough by then.

I believe I'd pull my kid out of that class over that.

Teacher is wrong, and scary.

That the OP thinks this is ok is scary too.

[BanTheGOP]

9. I wouldn't have gone the route of imprisonment for speaking bad about President Obama

But I definitely would have brought out the illegal activities that the republican Party has committed in the guise of "political discourse," and painstakingly explained to the kiddies how such actions which are criminal in any other context cannot just apply to one party. That would have been an excellent time for such discourse.

[RZM]

11. Update: North Rowan teacher suspended

SALISBURY — Rowan-Salisbury Schools officials suspended a North Rowan High School teacher Monday while investigating an incident caught on camera where the teacher told a student he could be arrested for speaking ill of President Barack Obama.

In a nearly 10-minute YouTube video shot by a student in the classroom, Tanya Dixon-Neely, a social studies teacher, told students criticism of the president could lead to jail time.

“Do you realize that people were arrested for saying things bad about Bush?” she said of former President Bush. “Do you realize you are not supposed to slander the president?”

Dixon-Neely has been suspended with pay, according to Rowan-Salisbury School System Spokeswoman Rita Foil.

http://www.salisburypost.com/News/052112-WEB-North-Rowan-teacher-suspended-qcd

[maxrandb]

12. This is Complete BS

The teacher may have been a little overzealous and misinformed, but I'm willing to bet you that kid is being raised by a bunch of ignorant T-Baggers, and this is NOT THE FIRST TIME he's disrupted class by being unfairly critical or rude to the President.

Schools are not free-speech zones. My experience has been that there is a modicum of respect expected, and that, if you are going to be critical of the President, or any politician, you have the responsibility to be able to make a reasoned, thoughtful and well-researched argument.

This teacher is absolutely right that the students argument was "flimsy" to say the least, and "malicious" to say the most. To try to equate a remorseful re-telling of a shove by 8-9 year old boy, with the assault and "misremembering" of a group of 16-17 year old thugs (where, BTW, the only one who can't remember is the so-called ringleader) is ignorant and completely ridiculous.

This teacher missed a golden opportunity. Yes, schools have a right to expect respect for authority and enforce rules against disrespect for OUR President, but schools have a bigger obligation to teach that a piece of shit argument, is a piece of shit argument...NO MATTER HOW LOUDLY OR OFTEN YOU REPEAT IT

She had an opportunity to demonstrate how ill-prepared and lax this students attempt to conflate these two incidents was...and that's why she should be suspended.

[bbinacan]

18. You are wrong

This teacher sounds like she should be in North Korea or the old Soviet Bloc countries. This whole mindset is scary.

[maxrandb]

20. North Korea or the old Soviet Bloc???

Are you "effing" kidding me???

Demanding respect and telling a misinformed student to stop "repeatedly" insulting the President is equivolent to North Korea or the Soviet Bloc?

Watch the video again. This was obvously not the first time this kid had attempted to hijack the class with some idiotic false equivalency argument he's gotten from Faux News or "Radio for dummies".

The teacher was wrong to lose her temper, but having to listen to ignorant dumbass right wing idiots spout completely moronic arguments over, and over, and over again can get on your nerves.

Take your ridiculous hyberpole back to Freakerville...it'll fit right in.

[Seeking Serenity]

22. The misinformed leading the misinformed

A TEACHER (and a social studies teacher, at that) telling her charges that they could be ARRESTED for criticizing the president?? And people here justify that? Really?

It is to weep.

[maxrandb]

34. Nice try, but no one here is "justifying" the teachers behavior

We're just not allowing this to be whipped up into a frenzy, complete with all the racial overtones, just like the Wingnuts on Faux News and hate radio are doing.

Did the teacher react poorly? Yes

Was the student more than likely repeatedly disruptive by parroting idiotic right-wing equivolency arguments? Sure

Is this an indictment of education as "some" on DU are trying to make it? No

Do I think you. and some others are exploiting this incident so that it fits the Wingnut narrative?

[NCTraveler]

35. Facts and Assumptions.

"Did the teacher react poorly? Yes" FACT

"Was the student more than likely repeatedly disruptive by parroting idiotic right-wing equivolency arguments? Sure" ASSUMPTION

You are trying to write a narrative based on your own assumptions and not the facts that are currently available.

[maxrandb]

36. Yes, I'm sure the teacher is heard

saying; "I'm not going to allow you to do this again"....because it's the VERY FIRST time this kid had spouted wingnut crap and tried to hijack the class.

But please...let's get to the meat of the matter. Do you think Romney leading a group of High School students into forcibly holding down a kid, while Romney took a pair of scissors to the kid's hair (presumable because he didn't like it), is equivolent to a 8 or 9 year old kid pushing a girl on the playground...then owning, admitting to, and showing remourse doing it? Seems to me that "one of these things is not like the other", but hey...Sean Insanity and Limpballs say that they are, so....

If you believe that those two acts are equal, then you're an idiot. If your kid tries to advance that argument...he's an idiot. Sometimes, people react to idiots in idiotic ways. The teacher did respond in an idiotic way, but that's a far cry from saying; "this is the type of stuff you'd see in North Korea or the old Soviet Bloc".

That statement diminishes the evil and horror that was the Soviet Bloc and is North Korea, and only serves to show the ignorance of one who would make such a claim.

[NCTraveler]

37. "But please...let's get to the meat of the matter."

Let's not. WTF. I am not sure if you meant to respond to me. It makes no sense given my post to you. Actually, it makes no sense period.

[maxrandb]

38. Again

this whole episode started because the kid was trying to conflate the two incidents with a "well, the President did it too" wingnut argument.

So, I ask again, do you think the two incidents in question are equivolent?

I've admitted that the teacher behaved badly. Can you admit thet the kid's "equivolency" attempt...ya' know, the SAME one being pushed by rightwing nutjobs...is complete BS?

[NCTraveler]

39. "So, I ask again, do you think the two incidents in question are equivolent?"

No I don't. I hold teachers to a higher standard than their students. Every now and then the right and left agree on something. If you are left arguing a point by yourself maybe some self reflection is necessary.

Edit to add: What a great opportunity to teach that was completely missed here. But is seems as if the teacher was not educated enough about that which she was speaking. Also a lack of control.

[joeglow3]

28. Wow. I hope you aren't a teacher.

[bbinacan]

43. Very much North Korea or the Soviet Bloc

Flip things around. If a repub had suggested arrest for criticizing a repub President, you'd be all over this like stink on shit. You may want to check your hypocrisy at the door. Thank you very much.

I happen to prefer no thought police in this country.

[14thegipper]

42. No Free Speech

Maxrandb.....you are right....schools are not free-speech zones...as that would inhibit the liberal indoctrination of young minds. This makes the best possible case for vouchers.

[Seeking Serenity]

13. Good.

Maybe during her paid time off, she could take a basics civics refresher class and maybe some courses on how to conduct and facilitate productive conversation and discourse in her class. And also try to figure out how to not to take political criticisms so dad-gummed personally in her setting as a professional educator.

[bbinacan]

19. Agreed n/t

[Blue_Tires]

16. As an aside, I've really come to loathe this culture of

"record someone making an ass of themselves and put it on youtube"...I know there are worthwhile reasons for doing it sometimes, but it just gets old for *every* little thing, imo

[Spaldeen]

21. Update

Looks like she was suspended, with pay.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Rowan-Co-teacher-to-students-in-video-Dont-criticize-the-president-152326155.html


Thanks to Fox News. Also thanks to Rush Limpballs.

I'm disappointed that so many members here came to the defense of the same position as Rush.

[unreadierLizard]

23. Not far enough.

I would have fired her. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech. Not even Obama is above criticism.

[obamanut2012]

25. It is against Federal law to say certain things about the President

Any President.

[Seeking Serenity]

27. But not just simple political criticism (n/t)

[obamanut2012]

29. Please link to where I said that

Thanks.

[Seeking Serenity]

30. Can't. Sorry.

But then, what was the point of your post? Just a general observation?

[cali]

33. I'm disappointed in your little game.

[Spaldeen]

41. I'm sorry you feel that way.

Looks like we'll have to agree to disagree. I can assure you no one on this side of the keyboard is playing any games.

[meaculpa2011]

24. Suspended with pay...

is called VACATION.

[Seeking Serenity]

26. True to an extent, but

it still goes in her personnel record as a suspension, which could affect her ability to receive some sort of merit bonus, future promotion or some such.

[Union Scribe]

40. Merit bonus? Promotion?

Lol, I don't think that'll be an issue. She sounds like an imbecile.