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lucyloo
nope
Member since 1/06 9758 total posts
Name:
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
I actually did this as an assignment in 6th grade. I was also in Catholic school though.
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Posted 10/7/08 1:24 PM  |
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Songwriter76
LIF Adult
Member since 4/08 902 total posts
Name:
David
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
I don't see a problem with this assignment.
I have never felt that who you vote for should be private anyway. Why is that a private thing? Why shouldn't it be something you wear as a badge of honor? It represents your values and beliefs. Why hide it?
I never understood that.
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| Posted 10/7/08 1:41 PM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Songwriter76
I don't see a problem with this assignment.
I have never felt that who you vote for should be private anyway. Why is that a private thing? Why shouldn't it be something you wear as a badge of honor? It represents your values and beliefs. Why hide it?
I never understood that.
Honestly, as I have written about before - I received death threats bc I revealed who I was voting for. People are VERY passionate about their candidates which is USUALLY a good thing but can turn into something entirely different to some rather unbalanced people.
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| Posted 10/7/08 1:43 PM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
Name:
Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Tilde
Posted by Songwriter76
I don't see a problem with this assignment.
I have never felt that who you vote for should be private anyway. Why is that a private thing? Why shouldn't it be something you wear as a badge of honor? It represents your values and beliefs. Why hide it?
I never understood that.
Honestly, as I have written about before - I received death threats bc I revealed who I was voting for. People are VERY passionate about their candidates which is USUALLY a good thing but can turn into something entirely different to some rather unbalanced people.
Death threats??? what country were you living in that you were threatened for who you were voting for??
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| Posted 10/7/08 1:50 PM |
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Goldi0218
My miracles!
Member since 12/05 23902 total posts
Name:
Leslie
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Songwriter76
I don't see a problem with this assignment.
I have never felt that who you vote for should be private anyway. Why is that a private thing? Why shouldn't it be something you wear as a badge of honor? It represents your values and beliefs. Why hide it?
I never understood that.
Two things I never discuss on a personal level with my students:
Religion and Politics
I do not think it is appropriate at all. If my students ask me about my religion, I tell them that I am Jewish and that's about it. And no, I do not work for the public school system so I think separation of church and state does not apply. Anything further, I direct towards their parents. And I have had parents try to convert me - hilarious.
Politically, I have the right to keep my preferences personal and private. This is why we have a secret ballot. We also have this privacy to protect ourselves. In some countries, if you are seen voting for the "wrong person," you can get publicly chastised or even worse - HURT or KILLED.
I do not like when I see my co-workers wearing political swag supporting one candidate over another. I nearly called my principal to tell her that I was really put off when I saw a teacher wearing a shirt saying
"Hot Chicks for Obama."
I wish I could have had a shirt made that said:
"MILF's for McCain"
just to show her what a jack-azz she was for bringing politics to work. And no, I do not support EITHER candidate at this moment.
My current shirt is:
"Nutty for Nader"
Message edited 10/7/2008 1:51:58 PM.
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| Posted 10/7/08 1:51 PM |
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GioiaMia
Let's Go Rangers!
Member since 1/07 14818 total posts
Name:
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Lisa
Posted by Tilde
Posted by Songwriter76
I don't see a problem with this assignment.
I have never felt that who you vote for should be private anyway. Why is that a private thing? Why shouldn't it be something you wear as a badge of honor? It represents your values and beliefs. Why hide it?
I never understood that.
Honestly, as I have written about before - I received death threats bc I revealed who I was voting for. People are VERY passionate about their candidates which is USUALLY a good thing but can turn into something entirely different to some rather unbalanced people.
Death threats??? what country were you living in that you were threatened for who you were voting for??
Ahhh, that would be this one - where someone made up a fake email address and emailed me constantly that they would kill me so I could not cast my vote.
I know who it was though - she embarassed herself and had to be carried out of our class hysterically crying the night of the election.
She taught me a great lesson though - I am very private about who I am voting for and not just during elections. I rarely reveal my political affiliation which is why I like coming on here and chatting bc it is a "safe" place ( so far, LOL ).
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| Posted 10/7/08 1:52 PM |
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Goldi0218
My miracles!
Member since 12/05 23902 total posts
Name:
Leslie
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Tilde
Posted by Lisa
Posted by Tilde
Posted by Songwriter76
I don't see a problem with this assignment.
I have never felt that who you vote for should be private anyway. Why is that a private thing? Why shouldn't it be something you wear as a badge of honor? It represents your values and beliefs. Why hide it?
I never understood that.
Honestly, as I have written about before - I received death threats bc I revealed who I was voting for. People are VERY passionate about their candidates which is USUALLY a good thing but can turn into something entirely different to some rather unbalanced people.
Death threats??? what country were you living in that you were threatened for who you were voting for??
Ahhh, that would be this one - where someone made up a fake email address and emailed me constantly that they would kill me so I could not cast my vote.
I know who it was though - she embarassed herself and had to be carried out of our class hysterically crying the night of the election.
She taught me a great lesson though - I am very private about who I am voting for and not just during elections. I rarely reveal my political affiliation which is why I like coming on here and chatting bc it is a "safe" place ( so far, LOL ).
When I was 22, someone told me to vote for BUSH Sr. I was idealistic and young so I told the guy I was a Democrat. Then he promptly blamed me for Jimmy Carter's disaster. I said "Gee sir, I was only 6 when he was elected. I couldn't even spell VETO then ya dumb-azz!"
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| Posted 10/7/08 1:55 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
I think we are all forgetting the very thing that makes us great.
the fact that your vote CAN be either public OR private...it's your CHOICE.
so the teacher gave this assignment...FINE. answer it according to YOUR CHOICE and views. Unless there is a LAW stating that votes MUST be kept private and not discussed, it is a matter or PERSONAL preference.
as a parent, if you want to answer that your vote is PRIVATE, DO that.
the parent of another child my OPT to express why he or she is voting for either candidate or even abstaining.
Perhaps some may saw it's improper "etiquette" to ask who one is voting for, but I don't think the teacher stepped over any laws.
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| Posted 10/7/08 1:58 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
I had a teacher in 11th grade go on and on everyday about who we should vote for (same person he was voting for - ironic  ) and why. He would bash, in a totally one-sided way, the other candidate. It was really terrible. I would come home and tell my Dad everyday the things that the teacher was saying -- well, one day, my Dad added a little fuel to the fire and said "next time he says that - you say..." and I'm thinking - sounds good to me! Well, the very next day I said what he suggested - NOT going to repeat it here - and the teacher was LIVID... God forbid a student actually have a mind of their own and answer him back or challenge how he felt. He just wanted us to mindlessly follow what he was suggesting. And as much as I knew what I wanted to say - and agreed with my Dad - I took his advice on what to say because he was older than me and knew how to get the point across in a better way.
The teacher *hated* me from that point forward and barely talked to me -- I eventually reported his antics to the principal and he was told to STOP doing what he was doing -- even that took a lot... my parents had to threaten to take it to the Board of Ed. and Superintendent. 
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| Posted 10/7/08 2:00 PM |
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NinaLemon
It's a boy!!!
Member since 10/07 6453 total posts
Name:
Jeannine
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Songwriter76
I don't see a problem with this assignment.
I have never felt that who you vote for should be private anyway. Why is that a private thing? Why shouldn't it be something you wear as a badge of honor? It represents your values and beliefs. Why hide it?
I never understood that.
It has to be private because not everyone is honest and believes in doing what is right. If votes were a matter of public record it could very easily cause problems in business. I work in engineering, often times the amount of work we have has to do with who is in office at the time. My boss has actaully said "if you want to keep your job you'll vote for XXXXX" he said it as a joke, but that could very easily turn serious. People could lose jobs because they voted for someone who made business more difficult, it isn't right but that doesn't mean it wouldn't happen.
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| Posted 10/7/08 2:01 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by beautyq115
I teach 4th grade and my students had a writing assignment tonight on politics and it was for the students to write about why it is important to vote.
I would never ever send home something asking for the parents to say who they are voting for or anything like that . I think that is really a ridiculous assignment. You are right voting and who you vote for is a private matter.
Shame on that teacher!
Agreed.
Discussing it in general - the importance of voting: appropriate.
Discussing WHO a person is voting for: inappropriate in school and a personal matter.
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| Posted 10/7/08 2:03 PM |
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MarisaK
HELLO Manolo !!
Member since 5/06 14562 total posts
Name:
Marisa
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by jewels
sounds like a good intentioned teacher who maybe didn't think his/her plans through very well.
I agree - Inappropriate
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| Posted 10/7/08 2:07 PM |
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Goldi0218
My miracles!
Member since 12/05 23902 total posts
Name:
Leslie
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
If you have a certain kind of teacher, they can feasibly hold a parents view on any topic against the child. Trust me, it happens all the time whether it be politics or something else. It is highly unprofessional, but certainly not unheard of. This is another reason why I feel politics should be taboo.
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| Posted 10/7/08 2:08 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Goldi0218
If you have a certain kind of teacher, they can feasibly hold a parents view on any topic against the child. Trust me, it happens all the time whether it be politics or something else. It is highly unprofessional, but certainly not unheard of. This is another reason why I feel politics should be taboo.
this is just disgusting. 
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| Posted 10/7/08 2:12 PM |
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RoleModel
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/08 500 total posts
Name:
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by DaniRella
well, one day, my Dad added a little fuel to the fire and said "next time he says that - you say..." and I'm thinking - sounds good to me! Well, the very next day I said what he suggested - NOT going to repeat it here - and the teacher was LIVID...
Aw, come on, you can't possibly leave us hanging! 
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| Posted 10/7/08 2:33 PM |
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MST9106
My life:)
Member since 6/06 9589 total posts
Name:
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by browneyedgirl
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
if it were my kid, I'd be calling the school to lodge a formal complaint against the teacher.
seriously???? a formal complaint???? without even giving the teacher the courtesy of speaking to her first? that is beyond wrong. do you realize what that could do???--this is her profession.
that assignment shouldn't have been given. politics is private but many people speak openly about it. may not make it right, but people speak about it all the time.
i'm sure she probably didn't give it much thought that people wouldn't like the assignment or be offended by it. her thought process was probably that it would get the child talking with their parents about something very important in today's world. she probably thought about it as a thoughtful discussion between parent and child.
my goodness...you NEVER go above a teacher's head without giving her the benefit of the doubt with a phone call or note unless your child is being seriously injured mentally/physically/etc by the teacher.
Wow! Although the assignment is a little unusual and the question quite inappropriate, filing a formal complaint is a bit harsh! I mean teachers and parents should work together not against each other...wow, I just think a teacher's job is so hard to begin with, dealing with all the other BS that comes with the job must be soooooo stressful! This is why I am so joining PTA once my son starts school!
Message edited 10/7/2008 3:14:08 PM.
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| Posted 10/7/08 3:07 PM |
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Goldi0218
My miracles!
Member since 12/05 23902 total posts
Name:
Leslie
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by Goldi0218
If you have a certain kind of teacher, they can feasibly hold a parents view on any topic against the child. Trust me, it happens all the time whether it be politics or something else. It is highly unprofessional, but certainly not unheard of. This is another reason why I feel politics should be taboo.
this is just disgusting.
You are right. It is. But don't you remember having teachers who worked in the system a little too long that were like battle axes? I did. Real schoolmarms. If they didn't like your parents, they didn't like YOU!
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| Posted 10/7/08 4:45 PM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by RoleModel
Posted by DaniRella
well, one day, my Dad added a little fuel to the fire and said "next time he says that - you say..." and I'm thinking - sounds good to me! Well, the very next day I said what he suggested - NOT going to repeat it here - and the teacher was LIVID...
Aw, come on, you can't possibly leave us hanging!
 I really can't - it was a real zinger and it isn't appropriate to share. My Dad is, most of the time, very easy-going and quiet - but this got him angry! It is a classic family story we always tell.
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| Posted 10/7/08 4:49 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: 4th grader and politics. . .
Posted by Goldi0218
Posted by Ophelia
Posted by Goldi0218
If you have a certain kind of teacher, they can feasibly hold a parents view on any topic against the child. Trust me, it happens all the time whether it be politics or something else. It is highly unprofessional, but certainly not unheard of. This is another reason why I feel politics should be taboo.
this is just disgusting.
You are right. It is. But don't you remember having teachers who worked in the system a little too long that were like battle axes? I did. Real schoolmarms. If they didn't like your parents, they didn't like YOU!
I had a math teacher sorta like that in high school,except she didn't know my parents .
I tried to get rid of her (had her for sequential 1 and 2) so I decided to base my regents on 3 science and 2 math...I saw her in my guidance counselors office at the start of junior year and she asked me "why arent' you in my Seq. III class" I said "b/c I hate math and don't need it" she turned to my GC and told her to enroll me.
the next day I had Seq. III and it RUINED my gpa (I was always and 80-85 student in math...I just couldn't get it  ) I passed that effing regents by the skin of my TEETH.
anyway...yes, I've had those teachers. I just don't like ANYONE that messes with kids like that.
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| Posted 10/7/08 4:56 PM |
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