Comments on: Teacher Scandal Summary of Facts

By: Bill Byers

Bill Byers — Thu, 07 Oct 2004 12:39:12 +0000

Eric, I’m dropping the kook card on this case. Politics are not the issue, just a vehicle. She may be returning to the school today or tomorrow. She says she’ll be putting the picture back up. She says she “did not go out and solicit the media, they came to her.” (How on earth did they find out? and so fast? and why the Bergen Record – a paper she is familiar with from working in Tenafly NJ?) She says she hates being put in the spotlight.(Look at all her appearances) Kook card, Kook card, where for art thou Kook card?

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 20:58:42 +0000

So Bill, what you are saying is that democrats are paranoid because they are "vigilant, suspicious, distrustful, insecure and chronically anxious" but that republicans are also paranoid because they "hate [democrats] so intensely because [democrats] hate [republicans] and are trying to get rid of [them]?"

I just had to drop the politics card down. Anyone notice how that card is almost as hot as the race card these days?

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 14:41:12 +0000

That’s a theory… but one that isn’t necessarily borne out or discredited by the facts. There are a lot of things that MAY be going on. It’s POSSIBLE that a few students might have a grudge against her… or what she’s saying might be true and the school district is in CYA mode. Lots of options here.

By: bill byers

bill byers — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 14:09:47 +0000

Paranoia is a set of fixed delusional beliefs that are accompanied by clear and orderly think outside the delusional system. The true paranoid, or classical paranoid, as some psychologists prefer, may be highly intelligent and so persuasive that she will successfully recruit other persons to help her in her war against her enemies. Paranoia manifests itself in inferences and beliefs that the subject is being talked about, made fun of, or that the subject is the object of a hate campaign, or someone is trying to get rid of her. The paranoid has been described as vigilant, suspicious, distrustful, insecure and chronically anxious. According to some theorists, the paranoid may justify her intense hatred of some object by stating, “I hate you so intensely because you hate me and you are trying to get rid of me.”
..See what may be going on? She has some other agenda.

By: Bill Byers

Bill Byers — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 12:34:34 +0000

She’s not in the union

By: Mick Burdge

Mick Burdge — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 10:43:33 +0000

Why doesn’t the teacher union come to her defense and claim “academic freedom” like they usually do? Is it because the teacher unions financially support democrats?

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 18:05:09 +0000

Touche. Thanks for the catch.

By: erasmus

erasmus — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 18:03:15 +0000

"5. Facts from NYP1 UPDATE Ib a. We find out the other Presidents who are allegedly on the "small" bulletin board: George Washington and Benjamin Franklin."

You know, I don't remember Ben Franklin being President.

By: ThePrecinctChair

ThePrecinctChair — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 12:03:01 +0000

As a former English teacher who now teaches history, I can think of any number of pieces of literature that might go well with such a display. For that matter, teachers will tell you that they don't only teach their subject matter -- they also teach and reinforce what is taught in other subjects (hence my kids do A Tale of Two CIties, The Great Gatsby, and Animal Farm in English while my class is doing the French Revolution, The 20s & 30s, and the Cold War).

In addition, I know that Texas has a "patriotism education" requirement written into state law. Assuming New Jersey has something similar, a picture of the President, along with the Declaration and Constitution, would be perfectly appropriate.

Since I teach High school kids, I'm up front with them on my politics from day one -- many of the kids in my low-income, majority-minority school have never met a Republican. But I always challenge them to challenge me if they think I am wrong, and to not take my answer as the final one on any issue that they ask me about. And I give them bonus pointsfor participation in campaign activities -- ANY campaign.

By the way, do you want to know former student am I proudest of? The one who is now president of the College Democrats where she goes to school. Not because I agree with her (I don't), but because she took to heart the lessons I was trying to teach about participation in government.

By: Billy Holland

Billy Holland — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 10:04:06 +0000

From what i understand she is an English Teacher. Now, if she was a history or world politics or anything remotely related to government or politics or history then i could understand why she had the bulletin board.

But this is an English Teacher with a bulletin board of presidents?? What would this have to do with teaching english other than the fact that George Bush is a fine example of what happens when you don't pay any attention in class.