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My daughters 8th english class at a Catholic School is being asked to write a Poem to President elect Obama. Not to praise him but to recognize this historical election. All the poems are being placed in a binder along with a group picture and being sent to him. Needless to say most of the kids (not all) do not want to do this. The teacher told the kids that they will get a zero if they do not write the poem. I am not sure how I feel about this...
Dear Mr. Black president, well done on beating white people in this historical election, here are some poems to congratulate you on being black and successful.
Politics, Ethics and Arrogance in the Classroom
I feel that this goes against professional ethics in teaching.
When I was working on my masters in teaching, and did take a ethics in teaching class, I remember studying a similiar situation to this, and coming to the conclusion that is was not ethical.
If it were optional for the students, or extra credit, then it would be OK, but this goes over the line, I think.
Then again, this is a Catholic School, and there is plenty of subject matter there that cannot be taught in a public school, so maybe the teacher can get away with it. Not sure about that one.
I think Obama is an awesome man of character, and I don't think he would like recieving something like this from a child who was forced to write it. Doesn't seem like his thing, and I don't think he'd like it for his own kids.
It is not unusual for students to be asked to write poetry or letters to important political or historical figures. Maybe you should reconsider why you feel unsure about this; does racism play a role? If it were someone else, perhaps Abraham Lincoln, would you feel differently? He is the President Elect, deal with it, show the man his proper respect. If a teacher wants to recognize a historical accomplishment, so be it.
Old biddie: how can you consider this unethical? That is completely ludicris. Completely. I am astonished that one so educated would believe it to be unethical to write a poem to the president. Look deep inside yourself, can you honestly justify that? If he were John McCain, would you still believe it to be unethical? I find that doubtful. And there has never been a situation similar to this ever. Barack Obama's victory is one of a kind, what are you trying to compare it to? Anything less would be insulting.
One can deny being racist all he or she wants but I feel that all of those who have posted have racist stigmas and should try to not be ignorant bigots.
Dear Mr. Black president, well done on beating white people in this historical election, here are some poems to congratulate you on being black and successful.
Obama was raised by his white family relatives, since his "black" dad turned deadbeat when Barack was two. Obama never even knew his black side, and was instead taught about what it means to be a black-american, by a racist Reverend!!
Obama was taught at "white" schools his entire life, and was benefitted from white-guilt affirmative action policies.
My daughters 8th english class at a Catholic School is being asked to write a Poem to President elect Obama. Not to praise him but to recognize this historical election. All the poems are being placed in a binder along with a group picture and being sent to him. Needless to say most of the kids (not all) do not want to do this. The teacher told the kids that they will get a zero if they do not write the poem. I am not sure how I feel about this...
If I were in the class, this is what I would write:
What happns to a dream deferred?
It's now come true, or haven't you heard?
The hopes of America now are placed
In a man who is all of us, of every race.
Let's hope that we're wise enough to move along
From things that divide us ---
We all know they're wrong;
All those days of the darkness
That filled us with hate
Are long-gone now --
think of this spanking-clean slate!
For the nation that's given the world cause to dream
We have a new reason to brush up the gleam
of the stars in the eyes of our children who see
that the future's for everyone, everyone's free
to strive and to work and go far as they can!
I pleadge allegience, to the seal, of President Elect Barack Obama.
And to the creepy Obama Youth Movement for which he stands,
A divided nation, under Obama, still,
At least its not George Bush.
I applaud those kids, they should do the very same thing when they are forced on the mandatory Holocaust indoctrination field trips.
My kid will NEVER be forced on one of those.
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