Law would prevent teachers from taking political stands

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Jessica Coomes

The Arizona Republic

Classrooms should not be forums for schoolteachers and college professors to espouse political opinions, a group of lawmakers concluded today.

A House committee approved a bill that would prohibit any public school or college instructor from advocating one side of a social, political or cultural issue that's part of a partisan debate. The measure would also ban teachers from openly supporting any political candidate.

Supporters said the proposed law would let students disagree with instructors without fearing retribution. But college students and other education advocates worry it would discourage instructors from leading discussions and debates on controversial topics.

Legislators disagreed and approved the bill in a House committee Thursday afternoon, saying students should not receive a biased education.

"In any class, any issue could be discussed as long as the instructor is neutral on the issue and not telling you what your conclusion should be," said Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, who wrote the bill.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/021...ons0215-ON.html

[Mirorgate 0]

But college students and other education advocates worry it would discourage instructors from leading discussions and debates on controversial topics.

Considering I haven't seen much lately in the academic world to anything close to debate/discussions but only the classroom used as personal soapbox... the education system needs to be cleaned back up and used for learning/discussion/growth. Unfortunately our gov'ment ain't helping to ahcieve that.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

But college students and other education advocates worry it would discourage instructors from leading discussions and debates on controversial topics.

Considering I haven't seen much lately in the academic world to anything close to debate/discussions but only the classroom used as personal soapbox... the education system needs to be cleaned back up and used for learning/discussion/growth. Unfortunately our gov'ment ain't helping to ahcieve that.

I agree. It leaves it up to interpretation. For example, if a teacher had in their mug full of pens, a small Peace Sign flag, is that forbidden? Just let teachers teach and let school administrators decide what teachers can discuss in their classrooms.

[Alex+R 0]

I thought this was already somehow against the rules? And already difficult to enforce?

[Mirorgate 0]

I thought this was already somehow against the rules? And already difficult to enforce?

Why are you back on VJ so soon???

shouldnt you n Rey be off somewhere doin... things... explicitly... and repeatedly??

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I thought this was already somehow against the rules? And already difficult to enforce?

Yep. It's too ambiguous. How does one express any opinion without it potentially being political in nature?

[Mirorgate 0]

I thought this was already somehow against the rules? And already difficult to enforce?

Yep. It's too ambiguous. How does one express any opinion without it potentially being political in nature?

By presenting the subject matter in explicitly neutral terms.. then when opening it up to discussion, present both sides and ask for ideas or comments... then also the teacher can comment to both sides... good and bad in each. Its not to hard to realize that all coins have two sides.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I thought this was already somehow against the rules? And already difficult to enforce?

Yep. It's too ambiguous. How does one express any opinion without it potentially being political in nature?

By presenting the subject matter in explicitly neutral terms.. then when opening it up to discussion, present both sides and ask for ideas or comments... then also the teacher can comment to both sides... good and bad in each. Its not to hard to realize that all coins have two sides.

But going back to my Peace Sign flag example - would it then require the teacher also have a flag that promotes war? I understand that teachers should try to present many views to an issue, but there's nothing wrong with a High School or College professor to come out and state their opinion. The real issue is whether that teacher is a fascist with their opinions or not.

[Mirorgate 0]

I thought this was already somehow against the rules? And already difficult to enforce?

Yep. It's too ambiguous. How does one express any opinion without it potentially being political in nature?

By presenting the subject matter in explicitly neutral terms.. then when opening it up to discussion, present both sides and ask for ideas or comments... then also the teacher can comment to both sides... good and bad in each. Its not to hard to realize that all coins have two sides.

But going back to my Peace Sign flag example - would it then require the teacher also have a flag that promotes war? I understand that teachers should try to present many views to an issue, but there's nothing wrong with a High School or College professor to come out and state their opinion. The real issue is whether that teacher is a fascist with their opinions or not.

Could they have one symbol without the other? Sure. But back to my original statement as well... it is too often used as soapboxing their own opinions vs actually giving class instruction/education.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

But going back to my Peace Sign flag example - would it then require the teacher also have a flag that promotes war? I understand that teachers should try to present many views to an issue, but there's nothing wrong with a High School or College professor to come out and state their opinion. The real issue is whether that teacher is a fascist with their opinions or not.

A Peace Sign flag does not exist in a vacuum. When displayed during a war, it is a political statement. Teachers have no business making political statements when so many of our students can't do basic arithmetic or even read properly. What happened to the basics? Put the cute flags and ribbons and buttons away and do what you're paid to do, please. Teach your students how to add and read.

[Mirorgate 0]

But going back to my Peace Sign flag example - would it then require the teacher also have a flag that promotes war? I understand that teachers should try to present many views to an issue, but there's nothing wrong with a High School or College professor to come out and state their opinion. The real issue is whether that teacher is a fascist with their opinions or not.

A Peace Sign flag does not exist in a vacuum. When displayed during a war, it is a political statement. Teachers have no business making political statements when so many of our students can't do basic arithmetic or even read properly. What happened to the basics? Put the cute flags and ribbons and buttons away and do what you're paid to do, please. Teach your students how to add and read.

That are a guud arguments. I likes it much, I done reed'd it much times. like 3 or 5.

[pedroh 21]

But going back to my Peace Sign flag example - would it then require the teacher also have a flag that promotes war? I understand that teachers should try to present many views to an issue, but there's nothing wrong with a High School or College professor to come out and state their opinion. The real issue is whether that teacher is a fascist with their opinions or not.

A Peace Sign flag does not exist in a vacuum. When displayed during a war, it is a political statement. Teachers have no business making political statements when so many of our students can't do basic arithmetic or even read properly. What happened to the basics? Put the cute flags and ribbons and buttons away and do what you're paid to do, please. Teach your students how to add and read.

agree.. mhh but what if it's a foreing language class, u can't have flags of the country you're teaching the language from?

[Mirorgate 0]

But going back to my Peace Sign flag example - would it then require the teacher also have a flag that promotes war? I understand that teachers should try to present many views to an issue, but there's nothing wrong with a High School or College professor to come out and state their opinion. The real issue is whether that teacher is a fascist with their opinions or not.

A Peace Sign flag does not exist in a vacuum. When displayed during a war, it is a political statement. Teachers have no business making political statements when so many of our students can't do basic arithmetic or even read properly. What happened to the basics? Put the cute flags and ribbons and buttons away and do what you're paid to do, please. Teach your students how to add and read.

agree.. mhh but what if it's a foreing language class, u can't have flags of the country you're teaching the language from?

That was a jacked up case and glad it got overturned. A lot of my geography classes growing up had flags displayed from around the globe all around the room. Including the russian and chinese flag. Never made me a "pinko commie sympathizer".

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

agree.. mhh but what if it's a foreing language class, u can't have flags of the country you're teaching the language from?

Sure, that's part of the subject being taught. If a teacher was teaching the civil war, maybe he or she could put up the Confederate flag along side the Union flag as well. But the Confederate flag during math class? Takes on a whole other meaning entirely. I have no interest in the teachers personal views or preferences. Only in the subject being taught.

[pedroh 21]

But going back to my Peace Sign flag example - would it then require the teacher also have a flag that promotes war? I understand that teachers should try to present many views to an issue, but there's nothing wrong with a High School or College professor to come out and state their opinion. The real issue is whether that teacher is a fascist with their opinions or not.

A Peace Sign flag does not exist in a vacuum. When displayed during a war, it is a political statement. Teachers have no business making political statements when so many of our students can't do basic arithmetic or even read properly. What happened to the basics? Put the cute flags and ribbons and buttons away and do what you're paid to do, please. Teach your students how to add and read.

agree.. mhh but what if it's a foreing language class, u can't have flags of the country you're teaching the language from?

That was a jacked up case and glad it got overturned. A lot of my geography classes growing up had flags displayed from around the globe all around the room. Including the russian and chinese flag. Never made me a "pinko commie sympathizer".

one of the spanish teachers where my wife worked had a venezuelan flag outside her house (she's from Venezuela obviously)., and some stupid neighbors told her she couldn't display foreign flags, #######.. she was new to the country so she hid it..

my wife who know teaches spanish has a Mexican flag in her classroom, and no problems yet.. i hope never, cuz they don't wanna get political with mr Pedro.. lawl