What about John McCain?
Posted
May 1, 2008 at
3:00 pm by
Allison J
Over the past few weeks I have been in several elementary classrooms. I love seeing the differences between grades and ages. The maturity levels, the way they express themselves, and the way the communicate with their peers. Each grade level has certain distinctions, its own personality. But something that has served as a constant has been the interest in the presidential campaign.
Of course, a large chunk of their understanding is incorrect or skewed. Nonetheless, it is wonderful to see. I know that their opinions are in large part a reflection of what they hear their parents and caregivers discussing. I try my best to act as a moderator, filling in the gaps. Of course, I do my best to remain impartial. I’m a democrat. I know who I’d like to see in the White House, but I keep my opinion guarded in the classroom. I also know that John McCain could very well be the 44th President. However, very few of the students that I encounter seem aware of this fact.
I live in New York. We’re a blue state. Not a surprise that students debate with each over “Hillary!” and “Obama!” Today there was even chanting in a fourth grade classroom, each child showing their support with full-on fist pumping. But what about McCain? I spent 20 minutes informing the students that either Clinton OR Obama would be in the race for presidency, and would be competing against McCain, the republican candidate. Most students seemed very confused by the new info.
What are the kiddies saying in your neck of the woods? How interested are your children in the race to the White House, and what are their schools doing to prepare them for the election?
Tags: Barack Obama, hillary clinton, John McCain, kids and the election, presidential campaign, presidential election, voting
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14 Responses to “What about John McCain?”
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1. Rita. said:
May 1, 2008 @ 3:13 pm | Quote
My 13 y.o. is very much in support of Obama (as are dh and I). My 9 y.o. likes Hillary (because she’s a woman). We talk about McCain. I like the guy. He’s a refreshing candidate, being a genuinely likable person, and he’s a very good person to hold up to my kids and say, “See, he’s a good man, a likable man, I just disagree with his politics and really don’t think he’d make a great president.” Which is what a presidential election is supposed to be about. So, that’s probably what my kids go around saying about him.
2. Friend said:
May 2, 2008 @ 12:35 am | Quote
Interesting that I just attended a mock election at my daughter’s HS tonight….There was a dem a rep and an Indep candidate. My hubby and I were very impressed by these kids. They were very knowledgable. The 3 debated, took some very tough questions from an auditorium of parents and peers. Not only the 3 candidates but the students in the audience, were all very well educated in the topics. I think this generation is very concerned about the future of this country. As well they should be. Being in Utah, a very conservative state, the Republican candidate won. But at least the kids are informed and interested.
3. Allison J said:
May 2, 2008 @ 8:20 am | Quote
I love the mock debates! If anything, a third grader’s interest in the presidential election shows us just how smart and observative children are.
4. Jessica said:
May 2, 2008 @ 9:17 am | Quote
First of all, I applaud you Allison for trying to remain neutral with your students. My older son comes home with all these political opinions that are presented to him as fact and it drives me CRAZY! At least I get to explain to him that those opinions are just that, they’re not facts but one person’s opinion. I’m hoping he’ll be like me and as he gets older, challenge the teachers on their “facts”.
My kids know who all three candidates are because I always have the news on in the background. They’re a little young to know anything further than name/face recognition and they do ask about Bush a lot. Apparently other kids tell him Bush sucks and obviously those kids got that from their parents. The odd thing is though, I never really give my children my political opinion, it’s only with my older son that it even surfaces because I’m countering what his teacher or friend said with my POV and I always tell him that’s *my* opinion, but other people may see things differently.
5. Rita. said:
May 2, 2008 @ 11:20 am | Quote
That is bad. I remember when my son was in second grade and he came home with all these “facts” about the war, which just made me furious. They worship their teachers at these young ages and it is such an abuse of power for teachers to be presenting their opinion on any of these things. Kids don’t understand the difference yet, and when you have to explain the difference, it ruins the entire credibility of the teacher and the whole educational system for the kids. They see things in black and white–either the teacher was right or she was wrong. She told the truth or she lied. They don’t understand the gray area of opinions yet. It puts US in such a difficult position at home.
I know, this might seem like it’s contradicting some of the other things I’ve said in the past (about presenting the concept of alternate family situations and the like). But, I don’t think so (LOL), because those things would be part of a curriculum, not teacher opinion to present or not present in whatever way they deemed fit. You know?
If the war, or the election or politics are going to be presented in elementary schools, then I think there should be some guidelines by the governing powers for how they should be presented, not just left up to the teachers to do. Well meaning teachers inadvertently can overstep boundaries too easily in these young ages. JMO.
6. Friend said:
May 2, 2008 @ 11:39 am | Quote
Great post potty mouth
just kidding…..OK???
I hate to see our children indoctrinated by a teachers POV….my daughter grew up in Mormon country, and we are not of the popular faith. She was teased and terrorized in 1st and 2nd grade because she went to the “wrong” church…was told she was going to hell, etc…I could go on 4-ever. See the churches in Utah are divided into “WARDS”. Each neighborhood has a wardhouse were the members go to church, and the public school is a block away. So everyone knows who is and isn’t Mormon. The teachers know too, obviuosly, and she was treated terribly. Teachers need to teach school and keep their personal thoughts at home!
7. Allison G. said:
May 2, 2008 @ 3:19 pm | Quote
I remember to this day, back when I was in 1st grade, we were to write a paragraph about Winter Vacation and what we planned to do. I remember asking my teacher (who was Jewish in faith) how to spell ‘Christmas’ and she replied “X-mas”. And I asked her a couple of more times “No, Mrs. R. ‘Kriiissss Miiiisss’ like that.” And she kept replying “X-mas”.
I never forgot that day, and how her own beliefs/opinions squashed a child’s question. Would it have been such a betrayal of faith to just answer the damn question?????
Teachers need to remain neutral and just stick to the 3 R’s……..
8. Allison G. said:
May 2, 2008 @ 3:20 pm | Quote
OK, not sure what happened to my post.
9. Allison G. said:
May 2, 2008 @ 3:28 pm | Quote
Don’t know what happened to my above post. Here’s another go:
Rita said:
“They worship their teachers at these young ages and it is such an abuse of power for teachers to be presenting their opinion on any of these things.”
I’ll always remember this day. Back when I was in first grade, we had to write a paragraph about what we were going to do over Winter Vacation. I asked my teacher (who was Jewish in faith) how to spell ‘Christmas’ and she replied with “X-mas”. I asked her a couple more times “No Mrs. R, ‘Kriiiissss Miiisss’, like that.” And she still replied with “X-mas”. She would not spell out C-H-R-I-S-T at all.
I’ll never forget that day when a teacher’s views/opinions squashed a child’s learning opportunity. Really, would it have been a complete betrayal of faith to just answer the damn question?????
Teachers need to remain neutral, and just stick to teaching the 3 R’s……..
10. Friend said:
May 2, 2008 @ 3:47 pm | Quote
That sucks….which beings me to being PC during Christmas time….it isn’t Christmas break anymore, it is winter break…and no Silent Night in the school, only Jingle Bells….holiday trees this year, not Chirstmas trees….Give me a freakin break…we have to be PC to all the other faiths, but what about good ole Christianity????
11. Rita. said:
May 2, 2008 @ 5:07 pm | Quote
Well, we have a large population of Indian and Asian students in our school district who don’t practice Christianity, so to them it is “winter” break. There is a separation of church and state in this country.
Allsion G., that is most bizarre that she wouldn’t even spell out Christ though.
But, I’m not even talking about those overt crossings into opinion. Those are obvious and scary. But, I really do believe that most teachers try to do the right thing (I mean teachers are paid pennies for hard work), but sometimes they might not even realize that they’re crossing a line. So, for big things like politics and sex education to protect the teachers as well as the students, I think there should be a well identified curriculum.
12. Allison J said:
May 2, 2008 @ 5:56 pm | Quote
Absolutely! I do not allow “Bush sucks” comments in the classroom, regardless of my feelings. If they want to intelligently discuss why they do not like Bush (or Hillary, Obama, McCain), I’m all for it. If their info is incorrect, let’s pull up Google and do some research. I’m the first to tell students that I, along with all other teachers, do NOT know everything!
It can be a really slippery slope, because most children idolize the teacher. We represent the “truth” in their eyes. It is so crucial to be objective and leave your personal opinions on holidays, sex, politics, and religion at home. It is our job to present all of the facts, and let them draw their own conclusions.
13. Mackenzie said:
May 5, 2008 @ 11:25 pm | Quote
“It can be a really slippery slope, because most children idolize the teacher. We represent the “truth” in their eyes. It is so crucial to be objective and leave your personal opinions on holidays, sex, politics, and religion at home. It is our job to present all of the facts, and let them draw their own conclusions.”
So true!!! I love when my students share their opinions and think for themselves…
But what scares me the most is that these kids only know about Barak and Hilary because of the innumerable democratic primaries; republicans can’t buy this publicity. PS~Hilary’s wants to represent our country; she doesn’t even show up to our NYS Senate meetings, which she’s getting paid for, plus don’t forget her free car and health insurance for life…
“So, for big things like politics and sex education to protect the teachers as well as the students, I think there should be a well identified curriculum.”
Hilary’s responsible for NCLB, so I’d bet she’d support this. When do we want to test them on this, too? 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, etc…??? What ever happened to learning for the thrill of learning!?!?!
We need less government oversight, not more!
14. Jessica said:
May 6, 2008 @ 6:48 am | Quote
Hallelujah!