Indoctrination of Our Young

[Adam's Apple]

Why isn't the spotlight being focused brightly on these "intellectual elites" before they brainwash our future generations into being socialists? Such a shame that these people have access to such an impressionable age group.

Indoctrination of Our Youth
by Walter E. Williams for Human Events
February 22, 2006

Let's start off with a few quotations, then a question. In reference to the president's State of the Union: "Sounds a lot like the things Adolf Hitler used to say." "Bush is threatening the whole planet." "[The] U.S. wants to keep the world divided." Then the speaker asks, "Who is probably the most violent nation on the planet?" and shouts "The United States!"

What's the source of these statements? Were they made in the heat of a political campaign? Was it a yet-to-be captured leader of al Qaeda? Was it French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin? Any "yes" answer would miss the true source by a mile. All of those statements were made by Mr. Jay Bennish, a teacher at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo.

During this class session, Mr. Bennish peppered his 10th-grade geography class with other statements like: The U.S. has engaged in "7,000 terrorist attacks against Cuba." In his discussion of capitalism, he told his students, "Capitalism is at odds with humanity, at odds with caring and compassion and at odds with human rights."

Regardless of whether you're pro-Bush or anti-Bush, pro-American or anti-American, I'd like to know whether there's anyone who believes that the teacher's remarks were appropriate for any classroom setting, much less a high school geography class. It's clear the students aren't being taught geography. They're getting socialist lies and propaganda. According to one of the parents, on the first day of class, the teacher said Karl Marx's "Communist Manifesto" was going to be a part of the curriculum.



http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=12597

 

[Nienna]

Absolutely inappropriate. He should be fired.

 

[dmp]

or deported.

 

[Adam's Apple]

Absolutely inappropriate. He should be fired.

Yes, he should be, Mom, but I think we both know that there's very little chance that he will be. Ward Churchill still has his job, despite all the national publicity, in the same state, I might add.

Parents in Colorado and all across this country should start getting up in arms against these people and demanding that something be done. If school boards refuse to listen, they should turn these people out to pasture the next time their terms in office come up for election.

 

[Nienna]

Yes, he should be, Mom, but I think we both know that there's very little chance that he will be. Ward Churchill still has his job, despite all the national publicity, in the same state, I might add.

Parents in Colorado and all across this country should start getting up in arms against these people and demanding that something be done. If school boards refuse to listen, they should turn these people out to pasture the next time their terms in office come up for election.

I'm 100% with you. I mean, what if a Christian teacher got up and started evangelizing in Math class? People would be all over that. This man is doing the same thing... spewing his personal beliefs into the minds of these kids, without reference to subject relevance..

 

[Hobbit]

If I keep hearing about stuff like this and that idiot preacher protesting at funerals, I'm going to have to start my campaign of spreading patriotism through repeated nut shots.

 

[Abbey Normal]

My daughter's 9th grade English teacher spouts anti-Bush rhetoric regularly.

 

[Hobbit]

My daughter's 9th grade English teacher spouts anti-Bush rhetoric regularly.

Go scream at the principal. Bring a lawyer if you can. The only thing public schools seem to fear is supremely pissed off parents who brin up legal issues.

 

[acludem]

I'd like to hear from the teachers quoted in the article. How do we know this guy isn't taking what they said out of context. For example, they could have said, so and so philosopher would tell you that capitalism is inhumane.

I don't trust this writer as far as I can throw him. And I like the sociology assignement, that would be an eye opener for people, help them understand what it is like to look different.

acludem

 

[Hobbit]

I'd like to hear from the teachers quoted in the article. How do we know this guy isn't taking what they said out of context. For example, they could have said, so and so philosopher would tell you that capitalism is inhumane.

I don't trust this writer as far as I can throw him. And I like the sociology assignement, that would be an eye opener for people, help them understand what it is like to look different.

acludem

Sorry, but some of that stuff can't be put in any context and be appropriate. Then there's the fact that it's a GEOGRAPHY class, not a social science class. He needs to be teaching mountain ranges and country capitals, not communism.

 

[acludem]

Geography is about more than mountains and capitals. And besides, most High Schools offer "social studies" which includes Geography, civics, sociology,etc.

BTW, no need to shout.

acludem

 

[Adam's Apple]

. I don't trust this writer as far as I can throw him.

You wouldn't trust anything that a conservative writer wrote, so tell us something we don't know already. This is so like you libs--shoot the messenger instead of the message. It's the important message we're focusing on, not the writer.

 

[Hobbit]

1 : a science that deals with the description, distribution, and interaction of the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface
2 : the geographic features of an area
3 : a treatise on geography
4 : a delineation or systematic arrangement of constituent

Yeah, geography has cultural elements, but discussions about capitalism are for government, economics, civics, and many other classes. Geography has no room for reading the entire Communist Manifesto. Geography is not about systems of government or political ideals, just how different governments interact with each others. This guy is using his teaching position as a pulpit to preach his twisted ideas. If you can't see that, you're just in denial.

 

[Said1]

Geography is not about systems of government or political ideals, just how different governments interact with each others. .

If you're looking at it from a political geography stand point (as highlighted above), then studying different governmental systems or what model (philosophy) they are based on IS important when looking at how different governments interact with each other.

 

[Said1]

I should also say that I don't support this teachers methods, especially for 10th grade.

 

[Nienna]

I'd like to hear from the teachers quoted in the article. How do we know this guy isn't taking what they said out of context. For example, they could have said, so and so philosopher would tell you that capitalism is inhumane.

I don't trust this writer as far as I can throw him. And I like the sociology assignement, that would be an eye opener for people, help them understand what it is like to look different.

acludem

It was a Geography class.

 

[Annie]

I'd like to hear from the teachers quoted in the article. How do we know this guy isn't taking what they said out of context. For example, they could have said, so and so philosopher would tell you that capitalism is inhumane.

I don't trust this writer as far as I can throw him. And I like the sociology assignement, that would be an eye opener for people, help them understand what it is like to look different.

acludem

As Mom pointed out, it was a geography class. Not quite sure how that differs from those that are arguing for ID in science class, (of which I disagree). On the other hand, why the hostility towards the writer? Because he's black? Because he's a conservative? Can't be on credentials:

http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/vita.html

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Walter E. Williams holds a B.A. in economics from California State University, Los Angeles, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from UCLA. He also holds a Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia Union University and Grove City College, Doctor of Laws from Washington and Jefferson College and Doctor Honoris Causa en Ciencias Sociales from Universidad Francisco Marroquin, in Guatemala, where he is also Professor Honorario.

Dr. Williams has served on the faculty of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, as John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics, since 1980; from 1995 to 2001, he served as department chairman. He has also served on the faculties of Los Angeles City College, California State University Los Angeles, and Temple University in Philadelphia, and Grove City College, Grove City, Pa.

Dr. Williams is the author of over 150 publications which have appeared in scholarly journals such as Economic Inquiry, American Economic Review, Georgia Law Review, Journal of Labor Economics, Social Science Quarterly, and Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy and popular publications such as Newsweek, Ideas on Liberty, National Review, Reader's Digest, Cato Journal, and Policy Review. He has authored six books: America: A Minority Viewpoint, The State Against Blacks, which was later made into the PBS documentary "Good Intentions," All It Takes Is Guts, South Africa's War Against Capitalism, which was later revised for South African publication, Do the Right Thing: The People's Economist Speaks, and More Liberty Means Less Government.

He has made scores of radio and television appearances which include "Nightline," "Firing Line," "Face the Nation," Milton Friedman's "Free To Choose," "Crossfire," "MacNeil/Lehrer," "Wall Street Week" and was a regular commentator for "Nightly Business Report." He is also occasional substitute host for the "Rush Limbaugh" show. In addition Dr. Williams writes a nationally syndicated weekly column that is carried by approximately 140 newspapers and several web sites.

Dr. Williams serves on several boards of directors: Grove City College, Reason Foundation and Hoover Institution. He serves on advisory boards of: Cato Institute, Landmark Legal Foundation, Institute of Economic Affairs, Heritage Foundation and others.

Dr. Williams has received numerous fellowships and awards including: Hoover Institution National Fellow, Ford Foundation Fellow, Valley Forge Freedoms Foundation George Washington Medal of Honor, Veterans of Foreign Wars U.S. News Media Award, Adam Smith Award, California State University Distinguished Alumnus Award, George Mason University Faculty Member of the Year, and Alpha Kappa Psi Award.

Dr. Williams has participated in numerous debates, conferences and lectures in the United States and abroad. He has frequently given expert testimony before Congressional committees on public policy issues ranging from labor policy to taxation and spending. He is a member of the Mont Pelerin Society, American Economic Association and the Bohemian Club.

 

[liberalogic]

I think that there's a difference between consistently spouting out personal views with hostility and using personal views to encourage debate. This situation seems a bit extreme for my taste, but I would caution about taking this argument a bit too far. I see nothing wrong with a teacher debating issues with students in the class-- as long as any grade derived from this discussion/assignment is based on support and logic rather than the opinion itself.

Again, that doesn't mean a teacher should come in and say George Bush sucks-- agree or fail. But a teacher who comes in and says, "what do you think about the President and his policies and why?" shouldn't be reprimanded. Even if he does state some of his personal opinions.

I emphasize the distinction because social studies, and the infiltration of current events, can't always be restricted to a textbook. Encouraging students to think and form their own opinions based on rational arguments is essential to their development as educated human beings.

 

[Nienna]

As Mom pointed out, it was a geography class. Not quite sure how that differs from those that are arguing for ID in science class

ID has relevance to biology. If this class was solely a geography class, the teacher's statements were completely irrelevant. If it was a social studies class or other combined subject, the topic could be addressed; however, the vitriol and lack of alternative viewpoint are inappropriate.

 

[acludem]

He has great credentials, so does Dr. Cornel West and many of you conservatives would discount him because he's a liberal. I still don't trust this story because it was published in a conservative publication that is trying to stir up its readership. Based on this gentleman's credentials, he's clearly a far-right conservative with a political agenda. This makes it necessary for the reader to take anything this story says with a very large grain of salt.

acludem