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When will teachers ever learn?

Another school year is off and running and that means there will be plenty of teachers in the classroom who think it’s their job to determine what their charges should think.

Whether it’s something like getting white students to learn the “narratives of the oppressed,” ranting in front of a captive audience about politicians they don’t like, or actually beating up someone you find disagreeable, too many educators believe that merely imparting knowledge and developing rapports with students isn’t sufficient — they should also play the part of political officer.

One of the latest examples comes out of Flemington, New Jersey, where a teacher forbade students from using Fox News as a source of information:

Students claim the teacher, who was not identified, told them Fox News reports are biased, and they should instead rely on the balanced coverage provided by CNN – the same news agency that was forced to issue a humiliating public apology when it falsely linked President Trump to a Russian bank this summer.

The district superintendent’s response touched on all the right things, thankfully (oh, and mom? Take your concerns to the teacher first. Go to administrators and/or the media only if you don’t get satisfaction), but the source issue remains.

One of the biggest culprits is … the university school of education.

Aside from the ridiculous courses which in no way assist with what teachers actually need in the classroom, prospective teachers get “treated” to this sort of nonsense. And it continues once they’re employed!

Back in the Dark Ages during my student teaching, my cooperating teacher was a political conservative. I knew this only because I knew his family; I’d never have guessed from his teaching (subjects: International Relations, World and American History).

When students attempted to pin him down on his politics, he would refuse to indulge them (“unfair to the students”). He was adamant with me about never letting personal politics creep into my teaching, and that I present fairly all sides of a controversial issue when/if it came up.

And no — it wouldn’t be like “Here, take a look at this diagram (below) which shows where your political beliefs and opinions lie!”

So please, teachers, don’t use your classroom as your personal political soapbox. Since “diversity” is one of the most revered terms in education today, though it’s rarely included in the educationist literature keep in mind that your students also are diverse politically.

MORE: U. Wisconsin senior demonstrates what’s wrong with modern teaching

MORE: Teachers disciplined for calling Trump-supporting students ‘racists,’ stomping on Old Glory in class

MORE: Conference teaches K-12 educators how to combat ‘whiteness in schools’

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About the Author
Associate Editor
Dave has been writing about education, politics, and entertainment for over 20 years, including a stint at the popular media bias site Newsbusters. He is a retired educator with over 25 years of service and is a member of the National Association of Scholars. Dave holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Delaware.