Tuesday, December 16, 2014

2d-graders’ protest in New Bedford angers father

7News Boston WHDH-TV

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

This Charter school had all the answers to cure all of the ills of the public school. After 35 years in education, no one can convince me this was the kids idea. Yes it was a teachable moment on civil rights. As educators it is our job to give both sides of any issue, not to slant a 2nd graders perspectives. That teacher n that principal needs to be dismissed!! No one can possibly defend that poor teaching!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Agreed!!! No possible way 2nd graders would come up with this idea. And the statement of "they were told not to be anti-police"? Ya they understood that also!! Shame on this being allowed. And for those who don't know, Marlene Pollack was behind the flyers being distributed.

Anonymous said...

Wow!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable...7 and 8 years old don't have the cognitive ability to understand any of this. This might be ok to discuss in a high school class, but not 2nd grade. I don't care what kind of school it is. Topics this volatile should be discussed and taught by parents.

Anonymous said...

Marlene and her ilk are a scourge on New Bedford. She is responsible for many of the problems that confront our school system.

Anonymous said...

Poor choice on part of teacher, poor decision on part if the principal and one of the kids involved is a child of a police officer.... nice slap in the face to the families you service Alma Del Mar

Anonymous said...

I could not agree with you more. We are not in a position to indoctrinate children. As true teachers and mentors, we are OBLIGATED to give BOTH sides of an issue and let the children make up their minds. You can't tell me 8 year olds can form a clear opinion about such a complicated issue! And at that age, unless children were asking about it, I probably wouldn't bring it up in class at all! Irresponsible decisions were made, and that's coming from a bleeding heart liberal here!

Anonymous said...

I still don't understand why people would rather create "new" schools rather than fixing the one's we have....oya that's right...it's not because we care about our community it's because we care about making money and taking care of our own kids not all kids....open palm hit forehead! Whatever happened to parenting?

Anonymous said...

this is not education it;s indoctrination

Anonymous said...

My cousin goes there and is in a lower class. The only reason that parents found out about this was that a family friend was driving by and took a picture. None of the parents would have known otherwise. Honestly, a part of the report that was ommitted was that the teacher was African American, and I believe she unintentionally pushed the views onto her classmates. No other class participated because the teachers found the behavior profound. Another thing that is scary is there was no permission slips allowing them outside of the school grounds on the sidewalk. This sidewalk is also located in not the best area of New Bedford. Now, let's just say somebody drove by and disagreed with the protests, they could have taken it out on the kids by hurting them or shouting obscenities to them (we don't even know if that did happen). I just want this put in perspective, would you let your 7 year old watch the adult part of the news (meaning about deaths and murders, etc.)? I personally would shelter my child, and that teacher did not have a right to bring this type of current event to the children's attention without permission. Also, the protest was very anti-police, or at least was taken that way, because the little girl in the class whose father is a police officer came home crying asking why he shoots people for a living. This I must say shows that they are teaching these kids that police are bad because they killed an innocent man. Race put aside, Brown was a criminal and was told to stop and he didnt, so police had to protect themselves from the unknown. Why is this teacher making the criminal sound so innocent? On what they call "Town Hall" day, which is a day where the scholars receive awards every week, the class walked in with their hands in the air saying "Don't shoot." The police officer told his daughter to put her hands down because she is not a criminal and shouldn't be paraded around as one. I for one agree with him. I would be heartbroken to learn that my son/daughter has participated in something that he/she is much too young to form their own opinion on, and then think that police kill people for a living. This teacher should be reprimanded and the Dean should be put up for evaluation for allowing such a devastating riot.

Anonymous said...

Lol wow. Marlene Pollock? Thats a blast from the past. Had her once at BCC. Im glad i met her early on in my life. She was key in helping convince me of all the reason not to be an activist left wing hack.

Anonymous said...

Even more reason a NBPO should support public schools by sending his own child to one?

Anonymous said...

I think that second graders are a little young to protest. My opinion. But I do not think that they are too young to be taught not to walk down the middle of the street, not to rob a convenience store, not to assault the store clerk, not to punch a police officer in the face and try to grab his gun. All of the above was committed by Michael Brown. If all kids were taught these lessons we would be living in a safer environment.

I thought school lessons were based on facts, not emotions. Furthermore schools should concentrate on subject matter that will enhance their education and allow them to get a decent job. Keeping them off of the streets and from raising havoc. Again, my opinion!

Anonymous said...

I think this teacher should face consequences for her careless behavior.