Nov 07 2008
Cumberland County Teacher Criticized Over “Berating” McCain Supporter in Class
The teacher is Diantha Harris. Use your own judgment. I think it’s clear that the child was definitely uncomfortable, but we didn’t hear the entire conversation. The video was edited. She may not be the bully that some on the right are depicting her as.
“She may not be the bully that some on the right are depicting her as.”
HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY DEFEND THE STATEMENTS BY THIS PERSON AS BEING MISREPRESENTED BY EDITING???
You cannot be serious with that last comment. How can editing change the fact that this woman ridiculed and intimidated children, and stated a Presidential Candidate’s opinions out of context (i.e. LIED. Be it intentionally or out of ignorance) to impose her political ideologies on a group of 4th or 5th graders.
Boy: John McCain
Diantha Harris: John … Oh Lord … John McCain!
Girl [Kathy]: John McCain
Diantha Harris: Oh Jesus! John McCain! …
…..
Diantha Harris: It’s a senseless war! [Stares at Kathy.] And by the way, Kathy, the person that you’re picking for president said [Harris shakes her head] that our troops could stay in Iraq for another hundred years if they need to! [Kathy bites her lip, looks ashamed. Other kids stare at Kathy, laugh, smirk.] So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years!
This woman should be facing disciplinary action by the school board and quite frankly she should be fired. She should be stripped of her teaching credentials and certifications, and even possibly brought up on charges for criminal abuse, and the school board should be sued.
Don’t bust a nut, Bob. First of all, it is a senseless war.
Secondly, I don’t think she handled herself very professionally at all. I made it rather clear that the student she was singling out was very uncomfortable. But she was not bullying her. The woman wasn’t being mean and nasty and telling her she was a dirty, rotten, lousy kid. She unprofessionally brought her politics into the classroom.
Also, I don’t agree that she should be fired for this one instance. In fact, I have a feeling that all of the negative attention she is getting from this will stop it from ever happening again.
I disagree, when a person of authority and responsbility abuses it to intimidate a group of children to impose their political ideologies. This child WAS intimidated. This person does have authority in the classroom, and they DID abuse it. This child was not in a position to challenge Harris or her views, or her comments about McCain’s statements taken out of context, nor the comments about her father having to stay in the military for 100 years. That IS A FLAT OUT ABUSE OF POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITY BY HARRIS AND SHE SHOULD BE FIRED.
And yes, I WILL bust a nut over this person despite your obvious partisan biases, because people Harris this are not fit to teach. The classroom is not a place for teachers to indoctrinate children with their political views, especially through methods of intimidation.
Again, this woman should be fired. If the District does not take action, they should be sued.
The following was the official statement of Dr. Harrison on the Cumberland County Schools Website.
” CCS Headline News - Superintendent’s Response to YouTube
I was shocked when I saw the clip of an interaction between a Cumberland County Schools teacher and her students as posted on YouTube. While neutral discussion of the political process is appropriate, at no time, particularly with elementary students, should a teacher infuse his/her political views into the discussion. Most disconcerting was the military slant that made its way into this discussion. We are a military community, serving over 15,000 military students and their families. We value the sacrifices, not only of the military parents but also those of their families.
We believe that military children are our children, military spouses are many of our employees, and military service men and women are our heroes. We proudly serve our military children and have received national awards for our support of military families.
I was particularly disturbed to see the uncomfortable position in which our children were placed due to the inappropriate actions of one of our teachers. Please be assured that the actions exhibited in this video are not consistent with the vision of the CCS. Moreover, the actions of one teacher do not represent the 7000 employees in our organization.
Once the video was brought to my attention, I immediately launched an investigation. Personnel laws prevent me from releasing information regarding individual employees and personnel action taken. I can assure you that upon completion of the investigation, I will take appropriate action.
Dr. William Harrison
CCS’ Superintendent”
We’ll see what happens.
From the USA Today:
“The girl’s parents tell WRAL-TV they don’t have any complaints.”
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/11/todays-video-te.html
Case Closed.
Even if the girl’s parents “don’t have any complaints”, that doesn’t mean this teacher did not abuse her position and authority to intimidate and indoctrinate a classroom with her political ideologies, or that she should not be disciplined, or even fired.
And plenty of other people DO hae complaints Sam, including the Cumberland County Superintendent of Schools, so it isn’t closed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9ta9XKQXgE&watch_response
Did anyone see the video? Every time a student said McCain Ms.Harris responded “oh lord” “oh Jesus” she did not do that when a response was Obama. This article is definitely one sided. I attended school in Cumberland County and my father was in the 82nd Airborne for 30+ years. Children should never be subjected to any comment regarding their father’s service to his country and a political view. We, as Americans, have the right to our opinion as do our children and Ms. Harris in my opinion was forcing her beliefs and opinions onto her class. We should never allow teachers to bring her political views into the classroom. I state this no matter who she wanted to be elected - it was just totally out of line!
Leftist swine! Abusing children like that.
The little girl who was supporting McCain was not the only victim in that classroom.
That “teacher” (I use the term loosely here) sent a very clear message that, if you don’t agree with her, you’re S***!
Where is child protective services now?
That woman impuned, embarrassed, persecuted those who supported McCain, and did more than her part to KILL free speech.
Your tax dollars at work! Fire that ignorant fat butt!
Why do we even have to share the same air as these twits!!!!