Reply #97: The point of the prompt was to EITHER support OR refute the statement.

[peace love happiness]

I'm in this class, and I wrote a response to this prompt.
I'm also a registered Democrat.

This prompt was not meant to be biased. This phrase, whether you agree with it or not, is a commonly-used phrase. The assignment was to EITHER support OR refute it, using your own opinion as well as facts to back it up. It was not an attempt to isolate anybody from either party, but rather a chance for us to express our opinion and support it with facts.

The teacher knows full-well that I am a Democrat, and many of my writings reflect that. However, I have NEVER been unfairly graded. This teacher is extremely opinionated, but she does not allow it to reflect in her grading. In fact, I have talked to other students in both classes who are also Democrats, and they have all agreed with me.

The discussions can end up being biased, but that is because we do live in a predominantly conservative area of Southwest Pennsylvania. Also, it is not the teacher saying any of the remarks to which you may be referring (though I cannot think of a single racist remark which has been made, at least not in my first period class). There are many anti-liberal remarks made, by none other than the most conservative students in class. This is not to say that the teacher guards your son from making any comments. I do not know if he is in my class, but if he is, the only reason his beliefs are not being expressed is because he is not supporting them. He has other Democrats in the class (in either class) who would back him up, as well.

Also, the APGP classes this year wanted to concentrate on party issues. A lot of students were unsure on what exactly their beliefs were. Our teacher rose to the occasion. She often gives an extremely unbiased view of the subject matter at hand and then allows us to debate it. If all of us are of one opinion, she plays devil's advocate, even if it means she is taking the more liberal point of view.

As a student in this class, I have to wholeheartedly disagree with you. As much as your son may not want to admit it, it may not be his opinions that are earning him his grades. I have a high A in her class so far this quartile, and I also earned an A in the first nine weeks. The only reason I received a B last quartile is because I slacked off. It has nothing to do with how our teacher grades because I believe, when it comes to grading, she is one of the most fair teachers I have ever had.