Reply #135: This is nothing but disguised child abuse

[dmr]

First of all, I'm a mother of a 14 year old son, who is very political, and like your son, he became political at the age of 11. In fact, he knows what he wants to study in college and tells me he wants to some day run for political office (Senator, he says). My son's friends are political as well, in fact when these friends went to school wearing home-made DU t-shirts, their principal backed their civil rights when certain teachers were complaining it was disrespectful to the president* (how they derived a home-made DU t-shirt from that is beyond me).

Your son and my son are fortunate to have parents that allow their children to see all sides to an issue in lieu of the one-sidedness of the wing-nuts. In our house we play devil's advocate, so we can try to understand the other's side rationally - which is not always easy to do.

Your post has made me livid!

How many marchers went to work Monday morning, still excited over the march they attended? How many of these marchers discussed their week-end with co-workers? I bet many did, so should we expect your son to be different? Hell, no! It is perfectly normal.

If your son spoke out during class, then he is wrong and the phone call you received should have been met with a thank you, I'll talk to my son. If he was speaking about the march before class began, then there is no problem - all kids talk about things during this time - they sure as hell don't talk mathematics!

There is no need for a conference for either scenario listed above. I personally wouldn't go, but if they do want a conference to discuss your parenting skills or your son's political beliefs, then they are stepping in dangerous water, which should be met with: "No, I don't think it's necessary, I will speak to my son about talking during class" or "This sounds like a civil rights issue, let me contact my attorney (or the aclu) to see when it's convienent for all of us to meet".

Or the other response could be "let me contact my attorney, so we may meet with the principal, and the art teacher who spoke about sex to my 11 year old son". Who the fuck do they think they are to challenge anyone's civil rights? How dare they! How dare they interfere with his critical thinking skills, free will and his own belief system? THAT is emotional and verbal child abuse to me.

I hope I have made sense to you, because I am so angry and typing fast with my anger.