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Any other teachers on here having trouble being neutral with McCainites

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progressiveforever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:20 PM
Original message
Any other teachers on here having trouble being neutral with McCainites
I have taught 26 years and this is the first time I have had trouble remaining neutral---am I alone?
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democrat in Tallahassee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:22 PM
Response to Original message
1. I have a young black man who is voting for McCain and I'm
afraid that I haven't been too subtle.
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Liberal_Stalwart71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:32 PM
Response to Reply #1
8. That is very hard for me to take. I'm an African American female political science professor.
I have a hard time with Black Republicans. A very hard time. Hell, I have a hard time with female Republicans, with gay Republicans, with Jewish and Muslim and Hispanic Republicans. I cannot understand that. Never have, never will.
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mediaman007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:23 PM
Response to Original message
2. Not in my elementary school. But I imagine that the McCain/Palin
bullies would be pretty outspoken in middle school and high school.
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ulysses Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:23 PM
Response to Original message
3. not too many of those critters where I work.
I think my coteacher is a Republican, and there are probably more as it's the north Atlanta suburbs, but our school is in a working class, heavily African-American/Latino neighborhood. Not a whole lot of McC supporters. At least not vocal ones.
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childslibrarian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:27 PM
Response to Original message
4. Omg!!!!
I have asked all my relatives (begged really) friends, acquaintances--don't vote independent--(actually they are all former repubs who are angry at McCain for various reasons),
please vote Democratic. I tell them I am a one issue voter, No Child Left Behind being my make or break issue. That isn't true, but I tell them how our district has been brought down by NCLB.
I don't try to be neutral. It has affected myself and my colleagues in a real terrible way, how could I be neutral?
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progressiveforever Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:31 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Let me clarify--I meant with students
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Liberal_Stalwart71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:30 PM
Response to Original message
5. You are not alone. I am struggling. I am an adjunct professor for an internship sponsored by the
University of South Carolina. My students are from SC and come to D.C. to intern on Capitol Hill. Many of them are conservative and/or Republicans, and some of the stuff they spew are talking points straight from Faux News. The thing is: these are supposedly the brightest of the bright students. They are mostly political science major and I am a polisci professor. The things that come out of their mouths is quite astonishing and I'm left baffled after class. In the past, I have spoken up, explaining that there were no WMD's. I felt that I have a moral obligation to tell the truth. Well, guess what? I was reported to the head of the program. The students charged me with being politically biased. Last week, the conservatives, some from The Citadel went on and on about William Ayers and how Obama is lying about his health care system; that he wants to raise taxes. I have found a way to get them to see the facts, and I'm happy that we finally know more about the Ayers situation. Ayers' relationship with Walter Annenberg and his wife. They have endorsed McSame and that's a way for me to explain that the Annenbergs invited Ayers to participate in the board. Are they 'terrorists', too??!?!?!?
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holiday Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:32 PM
Response to Reply #5
9. Do you know of other teachers voting McCain
I think it's so weird for teachers to vote republican. Do they not understand republican policies?? I think there are some teachers at my kids school who are voting McCain
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childslibrarian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:39 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. My cousin was excited
that Sarah Palin had a handicapped child--thought that meant she would support public schools.
I set her straight, but I do think there are teachers that vote Republican.
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Liberal_Stalwart71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 09:20 PM
Response to Reply #9
12. None. None of them are McSame supporters, but when I was in grad school, it wasn't
uncommon to come across many conservative and/or Republican political science professors. I always thought it was weird but there were always a few who were right-wingnuts.

I will never understand this. Never!
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childslibrarian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:37 PM
Response to Reply #5
10. You are in a really tough situation. My husband
also teaches at a conservative university but not a subject that brings politics up.
Wow. I feel your pain. You need to hang in there. I am including you on my prayer list.
(hope that's okay)
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Liberal_Stalwart71 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-13-08 11:28 AM
Response to Reply #10
16. Yes!! Please, please pray for me! I need it.
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Ilsa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 09:41 PM
Response to Reply #5
15. And they realize that the Annenbergs were friends of
Nixon and the Reagans? My mother-in-law didn't know this, but since she is only watching Faux news, it isn't surprising they haven't divulged that.
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BluRay01 Donating Member (61 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 08:31 PM
Response to Original message
7. Speaking for a friend of mine...
you're not alone. She teaches at a Catholic high school in a deep red state. She tries to remain neutral but it's tough.
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BlueIdaho Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 09:23 PM
Response to Original message
13. You have no idea... Teaching in Idaho?... Don't even try to guess... nm.
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Peacetrain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 09:27 PM
Response to Original message
14. I work with adult education.. and sometimes I have to
Edited on Sun Oct-12-08 09:30 PM by peacetrain
bite my tongue to the point of pain. But for the most part, conversations in my classes have been respectful.. when people start to spout of a little too much, I take control and move everyone back to the subject.

Edit add on: I am in Iowa, and we are pretty dang blue out this way. I would think in red state areas it could be a more difficult process. I just think republicans can be much more emotional and have a hard time separating issues.
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janx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-13-08 11:46 AM
Response to Original message
17. I haven't had too much trouble, but I'm only aware of maybe
TWO students who are for McCain. My students are very bright. They're techies and budding scientists.

I guess I'd better clarify: Those are TWO out of ONE HUNDRED AND SIX students I'm teaching this semester!

:rofl:

I taught Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" last week. One of the first responses to it in one class was: MAVERICK! :rofl:
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