Teachers you can defy your school system

[Rosa Luxemburg]

I am going to show the speech live on computer. Our school system says no live broadcasting. OK c'mon arrest me!

[Greenpeach]

1. Good for You! n/t

[rsmith6621]

2. Dont Want To Rain on Your Parade

...But what kind of example will you set by defying the instructions of your boss who may very well desire to have it broadcast in the classrooms.

Perhaps you could make a non credit/non required homework assignment out of it and have the students put the Presidents speech in to their own words and let them come to their own conclusions...

There are some things worth putting it on the line....this is not one of them..

[janx]

9. I think she will set a very good example! n/t

[Posteritatis]

16. The lesson that sometimes defiance is the right option is a good lesson

It's gotten you guys any number of interesting, freedom-expanding court decisions, for starters.

Screw that "obey The Rules in all circumstances without question" schtick.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

22. I don't agree

[rucky]

37. Transcripts are out now.

[Catshrink]

3. Not when we have a bond issue coming up

that represents 10% of our budget. No way, no how.

[janx]

17. So it's money over principle, over education? n/t

[Catshrink]

19. Are you a teacher?

[donco6]

4. As long as you don't need your job, broadcast away!

You can be fired for that if they said "no." And you'll have virtually no recourse. You even here admitted you knew the policy of no live broadcasting. Not a good idea, no matter how well-intentioned.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. I dare them

[emilyg]

38. Not very mature attitude.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

42. They wouldn't fire someone

for showing a good speech of our president. There would be an uproar!

[donco6]

48. They're not firing for the speech.

They'd be fired for showing a live broadcast. You said it was against policy. If it's against policy, and you know it's against policy, and you do it anyway - you're toast. Simple as that.

[emilyg]

5. Dumb idea. What example are

you setting for the kids.?

[janx]

11. She is setting the example of exposing her students to a message

from the president of the United States. She is noting that our democratic republic works and that even though a relatively small, vocal minority is up in arms about President Obama's being able to communicate with school children, U.S. presidents can and will continue to express concern and to give advice.

She is a real TEACHER. She is showing them the value of ethics.

[emilyg]

21. She is making cheating seem right.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

30. Both Reagan and Bush Sr spoke to school children

of course we know why the RW are up in arms with Obama.

[Critters2]

33. In what way does this constitute cheating?

She's being up front about what she's doing. Not dishonest, not cheating. Defiant, yes. Courageous, yes. Cheating, no.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[emilyg]

36. Certainly - anybody that does not see

things your way is a RW.

[Mystayya]

47. Calling others RWers for disagreeing with you is against the rules.

[roody]

35. You probably don't want me breaking the Cuba embargo either.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

23. you are joking of course?

[grantcart]

6. I would wait until the broadcast is finished and then take it off the website

You will have accomplished your goal and you will not be showing a "live broadcast".


You will also teach your children creative problem solving.

[Cha]

8. Best idea..they might not

arrest, you, Rosa, but don't lose your job over some assholes refusing to show the President's speech on education..Live.

[janx]

12. That's not problem solving; that's cheating.

She should go for it. This is our elected president, and his message is a good one; there's nothing controversial about it.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

24. You would think it was Chavez they were showing not our Obama

[RayOfHope]

7. You can bet the school's IT person will be checking to see who's streaming it n/t

[janx]

13. Who cares?

What is wrong with it?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

25. It's not 1984

[janx]

10. I can't believe the responses you have gotten to this post.

You're a teacher. The president of the United States is making a speech to school children. Why the fear on the part of some of the people who have responded to your post?

You sound like a very good teacher to me. ;-)

[RayOfHope]

14. We've been told not to show it live. I sure as hell don't agree with it, but I also like to eat

and provide for my family. Jobs are hard to come by. I also work in a non-union district.

[janx]

15. Who told you not to show it live?

I like to eat too, and I've lost plenty of money teaching. WHO told you not to show it live?

[RayOfHope]

18. Supt. asst supt, principal n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

29. and who told them?

[nemo137]

39. Probably a bunch of jackass parents, the kind who make a teacher's life hell.

Who she'd be going up against if she does show this.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. I see Laura Bush agrees too

[donco6]

50. Because she's leading people to lose their job.

Maybe some can afford it, but right not, with schools cutting budgets - you could be in a world of hurt.

I study public school case law as part of my job in risk management. If there's a policy against something (live broadcasts), and you know the policy exists, but you disobey it anyway, you're in serious trouble. You will have no defense whatsoever.

There's a lot of other ways to get the message to your kids without destroying your own career - no matter how grand the cause.

[alcuno]

20. I'm a union officer - don't do it.

Deliberately going against explicit direction from your administration could be grounds for immediate firing. Tape it and show it later.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

28. burnt at the stake?

[last_texas_dem]

31. I say go for it

The wingers have managed to turn the way the broadcasting of Obama's address logically should have taken place completely on its head. It's completely illogical that these scumbags have managed to make it where parents have to give permission before the goddam POTUS can tell their little darlings to stay in school and work hard, or have succeeded in having the broadcasting of the speech taken out of schools altogether just by being loudmouthed jerks. Would they have a problem with any other authority figure telling their kids these things besides scary black President? Public school administrators, teachers, and students have no business being held hostage by the whims of these fringe assholes.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

32. We pay OUR taxes to the local government - hav ehte schools become private?

[nemo137]

40. I'd advise against doing it.

Recommend that students watch it on the news, then mention and discuss it in class tomorrow. If your school system's edict is to not show it, showing it can be grounds for firing, and a manufactured hooplah over one speech is not a martyrship opportunity.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

41. why would they fire someone for a speech?

[Mystayya]

43. You could absolutely be fired for it.

If you can live with that and the legal fight that follows then go for it. But if you rely on your income to live then I would find a different way to express your outrage over your schools moronic decisions.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

44. it will be in a good cause

[Mystayya]

46. Like I said- if you can manage without the income during the fight I say go for it!

But it's also irresponsible to urge others to do so that might not be in the same position financially. Not against your way of making a statement, just asking that you be responsible when urging others to do something that might impact their own families in a very bad way.

Ugh- I know I sound like I am scolding but I really don't intend for it to come across that way.

[LWolf]

45. You can,

but it's not the smartest way to keep your job or to lead in your school or district.

Not that I'm not famous for being a pain in the ass and bucking the system; I just don't include disregarding direct orders. My admins work with me and deal with my independence because I'm good at what I do.

What is your point? Making sure your students get to see it, live or not, or using your students and classroom to make a political point? The second is, in my professional opinion, unethical.

[donco6]

49. As usual, I agree totally.

This sounds like a very young teacher, or perhaps a non-teacher egging people on. Not a good idea.

[LWolf]

54. Yes.

We need to stay focused on what best serves our students. They are, after all, what we're all about.

I had a wonderful first day yesterday; a great group of new 6th graders, and a happy reunion with my 7th and 8th graders. I'm all about them, and what we need to do together to best move them forward. They know that. That enthusiastic greeting, catch-up, and re-establishing relationship was all about setting the tone for the year, and more effective than diving into a political battle to start the year.

Our district went through some rough changes. When we RIF'd 42 teachers, a bunch of forced transfers followed. In my K-8 building, we have a former IB Diploma program teacher teaching self-contained 5th grade; a former middle school science teacher teaching self-contained 4th grade; and my new partner is a former alternative (behavior) high school teacher.

I saw the shock on her face yesterday at the smiles, hugs, and excited greetings our returning students entered with. And after school, when a bunch of last year's 8th graders poured in to report on their first day of high school...more surprise.

I think this is going to be a good year for her.

[donco6]

55. I'm glad.

We're up against it here. We've lost elections 2X in two years. Going for it one more time, and if we fail again, I'm probably out on my ass. We have a matching grant this year, so our ask is cut in half. It's about $5/month per 100,000 of home value. To build three new schools, remodel two others. And gain about 3M more in funding. It could save our bacon. We all took freezes this year to see if we can make this work. After that, it's all over.

[LWolf]

56. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

We passed a bond in the spring of '07, to build 2 new schools and remodel 2 others. Mine, the 2nd oldest school in our district, gets a whole new wing. The original wing is in such bad shape that it isn't cost effective to save it.

2 days into the year things are going well; the only issue we're having is with our new schedule. The school day is longer, and we don't get out until 4:15. We're all tired and our brains are "done" an hour earlier than that. I hope we adjust.

[saltpoint]

51. If you need a character witness, let me know.

The model you're suggesting is in keeping with your role as teacher versus the model of censorship and (racism) your school system is offering.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

52. I'm still here!

It went well!

[saltpoint]

53. Rosa, good. Cheers for ya. Your students, I hope, took note of

some true teaching.