Brickbat: Civics Lesson

Paul Hennessy/Polaris/Newscom

Officials at New Mexico's Mesilla Elementary School told fifth-grader Chris Walker not to wear his Hillary Clinton T-shirt to school anymore. When his dad called to find out why, he said he was told some parents had complained that students were discussing politics during recess. A school spokeswoman said students were "making ugly comments" about Clinton and Donald Trump and teachers teaching about the U.S. political system want students to focus on the electoral process not the "personal dynamics" of the candidates.

Comments

[neoteny]

some parents had complained that students were discussing politics during recess

I bet those parents discuss politics front of their children.

[Rat's voting Chipper-Shredder]

Yes, but they didn't like their kids hearing opposing views.

[Doubting Rich]

"...students were "making ugly comments" about Clinton and Donald Trump..."

They should be so proud of their students! Given the character of these two candidates the children are right to make "ugly comments" about them. Children will always insult someone, so insulting someone who has power and who thoroughly deserves the insults is very positive and healthy.

[Ted S.]

The State is the biggest bully of them all, and the administrators don't want children standing up to the State Bully.

[Lachowsky]

A few chapters of civics class should be devoted to practical application of the bill of rights in your daily life. Lessons should include but not be limited to:
the definition of the word infringed,
how to explain to officers during traffic stops that you do not consent to any searches,
The pros and cons of giving up your right to remain silent when interacting with officers of the law, and
How juries can quell tyranny-an ethical guide to nullification.

[Adans smith]

And,yet the children's discussions are more informative than any on MSNBC..

[straffinrun]

And would take more Oreos to get the kids to sell their souls.

[UnCivilServant]

Well they did present an anti-hillary position in their discussion, making it immediately more balanced.

[The Hyperbole ((Very Tall))]

"What's next? Are you going to tell them they can't wear Cubs or Indians shirts if they're going to get into an argument about which team they like more?"

Never, never give statists and slavers ideas. Reductio ad absurdum isn't really a counter argument to these people, it's more of a challenge.

[Bean Counter]

"Reductio ad absurdum isn't really a counter argument to these people (government officials), it's more of a challenge."
Can I put that on my t-shirt, or did you copyright it?

[Jerryskids]

"We don't want to impede a child's right to free speech, but our top priority is to provide an educational environment that is conducive to learning," Galv?n said. "If a principal feels like something is disruptive to learning, he or she might feel the need to rein it in. And that's certainly her prerogative."

Gonna have to break out the Big Stick o' Learning on this one. No, you don't have a "prerogative" to infringe the right to free speech. We've been going over this for 50 years, how dense are you that the lesson hasn't sunk in?

But I do sympathize with the parents concerned that elementary school students are discussing politics on the playground, this is something you want to approach with some caution. Kinda like when you teach kids about human sexuality, you maybe want to start with a biology textbook, not just toss them a copy of Naked Lunch. These kids could be scarred for life if their first experience with politics is Hillary and Trump.

[Princess Trigger]

I was irreversibly scarred, when in first grade I was the only kid for Humphrey. Since I was 5 years old, I was just parroting my parents vaguely new-dealish hawkishness. To this day I can feel the blows of the nixonites (actually just mean words, but SCARRED!).

They accused me of being pro-marijuana.
Imagine that?

[Bob K]

Well students don't have rights as we know them. They are forced to go to go school, have not right to be secure in their persons or papers on school premises, no 1st amendment rights, no 2nd amendment rights - no rights at all. And that is as it should be.

What shouldn't be is public education. Charter/private schools are better because the parents acting as agents for their children should seek out and find the best school for their children. That could mean a more disciplined environment or one of hugs and telling kids they are snowflakes. Its the parents choice on how they screw up their kid not the State.

[straffinrun]

Kid wearing that is clearly appropriating a yeast culture.

[Tom Bombadil]

*looks at straffinrun with an oriental mien*

/acting-assistant to the regional gaze narrower

[Adans smith]

'I beg your pardon,I didn't promise you a beer garden'

[Florida Hipster]

Shouldn't 5th graders be talking about the latest cartoons and toys? It saddens me that politics have become so pervasive that kids can't be kids.

[Adans smith]

They've taken all their toys and outside playground equipment. They can't run and play games. They have to be wary of 'gender'. They can't walk to and from school,their sack lunches are seized and their forced to eat government approved meals that they throw in the trash. What's a kid to do?

[Florida Hipster]

I'm really glad I don't have kids. Americans have become humorless scolds afraid their own shaddow and they're putting their phobias on their kids. I don't know how you guys with kids deal with trying to raise an independent adult in this environment.

[Radioactive]

I just gave up and sold them to Arab slavers...got a good price for the little girl.

[Florida Hipster]

"How much for the women?!?"

[Bean Counter]

"shaddow"
When spell check underlines a word in red, you should check it out. Plus you messed up by not saying "shadows".

Beware! The grammar police are trolling!!

[Roger the Shrubber]

teachers teaching about the U.S. political system want students to focus on the electoral process not the "personal dynamics" of the candidates.

It seems these teachers have no idea how we elect politicians.

[Radioactive]

that's why theyz teachin' and such...most have no more brains than god gave a hammer

[Longtobefree]

"teaching about the U.S. political system want students to focus on the electoral process not the "personal dynamics" of the candidates."
Either I have been asleep for the last six decades, or the US political system IS the personal dynamics of the candidates. Maybe he has confused the technical details of an election with the electoral process. Maybe he still thinks someone other than a proofreader goes over party platforms, or that politicians read the fool thing.
Anyway, they sure got a good lesson on the first amendment.

[Rich]

Lydia Polanco, the school's principal, did not return calls seeking comment. However,

she did stop wearing her Donald Trump bra to school.

[Radioactive]

hope she's goin' shirtless as well

[Radioactive]

hope she's goin' shirtless as well

[ammythomas66]

until I looked at the paycheck saying $4730 , I did not believe that...my... brother woz like actualy bringing in money part time from there computar. . there friend brother started doing this for less than 7 months and resently paid for the morgage on there home and bought a new Cadillac .......

........ http://www.jobprofit9.com

[ammythomas63]

until I looked at the paycheck saying $4730 , I did not believe that...my... brother woz like actualy bringing in money part time from there computar. . there friend brother started doing this for less than 7 months and resently paid for the morgage on there home and bought a new Cadillac .......

........ http://www.jobprofit9.com

[ammyt0225]

until I looked at the paycheck saying $4730 , I did not believe that...my... brother woz like actualy bringing in money part time from there computar. . there friend brother started doing this for less than 7 months and resently paid for the morgage on there home and bought a new Cadillac .......

........ http://www.jobprofit9.com