The Indoctrinistas in education remain alive and well. I recently received the following letter:
Dear Larry,
My family and I are huge fans of yours. My 17-year-old high school senior listens to you as well, and has been able to hold his own with many of the liberal teachers. Most of the liberal teachers respect my son for his knowledge and logical thoughts (thanks to you!).
Well, that changed this year. A new "super" liberal English teacher has been indoctrinating and not educating — always calling President Bush names, claiming the war in Iraq was illegal and Bush should be put in jail. My son for the most part has stood up to this tyrant, as this teacher claimed he "welcomes" healthy debate.
The first sign of trouble came after my son stood up to his "liberal claims" and promptly received an "F" on a paper in which the teacher wrote in red "sloppy Republican" at the top of the paper. (I have a copy of this paper if you would like to see it.)
Then we had back-to-school night, and this teacher made it quite clear he enjoys flunking seniors and watching them not graduate. We went up to the teacher afterwards, introduced ourselves, and he promptly labeled our son as lazy. Understand every teacher he has ever had claims the exact opposite.
Then the next day came, and the teacher started in about how Iraq was better off when Saddam was in power, how Bush should be put in jail because of the wiretaps etc., etc. (Mind you, this is an English class studying "Hamlet.") My son raised his hand to counter some of the claims, since the teacher "welcomes healthy debate." He was shut down instantly and was told he could not present his side, as he was uninformed and only going to state the "right-wing talking points," and then, get this, ready . . . "I met your mom last night, and you might have a better understanding if she didn't drink so much while she was pregnant with you."
Not only insulting my wife, and my son, but clearly stating the only way to believe like we believe is to have brain damage!
Thought you might find this interesting.
Keep up the good fight! — Scott
After receiving Scott's letter, I interviewed his son, Owen.
Larry Elder: Owen, this is a public school, correct?
Owen: Yes. On the first day of class he said that he welcomes healthy debate — and he even said that he will disagree with what you say, but he will defend to his death the right for you to say it. . . .
Elder: And not suffer a lower grade as a result?
Owen: Oh, yes. . . . But he starts up the second day of school, about how the war in Iraq is illegal . . . Bush should be put in jail. He even called Bush "Satan." . . . He said Reagan should have been put in jail.
Elder: For?
Owen: Reaganomics. . . . He said Reaganomics does not work, because the government wants to keep the rich people rich, and the poor people poor. There is no such thing as the "middle class."
Elder: . . . This is an English class? . . .
Owen: Finally, my parents did meet him at back-to-school night. The next day, I went to his class. . . . He said, in front of the class, that when he met my parents, my mom hugged him, he returned the hug, my mom started weeping, and my mom said, "Why did I drink when I was pregnant with Owen?" . . . He told us that my mom said that. My mom did not say that. He made all that up.
Elder: He then said, to your class, you might have a better understanding — meaning you might be more intelligent, you might reason better — if your mom hadn't been a drunk when she was pregnant.
Owen: Yes. . . . I just stood there in shock. He pretty much just told the class that I had mental problems, my mom's an alcoholic, and I had family problems. . . . Then he went on his usual rampage. . . . I go to my vice-principal, and I tell him my story, and he gets me out of the class. . . . I am out of his class now.
I asked Owen to invite the teacher to come on my radio show. I wanted to hear how "Reaganomics" lands you in jail, and how the teacher justifies calling President Bush "Satan." Does the teacher, I asked Owen, possess the "cashews" to come on my show?
The teacher refused to appear on my show, but did tell students, "Tell Mr. Elder that cashews are not nuts. They are legumes."
Culinarily speaking, all chefs classify cashews as nuts, as do some botanists. Botanically speaking, however, cashews, like almonds, come from a type of fruit called a "drupe." Inside the drupe's dry, leathery flesh is the cashew "nut" — actually a seed. Peanuts, on the other hand, are legumes.
So, apparently, Mr. Teacher knows even less about "nuts" than he does about "Reaganomics." Looks like somebody deserves an "F."
