(no subject)

[symbioidlj]

PORTLAND, Maine - After complaints that the children of soldiers were upset by anti-war comments at school, Maine's top education official warned teachers to be careful of what they say in class about a possible invasion of Iraq.

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I have mixed thoughts on this... On the one hand, this whole "You'd better watch what you say" bullshit that happened just like with Bill Maher... But when you read the article, it sounds like they're just asking teachers to take an balanced approach. I think this isn't a bad idea. As much as I think this war is wrong, if these children feel berated, and that they're parents are bad, and are damaged psychologically, what happens to them in the future? Won't they grow up resenting the people who told them this? Also, this merely causes negative reaction. Part of what we need is good propaganda in the anti-war movement, and that showing we're sympathetic to the individual soldiers, the men and women who are going off like lambs(or is it lions?) to the slaughter... While still condemning this bullshit war.

When talking to my co-worker who is in the Air National Guard, I try to do my best not to sound to radical, and try to paint a rational picture and show that I'm concerned about America, and not just some liberal huffy-puffy stuff(even though, of course, that's my main motivation). Even thought I hate nationalism, and imperialism... I still try to show a rational approach. But then again, maybe these kids are psychologically prepped by their parents that the world is against them as it is, so their already over-reacting to some simple statements. Who knows. Human psychology is very complex.

Comments

[thedarksiren.livejournal.com]

I was just talking to sharpshinyclaws yesterday about how I am against the war, but not a radical or activist of any sort. I have strong value systems, and in some ways view some of life's structures in almost a conservative light. On the other hand, I am free-spirited and extremely open-minded in most areas of my life and those lives around me. I am in the gray-matter, so to speak, and thus feel as if my hands are bound because there is no mid-ground in these for-war/ against-war themes. There is no gray-area, and so I walk around with blinders on - not to say that I am unaware, but I cannot take either side on the matter because I can see all perspectives.

I am rambling, but back to your orgininal statement. I think it is wise for anyone who may be thought of as a mentor - be they a teacher, a caregiver, what-have-you - to keep their opinions to themselves when working with their students/ clients. Where I work I have clients whose families are blatant GW Bush supporters, thus they are as well. I, on the other hand, cannot stand the man, and find his time in office revolting and destructive. I just told my roommate the other day that he reminds me of the protagonist in The Green Mile, the guy who left the sponge off the prisoner's head, just to see what would happen. Bush wants to see someone fry like that, for his own personal reasons and not for the sake of the USA.

But so, when the one fella discusses the world's current events with me, and asks me what I think about the war/ about Bush's actions, etc., I tend to ask him what he thinks almost immediately in response because really, that is what he is aiming toward in the long run. He wants to be heard, and it is my job as an Habilitaion Specialist to encourage him to think freely and intelligently, to speak his mind when he wants to be heard. I am a support mechanism, not a parental figure. I think that telling him my opinions would set off a confusion in his mind that could result in him having major emotional (and aggressive) outbursts, and would in fact, do more harm than good.

It is not my job to place my values/ beliefs upon his shoulders. He is not strong enough in his mental capacity (borderline mentally-retarded/ developmentally disabled) to carry the burden of my opinions.

It is something we are taught in training anyway, to not force our values upon the clients we work with. It is work, and the eight hours I spend with these people should be for their personal benefit, not mine. I have friends and family to discuss these issues with, should I need to do so.

So yeah, it may at first seem like a freedom-of-speech issue, but when you look at it from a more professional standpoint - which is what teachers are, or are supposed to be - then it benefits the children to let them make up their own minds and have their support from their families. Teachers can just listen and stay neutral in their workplace. They can take their opinions home with them and deal with them there.