"Emperor Misha I" has more about the teachers harassing the children of National Guard Soldiers. This update from Worldnet Daily gives even more background. So far, at least 12 schools are involved:
"WABI reporter Alan Grover told WND that reports of the harassment had come in from 12 different schools across the state. Personnel from the Family Assistance Program collected the 12 reports after interviewing 80 Guard families. Since there are 600 such families affected, the number of actual incidents likely is higher."As we noted previously, the state Education Commissioner's response has been equal parts denial, whitewashing, and cowardice. See SFTT for the full text of Albanese's limp advisory; and the Commissioner continues to downplay the issue rather than addressing it seriously:
"TV5 asked the general for his thoughts about the Albanese comments. Tinkham says [Education] Commissioner [Duke] Albanese skipped over a few facts. The General says the reports about insensitive educators have been steady and consistent, no matter where the family assistance officers have traveled in the state. Far from being anecdotal evidence, Tinkham says The Guard has names, dates and locations related to the incidents, but up until now has chosen not to release that information because the guard did not want to point fingers."Here's the URL, courtesy of reader Allen Glosson.
Well, the Education Commissioner has certainly made his smarmy attitude clear. Looks like it may be time to roll out the artillery after all, General. And Emperor Misha - how about making some of those contact URLs live? (Done now)
The story is also starting to "grow legs" at the national level. The Washington Times ran an article today, for instance, and I'm getting email reports that talk-show star Rush Limbaugh has also picked it up. More will come... but it depends on finding people who are willing to come forward and speak to the media.
Trent Telenko explains the dynamics involved, and what we're doing about it, in this comment to his own post on this subject...(read on)
"To All The Best of the Web visitors:Let's hope the controversy isn't leaving any time soon, either. Trent concludes with this bit about the active duty personnel from Kansas and Texas who have contacted him with similar stories:The current cases I am aware are from friends on military affairs mailing lists I subscribe too. Neither they nor their impacted friends wants to handle this in the public.
This is a common response from active duty military parents to this sort of thing. They and their kids have to live there after the media event is over. They don't want to make waves. Especially when they will be gone in a couple of years.
Please remember public education bureaucracies don't respond well to military parents for the simple reason they are transient. They don't have the connections in the local community necessary to influence local education politics.
This makes petty vengence on military kids a very high pay off activity for the self-righteous Left in public education positions. And they have done so in the past and will do this again, once people are not looking.
The difference in Maine is that they went after military people in the National Guard. Who by definition have very deep roots in their community and won't be leaving any time soon."
"If the folks want to surface, that is their option. I will not force it upon them. Most public school systems are all but immune from outside reality no matter the media attention. These folks know it.Hard to argue. Still, we're gonna do our best here. If you think you can contribute, here's what we need.Besides, making that kind of noise is not something that is career enhancing [for the soldiers], when it can be handled privately by transferring to private or home school or simply with time by moving to the next assignment...."
They're fighting for us over there. The least we can do is fight just as hard for them over here.
This is SICK! They are supposed to be educators. These people have the same mentality as those that spit on soldiers returning from Vietnam and called them baby killers. I can only hope that the parents are considering SLANDER and CHILD ABUSE law suits. We can only pray that these teachers are immediately terminated! They give good teachers a bad name. I'll bet Canada is looking for some poor teachers who's opinion nobody cares about. Please feel free to go.
The URLs are in this post and you're more than welcome to use them in any way you want.
I'll put them up with live links as well soon.
Mark,
I'm from Canada... no thanks!
School officials were not cooperative.
Is anybody surprised?
You can thank the NEA and just about any weasely leftist university in the country.
These people should be tarred and feathered!
It's very easy to intimidate 7 and 9 year olds... good going. Just shows how "mature" the anti-war hypocrites are.
They won't battle tyrants, but they will terrorize children.
Just another in a long list of reasons why parents should have the choice of where to send their children to school.
I hope word gets out and that these scum-sucking low-life teachers are harrassed to no end.
This story is on Rush Limbaugh. And the washington times print version picked it up. I think it is going to be a big deal.
FOX News has picked this up as well.
I am just shocked a Maine TV station thought it was a story. Normally they are pretty leftie and don't say boo to left-wing idiocy.
I emailed "Rush" w/Misha's site and mentioned the newscast and suggested he might want to talk w/Gen. Tinkham.
O'Reilly is about to do a segment on this on FOX News. :)
I am a National Guard Soldier from California. I have served my country proudly for 26 years and several wars. I just returned home after being gone for 15 months, a very hard time of separation and uncertainty for my family and my small business and am looking at the possibility of leaving again. I am saddened by what I see happening in our country right now. It seems that the voices of those that have no clue of what it takes to preserve freedom seems to be the loudest. What happened to the American spirit? Is it gone? God, I hope not.
I am very sad that this happened.. its not only the kids that they are spitting on they are allso spitting on are past and all the people that defended the rights they have now.. i wish people would gather and show the support for are men and woman that are going and allready are overseas. teachers have no right to act in this manner.
it hurts me to not see rallys of people supporting bush but yet i see 100000's and 100000's aginst him. does not seem fair and i feel like i have turned my back on him for not doing somthing.
most of the people know the war must come.. Its better to take the threat out now then to wait 20 years when he can deliver VX gas.
god bless the USA
I am a veteran retired,also aformer guard and reservist, and I found it hard to catch my breath when I learned of this. I served the last time in Desert Storm at the age of 56 years old and you can damn well bet on one thing if it would have been my child or worse yet my grandchild they would have had to turn that school into a fort because the teachers who perpetrated that god awful thing on these kids would have had answer to me face to face and also the wimpy principals by god we have to take this country back from these cowards and anti americans and it may as well start here and now I am damn glad I dont live in Maine I would not cope I can visulize myself in Jail because thats how profound my feelings are about this kind of incident I must stop now because I am in a frenzy Please do what ever it takes to rid yourself of this vermin and if push comes to shove I will drive to Maine from Florida I want to go to this war but they say I am too old but by the grace of god I am not too old to go towar against these traitors, God bless you and please stay dedicated to this nation there are not many of us left.
For what its worth I emailed the following to
duke.albanese@maine.gov.
I wonder how long it would take the State of Main to reprimand by name, teachers who impose their morals in regards to Homosexuality on the students in their classrooms.
I will put it plainly so their is no misinterpretation:
If a teacher told a child that their parents were morally wrong for being gay. Would the school board be so slow to take proper action. From what I read it sounds like some teachers need some unpaid time off to go play human shield.
God Bless every one of those children their parents! And my God bring home everyone of our troops safe and sound.
I also want to thank everyone of the troops for protection us. Even the boneheads that made the comments are being protected by these troops.
Lets fight about the war after the troops come home.
Remember the Nazi concentration camps were a myth until U.S. Troops entered their gates.
I now understand the post WWII Communist Witch Hunt. Apparently McCarthy missed a few.
It looks to me like we have our next group of human shields ready to be shipped over!
After nearly losing my mind with anger following hearing about this Maine situation, I calmed down and decided that my anger would be better served if I drove up to Maine and beat some sense...and some American pride into those teachers. I know William would like to join me!
It is a truly sad day in America when children are being emotionally abused from the same people that are entrusted with helping to forge a sense of individuality, purpose, and even patriotism in their lives.
Shame on them! Deport them!
These teachers should get fired on the spot for they're NOT FIT to teach. They don't realize that our soldiers are fighting for ours and their freedom. To trash these childrens parents is unbelievable you'd think that these teachers are better educated than that, and people wonder why some kids hate school.
I am a wife of a solider deployed to the Middle East a few weeks ago. When I saw this article I almost cried, I have a ten year old son who misses his father terribly and a two year old daughter, that I worry will forget what her father looks like by time he returns. How can any adult put additional stress on a child that has already suffer so much sadness from being separated from a parent. I believe those teachers should be removed and strictly disciplined. What those children's parents and my husband are fighting for unfortunately is to preserve the freedom of one these teachers who has probably never done a patriotic thing in their life. I would also like to add, we lived in Southwest Harbor, ME when my husband was stationed there. The people I meet were not "American as apple pie," they were very happy with only people from ME entering their state and because of that we transferred and danced a gig going over the Kittery Bridge.
God bless the USA, and Maine,
Carly O.
Wilmington, NC,
This is incredible. A sad time for all true Americans. These "teachers" should be terminated on the spot.
This cries out for a class action lawsuit in Maine, and in any other state where this abuse is happening. The teachers unions fully deserve to have their tactics turned back on them and their selective sense of "diversity" exposed for what it is.
I should be so lucky that these "teachers" were to read my thoughts, but I'm smarter than that. I am a Navy F-18 Pilot forward deployed on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. I left my beautiful wife and wonderful children over 100 days ago and won't likely be home anytime soon. One one hand, the fact that these people who have the nerve to call themselves "teachers" CAN take such action merely validates the job that the tens of thousands of deployed men and women (fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters) are doing here. Our job is to protect FREEDOM. Freedom, as defined by the inalienable right to speak freely without fear of being dragged off and wrongly imprisoned, or summarily executed on the whim of a dictator, such as the citizens of Iraq. These feeble minds think that there is no state-sponsored terrorism in Iraq, that Saddam Hussein is not a murderer and a madman, that if we don't enforce UN a disarmament of Saddam's WMD that we won't soon be overrun by terrorists, and that we are here to "steal the oil," or even more ludicrous, that the President would wage war in order to satisfy some family dynasty. The latter is too ridiculous to consider, although some do. The other side of the coin is that while these parasites have the freedom to behave in such a reprehensible way towards children who's only "crime" is to miss their mother or father who is 10,000 miles away serving their country, the fact that they do so is obscene and inexcusable. I can say without any doubt or hesitation that none of these "teachers" has ever served in the military, and would be surprised to find out that any of them are parents themselves. This alleged act of verbally accosting young children for their parents' military service is reprehensible, and absolutely unethical for a teacher. I sincerely hope that the school boards and the unions involved don't fold to the pressure of the liberals (they will) and have the courage and moral fortitude to relieve these individuals of their duty as mentors of our young (they won't). I AM on the front lines, I AM in harms way every day, I DO miss my family every day, and I can say unquestionably that (ironically) it is well worth the cost in order to provide the rights and freedoms to these "teachers" to behave with such moral and ethical bankrupcy. God bless all the children who go to sleep every night saying (like mine do) "When is Daddy coming home?" To the "teachers" involved I say, "You're welcome" for providing the freedom that you exploit and condemn by attacking the defenseless. Should be a fun & interesting "Parent / Teacher Conference Day" when lots of Moms and Dads get back from overseas. We'll see how outspoken and brave you are then. Finally, I and every American at the tip of the spear deeply appreciate the support on this page. It does a lot for those of us out front to know that the majority of Americans at home support their troops. Thanks to all of you.
Some of these comments are just as insane as what the teachers did to the children. "Deport them"
"I'll bet Canada is....."
Come on. I fully agree that that is no way for a teacher(s) to conduct themselves, but is deporting them ever going to happen? No, who would want someone like that "I'm from Canada... no thanks!" I'm glad this is getting national coverage it deserves, but people who talk big saying deport them sickens me just as much, that's "cheap talk" emotional and not even a solution. This is something that needs commitment towards a realistic end. The people paying these teachers (taxpayers) need to take the time to get involved, write, show up at meetings etc to get a result that is fair. If anyone thinks leaving a message on a board like this will get results, then guess again. Fine if people want to air emotional feelings here, but collectively if enough people take the few mins to write the politicians in the areas where there are problems and if the politicians think they may not get elected or support attention will happen that is just. The problem the country has is that people get enraged, and unless the politicians are made aware of how serious we are, it can be put on a "back burner". Imagine if ever GI, person who was enraged over this wrote congress? It would not happen, like voting. People get angered, but when it comes down to it, writing a calm simple letter seems like too much bother. Imagine if the Gov of ME. was delivered a few million letters.........
I just cannot believe our very own "Teachers in America" would do such a thing especially to seven year olds who are very much emotionally affected of a deployed parent! Those teaches responsible of such ludicrous behavior should step down or have them take a mandatory History class on the sacrifices that American men and women have made during World Wars I & II, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War if they ever want to continue teaching in America!
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has expressed their opinion on this matter. I am a Major in the U.S. Army and am deployed in support of this operation from Germany. I am extremely proud to serve my country and appreciate tremendously the support our military forces receive from everyone who has voiced their concerns regarding this travesty. I am sure there are many out there who do not support the current administration's stance on how to deal with Iraq but still support the men and women of the armed forces. To them, I also send my thanks.
I left behind a beautiful, loving wife and four young children who beg me to come home on a daily basis. No one knows how long we will be apart but it could be a year or more. The sacrifices and pain military members go through is nothing compared to those our loved ones encounter. It is an extremely sad day when people we entrust our most precious asset to take that opportunity to advance their own political agenda. Our children should be nurtured and provided facts on all sides of a debate in order to foster their independent decision making capability. My three oldest children are in the German public school system and it is ironic that they are treated with more respect from their teachers than those children in our own country who are being verbally abused because of their parent's profession. Although Germany is on the whole, against any conflict in Iraq, the teachers and students my children interact with accept the fact that my kids have nothing to do with national policy or the execution of my duties. They support my children during this hard time and have never spoken ill of the U.S. or Americans to them. For that alone, I would be willing to defend them when needed although I believe their current stance to be extremely short-sighted.
Finally, I would like everyone to remember that no matter what our personal views are, military members are sworn to uphold the orders of our civilian leaders. A famous man once said, "No one hates war more than the soldier who has to fight it". I also remind our fellow citizens that a soldiers goes where he is told to go and fights who he is told to fight. This is not a case of following blindly those above us. Instead, we place a trust in our leaders to understand the "bigger picture" and do the right thing. I hope those teachers who feel the need to take out their frustrations on a 7-year old remember that they can voice their opinions everytime they vote. A freedom they enjoy because American men and women have died to bring them that right.
Being a Former Marine and a Desert Storm combat veteran this story made me sick that some sorry ass punk is treating a child who's parents are showing the ultimate sacrifice for there country like that. Let that teacher or teachers tell me something like that to my face and I'll show them how good they have it because of people like me and many other.
Attend a Rally For America, being held in many cities across the country this weekend and in the coming weeks! This is a grass-roots phenomenon inspired by Glenn Beck, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host. The purpose is to show our support for military troops and President Bush. You can get details at GlennBeck.com. Contact your local conservative radio station and ask them to host one of these events! We ovewhelmed our station here in Omaha and they're hosting a rally next Saturday, March 8.
The teachers should leave the country and become "human shields" in Iraq.
Those who cannot do, teach. Any teacher found to be verbally abusing these kids should be fired and arrested. Filthy left over hippies. I cant stand this type of behavior.
I think that there is no room in the Education System for teachers with kind of attitude. They should keep their personal opinions to themselves. I suggest they should move to France they would fit in perfectly. If it wasn't for people in the military they wouldn't have their freedom they enjoy today. The majority of teachers aren't worth a crap.
How disappointing that our teachers would hurt such young children, in a time when one or more of their parents are already been taken away from them. My heart breaks for these children and their families.
Thank God that our teacher here in IL are not doing the same things. My son's 4th grade teacher has them write to several of our soldiers that are overseas.
My prayers are with our soldiers and their children, may God protect them all.
I am outraged!! My husband is a naval Reservist and my get called. I just pray that my 6 year old son's teacher does not harass him. These teachers should be fired!! They have no right to treat defenseless children this way.
I am outraged!! My husband is a naval Reservist and may get called up. I just pray that my 6 year old son's teacher does not harass him. These teachers should be fired!! They have no right to treat defenseless children this way.
I sent the following email to every State Of Maine educator I could muster up. Additionally, I copied everyone I know and encouraged them to do the same. Regardless of your political views or military involvement, our children shouldn't be the brunt of some academia idiot who has never worked a day in the real world, outside the classroom yet, who has one sided, harmful denegration toward their parents.
http://www.nicedoggie.net/archives/001458.html
also has some intersting and pertinent postings from likeminded citizens. Pass it on!
I am outraged after reading the article presented in foxnews.com!
My wife & I are both members of the Indiana Army National Guard. Our state is one of the hardest hit for both southwest Asia and homeland security deployments. We are both prior active duty soldiers and I am in my 20th year of service. I have never, in 20 years read something so dispicable! I suggest if you cannot control and temper your teaching staff to focus on the facts of EDUCATION instead of rendering false and harmful opinions, FIRE THEM ALL and replace them with open minded professionals.
I am going to send this web site, amongst others, to everyone I know.
You should be ashamed of the system and environment you have created.
Stephen M. Hale
Oxford, Indiana
Still PROUDLY serving!
Yes, any reasonable person would want these teahers terminated. Now its time to stop talking about this and start doing something about this.....
I suggest we organize 10's of thousands to desend into various Maine communities and shut those towns business districts down. If the local people won't do the right thing, well that makes them part of the problem as well.
I learned very early in life that if you want someone attention, go for their wallet (or purse). It works every time. If we drove 5,000 vehicles (or even just 1000), we could shut down any one of these small towns business district for as long as we liked.
How do you think these kids would feel like in class if they looked out the window and saw thousands of poeple supporting their (hero) parents.
I live in NH and would love to help organize these 'road trips' for the troops....
anyone want to help set this right or do you just want to talk some more?
6288@usa.com
Where do I send money to get these supposed
"educators" kicked out? Who is collecting
the funds to get these school board members
removed? Is there a coordinating activity
to bring suit against the school districts
and State of Maine? Let's get the ball rolling.
Retired Military nationwide are a bugle call away.
I am a US ARMY soldier married to a deployed soldier. My beautiful wife left her 2 year old daughter to serve her country. We are both proud to serve. Maybe conscription is the answer. I dare anyone of those teaches to walk in our shoes for a day. We do not do this for medals, ribbons or praise we serve because we love America and we love our families. What is going on is horrible. First the Pledge, then they burn our Flag now our children. What is next? I encourage the entire silent majority to make a stand on this one. GOD BLESS AMERICA and its soldiers and families
It was disappointing to see the head of the National Guard in Maine waffling about this. O'Rielly is right, NG lawyers should be all over this fast.
Please write to this Senator senator@collins.senate.gov and express your outrage about these teachers, this is child abuse.
As a Navy Vet and someone who continues to support all the armed services I agree with what everyone is saying. It's a damned disgrace at best and those involved should be fired. Venting here is a good way to get your points/views out but I'd recommend contacting the Maine State Education Commissioner, Commissioner Albanese at:
duke.albanese@maine.gov
Their website is: tp://www.state.me.us/education/homepage.htm
That's where we need to take this. I've already sent in my comments and have forwarded this info on to a few veterans groups.
This is all due to the NEA. It is just a political action wing of the Socialist Democrats. In Pennsylvania Teachers aides meetings begin with a political lecture by the unions political officer. In Cleveland the teachers union is sponsoring ads promoting national health care not "more tax breaks for the rich."
We must wake up and realize that the Socialist Democrats have a stranglhold on our children. We must do what is necessary.
Deplorable
To all service personel..we appreciate you and your service to the USA and FREEDOM. Most Americans are squarely behind you, we just don't get great publicity. Come home safe to your families and then converge on Maine. Hopefully the Maine National Guard will forgive and forget when called upon to aid in some local calamity. I'm sure the teachers won't step forward in time of local trouble!
Our president is always talking about the importance of good education AND GOOD TEACHERS. Please send him an e-mail like I just did. The e-mail address is: president@whitehouse.gov
These teachers need to go into another line of work immediately.
Some Mainers had a few things to say about the teachers. Even on a rather cold March evening we managed to muster 50+ people and a lot of honks. Bangor managed even more.
No proof of harassment? Try this on for size ye naysayers.
This is a question I asked Ari Fleischer at a White House press briefing on Friday:
Q There have been reports out of Maine that the children of deployed
service personnel are being harassed as a result of their elementary school
teacher's expression of anti-war views in the classroom. Could you comment on
that?
MR. FLEISCHER: I'm not familiar with any specific report, but I can assure
you that the President, in all instances, believes that it's important for all
to honor and respect the first amendment.
Not the answer I was looking for, but at least I was able to get the issue in front of the mainstream press.
Jeff Gannon, thanks for getting this issue in front of the mainstream press. If enough people will e-mail the president at president@whitehouse.gov maybe it will make a difference. The president wont see the e-mails, but somebody will, and hopefully will pass it on to the president or his immediate staff. I know the president is dealing right now with issues like Iraq etc. but he should realize that these are the children of the soldiers who will fight for this country if the war breaks out, and since the president thinks its of great importance to have a good education AND GOOD TEACHERS he should, and I'm sure he will be concerned about this issue.
Now, more than ever, I am grateful we homeschool. One less thing for a deployed parent to worry about.
Personally, I'd advise all military families whose children have been harassed to pull their children out of that school. When the school districts start losing the extra money they get from military children, somebody in school admin just might notice, and start asking questions...
From past experience, I doubt much would actually be done about it. No one is harder to fire than a government employee. Don't forget the Peter Principle.
I guarentee you the "active duty" military would already have gone to the bottom of this to exactly what happened, when and by who, and then necessary steps would've been taken if necessary. Maine residents don't be to sure that a military base won't close because of something like that. All you need to be is on the list for "maybe" future closings, and then stuff like this happens with the alleged "harassing of the military kids", and if true Bingo!!!!!! that base is off the "maybe" list. What is it with the NG? First the colonel thought it was important enough to go on the O'Reilly show, and now its being played down by the NG. You've to make up your mind was it serious enough to go on the O'Reilly show? If not, you made a mountain out of a mole hill. Mental abuse by teachers if true is very serious and should get nationwide attention, but to turn around and play it down after you made it nationwide attention I don't understand. What is the real reason?
Why are they even teaching?
Count me in please.
Hi,
I read your site with symathy. Here, my son who has been assaulted terrible decided to fight back is now again the victim and accused of unprovoked assaults. When I tried to arrange meetings I was ignored.
Yet when he had a knife pulled on him or a chair smashed across his head, nothing happens.
When no teacher is present when the assualt occurs on him he is called a liar.
Only today I learned that my 4 year old, he turned 4 in August was assaulted twice by a member of staff.
Don't give up, they are children.
With all my heart.
PS My cildren's father was a Rock Ape and still working for the MOD as an instructor.
Tanya