Classroom Politics in Racine

A mother in Wisconsin is questioning the Racine Unified School District's decision to use a textbook featuring a chapter on Barack Obama. She expressed her displeasure that neither John McCain nor any other politicians were predominately mentioned in the McDougal-Littell Literature, 8th Grade textbook. "McCain is a prisoner of war—that's a story in itself," she said. "Or Dick Cheney's wife has written children's stories. Was that in any of their books?"

The selections, taken from Obama's 2004 Democratic National Convention speech and his autobiography, Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, were selected by a panel of educators within the district. The school system claims it does not support any presidential candidate and that the selection was made to provide a "contemporary and multicultural figure to explore." The 2009 textbook has had the chapter removed.

Do you think this mother's concerns are well-founded?

In related news, the United Federation of Teachers recently sued for the rights of NYC public school teachers to distribute campaign materials in areas off-limits to students and to wear buttons endorsing particular presidential candidates. The court decided in favor of distributing election materials among other teachers but against teachers' wearing political buttons in the classroom. Read the UFT press release here and New York Times commentary on the issue here.

Comments

[Stephanie Cummings]

I believe that the mother had a legitimate concern with the selection made by the school of a current political candidate. When there are many political and/or public figures of diverse backgrounds who can provide an example of strength and fortitude. As a teacher, I believer our job is much like a TRUE journalist. Just present the facts and leave out the editorials. It is not our place to put our opinions or beliefs in the heads of our students but rather to help them realize and develop their own.

[Kenny Carlson]

I share the same concern with the mother in Racine. The panel of school educators claimed they wanted a selection that talked about a contemporary and multicultural figure to explore. There are many other influential multicultural figures that they school board could have explored. Also, instead of focusing on just one figure they should have chosen two or three people to focus on. They could have chosen such figures as Tiger Woods, Condeleeza Rice or Colin Powell. I know these aren't the best examples but the school district should have included several people as examples instead of just one. I agree with Stephanie Cummings when she said that it is not a school district's place to put our opinions or beliefs in the head of our students. We needs to put multiple options out their for our students and allow them to make their own decisions about issues that concern the world around them. As teachers, we need to give our students a variety of options so they become better informed and can make their own decisions.

[Arlene Hartman]

Knowing the lag time between writing and publishing a textbook, my best guess is that the publisher included that excerpt well before anyone could have imagined Obama and the nominee. When it actually transpired last spring, it was too late to remove. To alleviate concerns from this particular parent, the school could create its own 'booklet' about McCain.

[Myrna Greenberg]

I totally agree with this mother and I am absolutely appalled that McDougall-littell(who has the contract for the language Arts books this year and prvious year is up for reelection!) had the"AUDACITY" to put this person in their book about the elections-shows the bias of the ultra-liberal press we are saddled with in our newspapers and magazines. We have to show our children all sides of the political spectrum-just as we took out all the discussion of slavery, KKK and Holocaust information from our books. We are sanatizing the press and now our school literature to show only one view-THAT OF THE EDITORS of these books. Shame on you!

[Kimberly]

As a parent in Racine, what this story doesn't tell is that beyond the textbook. In my daughter's elementary school, the principal shared his political backing and his daughter's brush with celebrity Obama. A parent complained about the one-sidedness within the school, and an assembly was held for all of the students. Even after the assembly, while Obama students can speak freely, some supporting McCain have been pulled in to the principal's office for "bullying" others. My question is "Why is it freedom of speech when it's Obama and bullying when it's for McCain?" We're entering dangerous territory when we deny Constitutional rights to one group because of support of another.

[Bob Keeley]

I am for Barack. I have talked about Barack and McCain in my classes and tried to indicate to the kids that both men are good Americans. I also see that Barack's major address was a landmark for a speaker in American politics and in American history both.
In the current situation, in my view, the mother is correct. The chapter should be studied by the children after the election and studied for what it is, a great step forward by a United States Senator--both as an historical and a political landmark. At that time, or by that time, a speech by John McCAin (especially one in which he tells the very moving story of his fellow wartime prisoner's sewing up an American Flag after the enemy prison guards had snatched the one the American prisoners had been using for their evening daily 'salute to the flag') could be found, printed and copied for the students to study too.
We should give equal time and esp this time when two incredible Americans are running for the high office of the land.
The best way perhaps in a perfect world, if this school in question is a High School and these are HS kids, would be to find a way to have a school-wide debate or mock election in the school with both debate sides being presented and/or have adult local elected officials come in and address the kids, one speaking for McCain and one for Barack Obama.
After all, the current HS seniors can vote and others are but a year to three away from voting too.
Thank you.
Bob Keeley, teacher,
Chicago Public Schools

[Nancy Brown]

I absolutely agree with this mother. After the election, if they want to focus on his fatherly advice, fine, but pre-election, it sways the mind.

[Mary Lou Schultz]

I think the mother is wrong. Dreams from My Father was written in 1995, long before Obama, or anyone for that matter, thought he would be a candidate for President. Eighth graders are capable of reading and analyzing this autobiography, and they are ready and eager to develop critical thinking skills. Censorship attempts like this one must be resisted, even if we feel uncomfortable with the ideas expressed by the author.

[Steve Stanage]

I agree with the concerned mother and the posted comments. It is hard in this day and age to believe that the decision to include Mr. Obama in the text book was simply an attempt to highlight an interesting life. The timing of such is not an accident. The same would apply for a book on Mr. McCain. Political agendas to present a view to influence others. Certainly appropriate in other circumstances, but not in this one.

[Cynthia White]

The Obama piece, written in 1995, is LITERATURE, not political publication, and should be treated as such by teachers and parents. The Racine mother needs to be more open minded.

[Joy Pamperin]

I don't understand while everyone has to always look for a motive behind everything, even when the motive is not what is assumed. Books are being worked on for years before they are published and released to schools. I think the mother is completely in the wrong. There is no reason why someone can't be talked about. Are those kids going to be voting anyway? Would she be making as big of a deal out of it if it was some other candidate? I think there is more information needed in order to really see what the parent's issue with this is. If it is indeed only giving a multi cultural view of someone, there is nothing wrong with that. People just need to relax more in life.