A Lesson On Slavery?

[Cindy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081205/ap_on_re_us/slave_lesson

[Cindy]

This is wrong on so many levels.

[Truthseeker]

teacher should have known not to do that to black kids. She should have had the tied the white kids nothing would have come of it.

[Cindy]

A teacher should not do that to any child.

[Truthseeker]

A teacher should not do that to any child.

My guess is what just for demo purposes, kinda like blind folding kids say can know what it's like to be blind. if it was a black teacher I doubt it would have made the news.

[tstew]

A teacher should not do that to any child.

I agree. But at the very least, if the object lesson is deemed absolutely necessary, the teacher should have asked for volunteers regardless of race.

[Cindy]

I agree. But at the very least, if the object lesson is deemed absolutely necessary, the teacher should have asked for volunteers regardless of race.

Does it bother you as a black man? And what era did you grow up in?

[Truthseeker]

I agree. But at the very least, if the object lesson is deemed absolutely necessary, the teacher should have asked for volunteers regardless of race.


Good point, my thought is if she just grapped two black students, even if harmless intent, she opened herself for it. some do carry the race issues on their shoulders, so you got to be careful. explaining to the class the lesson and waht gonna happen and ask for volunteers would have been best.

[Truthseeker]

BTW none of us were there to know the teacher, she may be a great teacher with not racial junk but just went about a lesson the wrong way, maybe.

[Cindy]

BTW none of us were there to know the teacher, she may be a great teacher with not racial junk but just went about a lesson the wrong way, maybe.

You may be right, and I guess maybe it doesn't really bother folks as much anymore. I understand getting a point across to kids now is different, than it was when I was growing up.

[tstew]

Does it bother you as a black man? And what era did you grow up in?

I'm 32, so a lot of things that my father experienced first hand, I did not experience. I have to honestly say that I sometimes wonder how different I might be myself if I had experienced some of those things. He has demonstrated to me how big of a man he is in that regard. Having said that, if it were my daughter and she did not volunteer to have this done to her by her teacher...I fear there may have been a thread started about me here. :boxing

One other thing that I have come to grips with is that there may always be a fundamental difference in how we view different things. I personally don't mind discussing things and trying to help others see from a different perspective. It has been encouraging for me to see people even here on AFF say that I have helped them see certain things in ways that they had never seen it.

[tstew]

You may be right, and I guess maybe it doesn't really bother folks as much anymore. I understand getting a point across to kids now is different, than it was when I was growing up.

Oh no, believe me, it still bothers folk.

[Truthseeker]

You may be right, and I guess maybe it doesn't really bother folks as much anymore. I understand getting a point across to kids now is different, than it was when I was growing up.

Sometimes people do things without realizing it could be offensive. She might have been trying to get them to realize the magnitiude of what happened back then.

[Truthseeker]

I'm 32, so a lot of things that my father experienced first hand, I did not experience. I have to honestly say that I sometimes wonder how different I might be myself if I had experienced some of those things. He has demonstrated to me how big of a man he is in that regard. Having said that, if it were my daughter and she did not volunteer to have this done to her by her teacher...I fear there may have been a thread started about me here. :boxing

One other thing that I have come to grips with is that there may always be a fundamental difference in how we view different things. I personally don't mind discussing things and trying to help others see from a different perspective. It has been encouraging for me to see people even here on AFF say that I have helped them see certain things in ways that they had never seen it.



Yeah, your a great for breaching the gap.

BTW it does go both ways, I didn't know how white I was til i moved to NC. :yo

[Cindy]

I'm 32, so a lot of things that my father experienced first hand, I did not experience. I have to honestly say that I sometimes wonder how different I might be myself if I had experienced some of those things. He has demonstrated to me how big of a man he is in that regard. Having said that, if it were my daughter and she did not volunteer to have this done to her by her teacher...I fear there may have been a thread started about me here. :boxing

One other thing that I have come to grips with is that there may always be a fundamental difference in how we view different things. I personally don't mind discussing things and trying to help others see from a different perspective. It has been encouraging for me to see people even here on AFF say that I have helped them see certain things in ways that they had never seen it.

Okay, you are a few years younger than me. :D I grew up in the 60's. My mom was from Mississippi and we visited there some. There was a lot of tension in those days, that isn't as prevalent today. So it may not be as upsetting to younger people. But I would not want my child or grandchild, to be bound by any teacher as an object lesson.

[tstew]

Yeah, your a great for breaching the gap.

BTW it does go both ways, I didn't know how white I was til i moved to NC. :yo

That's funny. I didn't realize how black I was 'til we deputized through some parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Mississippi. :)

[tstew]

Okay, you are a few years younger than me. :D I grew up in the 60's. My mom was from Mississippi and we visited there some. There was a lot of tension in those days, that isn't as prevalent today. So it may not be as upsetting to younger people. But I would not want my child or grandchild, to be bound by any teacher as an object lesson.

Oh it has definitely gotten better, but it can still be upsetting. I honestly can't watch a bunch of the old classic movies and things of that nature that highlight some of the issues of some of the past eras.

[Truthseeker]

That's funny. I didn't realize how black I was 'til we deputized through some parts of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Mississippi. :)

When u coming to NC?

[tstew]

When u coming to NC?

I will probably be there near the beginning of next year. I'll definitely let you know when I know for sure.

[Truthseeker]

Oh it has definitely gotten better, but it can still be upsetting. I honestly can't watch a bunch of the old classic movies and things of that nature that highlight some of the issues of some of the past eras.

and as long as there's a devil and flesh there will always be some junk, but that's were we come in, when they see white, really white, black, black black, browns, and so on serving God together in brotherly love.

[Cindy]

I really don't think anyone that has not lived through that era, black or white, can really understand what it was like. Seriously the difference was felt as soon as you crossed the Louisiana/Mississippi line. I was a child but I remember what it felt like.

[Cindy]

and as long as there's a devil and flesh there will always be some junk, but that's were we come in, when they see white, really white, black, black black, browns, and so on serving God together in brotherly love.

Amen.

[Truthseeker]

I will probably be there near the beginning of next year. I'll definitely let you know when I know for sure.


You better or it will be on!


BTW My wife saw your pic the other day and said you look like a black Elmer Fud, no just kidding, she said you look like Emmit Smith.

[tstew]

You better or it will be on!


BTW My wife saw your pic the other day and said you look like a black Elmer Fud, no just kidding, she said you look like Emmit Smith.

That's from about two years back. I need to update.

[jaxfam6]

I do not agree with her methods but I also know that some people look for reasons to get upset and things to fuss about also.

[Truthseeker]

That's from about two years back. I need to update.

Your alot like me, your wife makes you look good!

[jaxfam6]

Your alot like me, your wife makes you look good!

believe me some of you all even your wives can not help you out.






:christmoose

[Truthseeker]

believe me some of you all even your wives can not help you out.






:christmoose

May be true with some but mie helps me tremendously.

[Jermyn Davidson]

From the article:

Aldridge said he feared that the teacher still "didn't get it" after their meeting. He said the teacher apologized "because Gabrielle was upset, not because she admitted she did something wrong."


For the teacher, Principal, and even County to act like nothing "occurred" with this teacher's actions would be quite insulting.

The teacher should simply be reassigned, upon admission that she exercised very poor judgment. I don't think anyone would argue that she had malicious intent, UNLESS she REFUSES to acknowledge just how wrong this was.

If this teacher refuses to properly "woman up" to her poor judgment, then it is as if she doesn't know that what she did was wrong. I would demand her resignation at that point.

The teacher's actions or inaction will determine, imo, if the parents sue the school system over this. I think the teacher still has time to nip this in the bud, but not much.

[tstew]

I do not agree with her methods but I also know that some people look for reasons to get upset and things to fuss about also.

That may be true, but if your child is bound against her will and made to get under her desk in front of her classmates to play the role of a slave against her will...you don't have to look too hard for reasons.

[SOUNWORTHY]

Yeah, your a great for breaching the gap.

BTW it does go both ways, I didn't know how white I was til i moved to NC. :yo

I didn't realize how white I was until I taught in an all black school and got fired because I was white.

[Bro-Larry]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081205/ap_on_re_us/slave_lesson

The world is full of bigots and idiots.

I think the teacher found a creative way to illustrate how evil and inhumane slavery is, but the news reporter showed that he/she had an agenda by focusing strictly on the reaction of stupid parent and NAACP.

The teacher should have been acknowledged for her brilliant teaching tecniques.

[tstew]

The world is full of bigots and idiots.

I think the teacher found a creative way to illustrate how evil and inhumane slavery is, but the news reporter showed that he/she had an agenda by focusing strictly on the reaction of stupid parent and NAACP.

The teacher should have been acknowledged for her brilliant teaching tecniques.

Bro. Larry, I don't think that tying up students against their will is a "brilliant teaching technique". I said before that I don't think I would have done it at all, but if it had to be done it should have been done by students who volunteered whether they were white or black. Picking out two black kids to do it against their will was stupid.

[Truthseeker]

Bro. Larry, I don't think that tying up students against their will is a "brilliant teaching technique". I said before that I don't think I would have done it at all, but if it had to be done it should have been done by students who volunteered whether they were white or black. Picking out two black kids to do it against their will was stupid.



Good point. never know how one will take such a thing. Explaining what the purpose of the demo then asking for volunteers would have been better especially with the teacher being white. If the teacher was black or students white we probably wouldn't even be discussing this. Witht the teacher being white she needs to use discretion when trying to use skits or demo for slavery or past social injustices.

[Cindy]

Well I have a problem with a teacher binding any child's hands and feet period. Volunteers or not, there should be a better way to teach the lesson.

[George]

I think people need to take the focus off of race and focus on the action of tying the student. The student should not have been tied unless he/she voluntarily agreed to it. In that case, you would have a class full of witnesses. There are too many unanswered questions in this article to factually state it was a race issue. Maybe she picked those two students because they were closest to her, or maybe because they were the top students in her class. IMO, she was giving an excellent object lesson showing why slavery was wrong. It was forcing people to do things against their will and abusing them. Her lesson obviously opposed slavery. The big question to determine if she was right or wrong is, "Did she force the child or was it a volunteer?" Did the teacher explain to the student what she was going to do and why? If I were a parent of the child who was tied, I would be glad that the teacher gave understanding of the evils of slavery. No student was going to leave that class not understanding why slavery was wrong.

[jaxfam6]

That may be true, but if your child is bound against her will and made to get under her desk in front of her classmates to play the role of a slave against her will...you don't have to look too hard for reasons.

I am not saying that is not true. I am a suspecious person. I do not always believe everything someone says. Especially when they go public with it and start getting attention.

just my nature to not trust people I guess.

[jaxfam6]

Bro. Larry, I don't think that tying up students against their will is a "brilliant teaching technique". I said before that I don't think I would have done it at all, but if it had to be done it should have been done by students who volunteered whether they were white or black. Picking out two black kids to do it against their will was stupid.

I do not always like everything that my sons teachers have said and done in class but I will say that they never forced students to do anything. It has always been voluntary. I am not sure I believe anyone was forced into this situation.

I can not imagine a teacher in todays society FORCING anyone into this type of situation. I am probably going to stay skeptical about this till I hear the teacher say she FORCED them. Not sure I have seen that anywhere yet.

[Bro-Larry]

So the girls were "upset"? Big deal!

It is not even possible for us to imagine the terror those 50 slaves, in the movie Amistad , who were manacled together and thrown into the sea to drown.

We live in a very safe and sanitized society, shielded from the brutal realities that other peoples in the world are facing everyday of their short lives.

Even when a TV infomercial showing the sufferings of people in Africa and Asia comes on, I've seen people hurriedly turn it off. They just don't want to see it.

How does the "upset" of those girls, stack up on a scale, when compared to the real terror that is faced everyday by millions. I reread the article and no where does it say they were bound against their wills.

I'm not trying to be uncaring here, just realistic.

[tstew]

Good point. never know how one will take such a thing. Explaining what the purpose of the demo then asking for volunteers would have been better especially with the teacher being white. If the teacher was black or students white we probably wouldn't even be discussing this. Witht the teacher being white she needs to use discretion when trying to use skits or demo for slavery or past social injustices.

If a black teacher had tied up white students who did not ask to be tied up and made them get under their desks to "experience slavery", I'm sure there would have been a outcry. I myself would have been opposed to it. He or she would have probably been percieved as an "angry, militant black" who needed to get over slavery and stop trying to punish the young white kids who had nothing to do with it. Particularly, if the class was predominately black and he chose two white kids to do it to. Either way, it is a stupid thing to do.
Based on what I read in the story, it does not appear that these were students who volunteered for this...if that were the case, I certainly would have expected the teacher to point that out immediately after being questioned.

[tstew]

So the girls were "upset"? Big deal!

It is not even possible for us to imagine the terror those 50 slaves, in the movie Amistad , who were manacled together and thrown into the sea to drown.

We live in a very safe and sanitized society, shielded from the brutal realities that other peoples in the world are facing everyday of their short lives.

Even when a TV infomercial showing the sufferings of people in Africa and Asia comes on, I've seen people hurriedly turn it off. They just don't want to see it.

How does the "upset" of those girls, stack up on a scale, when compared to the real terror that is faced everyday by millions. I reread the article and no where does it say they were bound against their wills.

I'm not trying to be uncaring here, just realistic.

BRo, Larry, I see what you're saying, but it is kind of ironic to me that in your post you still didn't address the real life horror. Those "slaves in the movie Amistad" got up at the end of the scene, collected their paychecks, and lived happily ever after. There was no terror there. Real life was exponentially worse.

[Truthseeker]

If a black teacher had tied up white students who did not ask to be tied up and made them get under their desks to "experience slavery", I'm sure there would have been a outcry. I myself would have been opposed to it. He or she would have probably been percieved as an "angry, militant black" who needed to get over slavery and stop trying to punish the young white kids who had nothing to do with it. Particularly, if the class was predominately black and he chose two white kids to do it to. Either way, it is a stupid thing to do.
Based on what I read in the story, it does not appear that these were students who volunteered for this...if that were the case, I certainly would have expected the teacher to point that out immediately after being questioned.

I guess we don't know if it was against there will. My main point was that the teacher being white dealing with black issues has to use caution, sometimes white people can say or do something considered offensive because of the sensitivity of past injustices. I have doubts it would have caused the same emotional response by the students if the teacher was black because of the being tied up based on your race by the oppressing race.

[Praxeas]

A teacher should not do that to any child.

If we did not have a history involved in slavery and if our PC society was not so sensitive, I believe this object lesson would have gone un-noticed

[Praxeas]

I agree. But at the very least, if the object lesson is deemed absolutely necessary, the teacher should have asked for volunteers regardless of race.

And or make it a non-race issue. Use kids from different races/ethnics.

Slavery was not always about race alone. Some races enslaved their own race. Some enslaved the multiple races of another nation.

[Bro-Larry]

BRo, Larry, I see what you're saying, but it is kind of ironic to me that in your post you still didn't address the real life horror. Those "slaves in the movie Amistad" got up at the end of the scene, collected their paychecks, and lived happily ever after. There was no terror there. Real life was exponentially worse.

Amistad is based on facts.