Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge? The press is having a field day looking into Hillary Clinton's "red phone" 3 am ad -- first finding out that the little girl (now teenager) who is pictured in the ad is an Obama supporter, and now pointing out that some of Clinton's "experience" wasn't all that substantive (“Red Phone Moments” In Bosnia).
This makes me wonder whether anyone's bothered to investigate Obama claims -- in particular the speech he gives about going to Dodge Elementary School in Chicago and hearing from a teacher that some teachers talk about the mostly-minority, mostly-poor students as "these kids."
Has anyone found the teacher and talked to her? Did this really happen the way Obama tells it? Does she feel comfortable being an Obama show pony?
Digg
Del.icio.us
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
I actually did talk to her last summer and she was quite proud of her comments and felt glad that Obama had grabbed on to them. That was before current Obamania, so I'm not sure if she's changed her mind, but based on her attitude about it last year, I highly doubt if she would have changed her mind...
Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
This is your silliest post ever; I laughed out loud last week when you claimed you were under fire for being tough on Obama; now comes this hard hitting 'investigation' of Obama's fairy story starring teachers as the big bad wolves, like I care how he fabricated an excuse to slam teachers. But of course, before we ask Barack if he'd like a pillow, it HAS to be prefaced with the latest garbage 'accusation' against Clinton, mainly that actors who pose and are paid to be in stock footage for advertising have personal political views.
Why not break the story on how the model for Crest commercials really uses Colgate? How is this a scandal? I doubt Hillary's people are embarassed by the obvious desperation of such a charge.
And honestly, Alexander, how lazy are you? You post a link to a Rolling Stone rehash of a Washington Post article? Do you think we are too dumb to read actual newspaper articles? It would have taken just one more click on your part, and for those who didn't click at all, the foreign policy analyst who is judging Hillary's skills in the Post article is - Sinbad? No, not the sailor, the comedian and really bad actor.
Is Sinbad Obama's new foreign policy advisor? This is who they picked to replace Samantha Power?
Perfect, I love it.
Why not break the story on how the model for Crest commercials really uses Colgate? How is this a scandal? I doubt Hillary's people are embarassed by the obvious desperation of such a charge.
And honestly, Alexander, how lazy are you? You post a link to a Rolling Stone rehash of a Washington Post article? Do you think we are too dumb to read actual newspaper articles? It would have taken just one more click on your part, and for those who didn't click at all, the foreign policy analyst who is judging Hillary's skills in the Post article is - Sinbad? No, not the sailor, the comedian and really bad actor.
Is Sinbad Obama's new foreign policy advisor? This is who they picked to replace Samantha Power?
Perfect, I love it.
Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
Rather than gush into "investigative reporting" like something out of the National Inquirer, does anyone here want to take a look at the two candidates' positions on the main issues facing teachers on this blog: No Child Left Behind and (its twin, but not always linked) privatization.
Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have lengthy records on public education -- from the Senate back to their previous activities. Where do they stand now? What are their advisors up to? How do they intend to vote (as U.S. Senators) if there were a vote on NCLB between now and November?
Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have lengthy records on public education -- from the Senate back to their previous activities. Where do they stand now? What are their advisors up to? How do they intend to vote (as U.S. Senators) if there were a vote on NCLB between now and November?
Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
I have been in many, many schools in Chicago and across the country and the number of teachers who fall back on the 'these kids' excuse for the poor performance of their schools is astounding. What is even more astounding is that many times the teacher is of the same race/ethnicity of the 'kids' he/she is commenting upon. The teacher from Dodge is correct--they are all our kids. If we insist on 'otherizing' our responsibility as educators I think it is time to seek another profession.
Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
Yeah..."those teachers" are a problem!
Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 2:43 AM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
This thread sounds like some generalized teacher bashing -- courtesy of Catalyst and the Obama campaign? If this kind of "Good Teacher / Bad Teacher" stuff is going to come out of one of the Democratic Party candidates, it's worth a discussion. But there's no point in furthering this thread if everyone remains anonymous and each "example" oooozes out like a thread a saliva from a crack in some rock.
If you have an example, share it and stand by it by signing your own name. Otherwise, what's your point besides a little defamation with your morning coffee?
If you have an example, share it and stand by it by signing your own name. Otherwise, what's your point besides a little defamation with your morning coffee?
Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
George knows all about defamation!
Mon Mar 17, 2008 at 12:31 AM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
As soon as teachers learn to stop playing "Good Teacher - Bad Teacher" and playing into the hands of the attacks on public education from Daley, Duncan and their handlers, teachergirl might have something to add here.
Of course, that would require dropping the fig leaf of anonymity and showing some stuff...
Of course, that would require dropping the fig leaf of anonymity and showing some stuff...
Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
Better question; should those who allegedly stereotyped 'these kids' be held in higher or equal contempt as those who characterize as bitter 'those people' in 'these small towns', 'clinging to their guns and religion'?
But hey, no condescension there.
But hey, no condescension there.
Sun Apr 13, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Who Is The "These Kids" Teacher At Dodge?
Any politician from Chicago's South Side who knows the price of soy milk or "free range chicken" at Whole Foods -- but not how much more real milk costs at Butera or Aldi this week as opposed to two years ago -- had better take a closer looks at some of the daily realities of the Democratic Party's base.
Also, anyone who gets glib about gun control and doesn't ask his own neighbors how many of them own guns (and why) is a bit out of touch. How many men and women on Chicago's west side or south side will really give up their right to own guns, legal or otherwise, in the face of history and contemporary reality? The survival of many families in rural Mississippi for generations was helped by the fact that the guys in the sheets knew that the crazy coot in the cabin in the middle of nowhere had at least two shotguns -- and his wife was a better shot than he was.
There's been a lot of nonsense spoken the past few months trying to graft South Side political reality on to a Hyde Park sensibility. Maybe some things will improve now that Pennsylvania and Indiana are center stage.
And for anyone who wants, I've got dozens of nice photographs of Barack Obama touting Todd Stroger at the "Labor for Stroger" rally the night before the election two years ago. So what? The only reason Stroger is the whipping boy and Arne Duncan isn't is that the Chicago Sun-Times has the biggest white blindspot in history right now. For every hundred thousand dollar hack hired by Todd, there are 20 or 30 taken in by Arne Duncan, often on Mayor Daley's orders.
But, then, "reality" for bloggers is what is officially published by an official "reporter" in an official newspaper. Hence, the Sun-Times attacks on the Stroger family are OK, while the blackout on critical cost analysis of CPS (which is way out of control) is ignored, first in the official corporate press and then, natually, here in Blogoland.
I like the fact that Barack Obama is a South Side Chicago politician and plan on voting for him. But not because he's somebody's mythic saint.
He should have spent more time with his party, the union base (which helped created him as a player statewide, thanks to Debbie Lynch and the teachers, followed later by the other unions), and State Senate roots -- and less time around 61st and Woodlawn or 57th and Harper.
He wouldn't be having these problems now if he had.
Also, anyone who gets glib about gun control and doesn't ask his own neighbors how many of them own guns (and why) is a bit out of touch. How many men and women on Chicago's west side or south side will really give up their right to own guns, legal or otherwise, in the face of history and contemporary reality? The survival of many families in rural Mississippi for generations was helped by the fact that the guys in the sheets knew that the crazy coot in the cabin in the middle of nowhere had at least two shotguns -- and his wife was a better shot than he was.
There's been a lot of nonsense spoken the past few months trying to graft South Side political reality on to a Hyde Park sensibility. Maybe some things will improve now that Pennsylvania and Indiana are center stage.
And for anyone who wants, I've got dozens of nice photographs of Barack Obama touting Todd Stroger at the "Labor for Stroger" rally the night before the election two years ago. So what? The only reason Stroger is the whipping boy and Arne Duncan isn't is that the Chicago Sun-Times has the biggest white blindspot in history right now. For every hundred thousand dollar hack hired by Todd, there are 20 or 30 taken in by Arne Duncan, often on Mayor Daley's orders.
But, then, "reality" for bloggers is what is officially published by an official "reporter" in an official newspaper. Hence, the Sun-Times attacks on the Stroger family are OK, while the blackout on critical cost analysis of CPS (which is way out of control) is ignored, first in the official corporate press and then, natually, here in Blogoland.
I like the fact that Barack Obama is a South Side Chicago politician and plan on voting for him. But not because he's somebody's mythic saint.
He should have spent more time with his party, the union base (which helped created him as a player statewide, thanks to Debbie Lynch and the teachers, followed later by the other unions), and State Senate roots -- and less time around 61st and Woodlawn or 57th and Harper.
He wouldn't be having these problems now if he had.
By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. District 299 reserves the right to delete or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule, and to ban anyone who violates this rule. Reader comments are limited to 500 words.
