My wife let me know about this outrageous behavior.
A preschool teacher in Norco, California was caught on film leading a political chant in which the 4 and 5-year-old students were calling for President Joe Biden to leave office.
The video lasts only about eight seconds. You can hear a teacher asking the students, “Who’s our President.” The students then respond in unison, “Biden!” The teacher then asks the students “What do we want to do with him?” and the students respond twice, “We want him out!”
The video was posted on a school messaging app that is used to communicate with parents, and was removed about three hours after it was first posted. In its place, a school administrator left a message for the families to whom the video was sent:
Dr. Tyrone Howard, a professor of education at UCLA, said he doesn’t feel what was shown in the video is appropriate behavior by the teacher:
“I’ve always believed the role of teachers is not to indoctrinate students about what to think,. “It’s to help develop critical thinking skills so students can make their own decisions. I know private schools operate under a different set of guidelines and procedures. But I don’t know even in a private domain that those leadership officials would want teachers telling their students what to think about a particular political figure.”
In my opinion, this teacher’s behavior is completely unacceptable. While I am sure the students have no idea of the meaning of what they are chanting, it still does not make it right to teach them to chant such things.
By the way, I think most readers know that I supported Biden during the last election, and that I was not a fan of Trump going all of the way back to when he ran against Hillary Clinton. However, I would have been just as outraged if a teacher pulled such a stunt while Trump was President.
I will admit though, that if I saw a video of a group of preschool children in Russia chanting to get rid of Putin, I’m not sure if I would have a problem.
Does that mean I have a double standard? I don’t know; I hope not.
To me, the differences between the two individuals, Biden and Putin, are clear, and I can justify my reasoning above.
But as always, these are just my opinions. I’d love to hear what your thoughts are…
*image from CNN
Wow! Yes, very unprofressional of the teacher, no matter who the President is. And that is an interesting question about Putin. I would feel sorry for the teacher for they probably wouldn’t be alive long after Putin found out.
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you’re right. it would take a lot of nerve for someone in Russia to say such a thing about Putin…
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At least the teacher got it right about who is president. Many of the rabid Fox News crowd would dispute that. It must be tough to support the twice-impeached former president who tried his every trick in the book and then some to openly steal a valid U.S. national election. Maybe they think fantasizing that Trump’s successor is a monster will allow them to forget about Trump’s betrayal of the most fundamental principle of American democracy (elections are decided by the people not the person in power) and they can feel better about themselves for willingly going along with it.
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well said, John. a lot of those supporters are just trying to distract people and get them to look the other way…
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Hi Jim, it is never appropriate for authority figures to sway the thinking (or behavior) of children. That principle must apply regardless of the individual in question. If it is acceptable to manipulate thinking one way because we believe Putin is on the wrong, then why would it be wrong for Putin/Hitler to indoctrinate children in the classroom? Principles must always be upheld, regardless of our personal views on the circumstances.
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well said, Robbie. Perhaps what is most important is to teach kids right from wrong, and then they can figure things out on their own from there…
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I’m not sure I ever had an administrator tell me not to bring politics into my classroom, but the 5th-grade curriculum for social studies was U.S. History. However, we primarily focused on past history rather than current events. I also was the Student Council Advisor, and we constructed voting booths out of refrigerator boxes. The kids got to vote for Student Council representatives, but they had to register in advance to cast their ballot. I attempted to teach them something about the process.
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I think it’s fine to bring politics into the classroom, particularly about how the process works. It’s when you try to sway the opinion os young minds based on your own personal beliefs that it becomes problematic. Did you have people monitoring those voting booths? 🙂
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A perfect example of this in our area is the logging vs. environmental debate. We don’t have as many lumber mills and sawmills now, but at one time, it was the predominant industry in our area. On the other hand, California is generally a liberal state that is pro-environment. Like most issues, I can see both sides of things, and I felt my role was trying to have the kids understand the opposing viewpoints. By 5th and 6th grade, they already had many of their views established, undoubtedly influenced by their parents. It was an interesting dynamic to hear kids intensely passionate one way or the other. It was like their parents were in the room even though they weren’t.
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that would have been interesting to observe. and I agree that one of the key role of an educator is to expose students to the various sides of an issue, and then let them start forming their own opinion…
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Political indoctrination is being advanced in many western education establishments particularly via history and social history curricula. It’s crept up on us covertly over many years since the Blair era here in the UK, so I have no surprise that an overt show of bias one way or the other suddenly pops up. Do I agree with it? No, the teacher should be suspended and parents consulted on the outcome.
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well said, Dr. B. it shouldn’t be a surprise, given how poloarized many countries hve become, tht such polarization works its way into the classroom…
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I went to Junior School during the 1950s, when reading, writing and arithmetic formed the base of early education. Physical education and nature studies played a part too. Then at secondary school education involved only the usual classic subjects, maths, physics, chemistry, history, geography, English language, English literature, French and Latin. Not a hint of politics inside any of those subjects and teachers were real specialists. I wonder what are the core subjects now and why is a child or student so different today in their needs?
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that’s a good question. the basics seemed to work for you and I…
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Teachers are meant to educate not indoctrinate. When an adult’s decision process gets to this being a good idea for their wards, then maybe they should not be allowed to teach anymore.
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agreed; become an activist if you are so passionate abot such issues. the classroom should not be a bully pulpit…
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I agree. This is unacceptable especially being that these are impressionable minds. There is nothing wrong in educating children on politics but 4-5 years is a bit too young in my opinion, especially when it is this extreme. Even as a Uni student, I don’t appreciate a class setting where students are not allowed to disagree with the teacher(respectfully of course) , it allows for critical thinking and it prevents systemic bias.
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agreed that collge classes should allow for an open exchange of opinions – it’s how we learn…
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The teacher should be fired for brainwashing at the very least.
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agreed!
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Seems to me like some people take their politics way too seriously for their own good. I’ll bet that teacher is in a lot of trouble now, and perhaps looking for a new job. Politics can be a very touchy and dangerous ground to venture onto, and in my view it’s more trouble than it’s worth, most of the time.
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that’s why I rarely bring it up, but this just seemed too outrageous to pass up. I don’t know what the fate of the teacher will be, but I would have no problem if she was fired. She can work as an activist instead…
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Yeah, maybe the local GOP office is hiring nut jobs.
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so that’s where all the missing workers are – they’ve joined political campaigns…
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They’re helping candidates get elected who are promising to fix the broken supply chain.
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hopefully by the time there are any new people in office, the supply chain will be almost back to normal…
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And then everyone will be back to the ol’ chain gang.
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and they’ll start wishing for the good old days, when there were serious supply chain issues…
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And when you could walk into a bank wearing a mask, and no one thought anything of it.
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given how rare it is for me to actually go into a bank, we may approach the point where the only people going to the bank are going there to rob it…
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Fortunately for them, they won’t have to wait in a very long line.
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unfortunately, people who eneter a bank may someday automatically set off a silent alarm because of profiling and analytics…
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If it happens to me, I’ll let off something silent also.
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🙂
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I so agree with you, this is totally unacceptable and unprofessional behavior on the teacher’s part. I’d say the difference between the two presidents is that our president is not purposely killing innocent people.
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that’s a good way to explain the difference…
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If I were the parent of one of those students, I would be asking for that teacher’s resignation.
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I’d be quite upset as well. Apparently only one parent was upset enough to go public with what happened…
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That’s scary.
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agreed…
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That video is as bad an advert for the school as the spelling in their apology. It is totally wrong for kids to be indoctrinated in such a manner and I hope the teacher has been fired, as they are clearly unsuited to the job.
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I’m glad I was not the only one who noted the poor grammar in the school’s press release. I agree that the teacher should be fired…
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I’m not a Biden fan, and still I think that is inappropriate. Respect for the office if nothing else. I also didn’t like when they did it to President Trump. Sigh. Where has civility and patriotism gone?
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exactly, it’s a simple matter of respect, which along with civility and patriotism, seem to have disappeared..
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A sad example,of manipulating children.
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exactly…
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Wow. Just. . . wow.
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that’s about all one can say…
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Despicable and unprofessional behaviour by a so-called educator. Having said that, i have a feeling that there is a lot of brainwashing tactics by teachers in many classrooms in America. This is in part, how you get generation after generation to side with backward policies and party lines.
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well said, Margie. and I fear you may be right about this not being an isolated incident…
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Hmmm. School students and indoctrinating chants: pledge of allegiance, anyone?
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I don’t mind the pledge of allegiance; it’s one thing most of us have in common in the U.S.
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Schools should not be involved in political activism. They’re job should be to build a bedrock of understanding which students can build on to form their own political opinions. So I agree with you that this is disturbing and wrong, even though I believe that Joe Biden is the worst President in my lifetime and that his election was an absolute disaster for our country and the world. I know what you mean about the anti-Putin chants. That probably does make you a hypocrite, but maybe that’s ok. I don’t know what my response would be either.
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at least we agree this is wrong, and not the role of an educator. a teacher can expose a student to the various sides of an issue, and then let the students form their own opinion.
with regard to Putin, it’s like if you knew in advance how terrible Hitler would be, would it have been ok to start anti-Hitler chants as a teacher. It goes against my belief that teachers should not indoctrinate students, but maybe it could be couched in terms of understanding right from wrong…
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It’s also interesting to note that Hitler was famous for indoctrinating young people. That was a facet of what made him evil.
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I guess you can use your charisma for good or eveil…
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Boring people have a more difficult time being evil.
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I guess that measns the world is safe from any of my political beliefs…
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Ha!
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👍
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This is not any more right than having Pete Buttiegiegs’s spouse lead a classroom of children in a pledge of allegiance to the gay pride flag.
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I have not heard of that – without knowing much about it, that does not sound right either. there is just one pledge of allegiance…
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I think it’s wrong to indoctrinate children no matter who it’s against. When they are old enough to understand politics they should be allowed to form their own opinions.
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I think I agree with you; but sometimes it’s hard not to speak your mind. But there is a time and palce for that, and school is not one of them, at least not preschool…
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I mean it makes sense if it’s your kids and you may want to teach them about politics but if you’re a teacher you need to keep your political opinions to yourself.
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agreed, politics should be out of the classroom, at least at such a young age…
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Agreed. We need to respect our leaders and not force innocent children to chant things.
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well said – that could have been my whole blog post!
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I could say much here but I won’t except to say I agree with Robbie, Brad and Jacquie to name a few…But I do hope that teacher is now job searching as there was no mention of that in the apology…
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yes, I would hope so as well…
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As a teacher I would never impose my beliefs or opinions on children. My job (although I hate that word) is to open minds. I feel sad when students tell me that the president is a bad man, etc. They are voicing their parents. Yet… Putin? If a child asked me, I would probably say that I think he is a bad man and explain why. Evil is not a double standard.
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I agree that teachers should not be trying to influence such young minds politically. And I like the basis of your argument against Putin
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Thanks, Jim.
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👍
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Oh jeez, I hate reading stories like this with people pushing their own agendas on others especially young kids/first graders! Find people your own age to bug, c’mon! Sheeeshh!
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I agree – it’s way too young. Pick on someone your own size 🙂
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I remember when my Mom was definitely not a fan of George W. Bush and a big fan of Jon Stewart. So I repeated a clever but insulting Bush bashing quote by Stewart and was shocked when she didn’t laugh. She told me he was President of the United States and he deserved some respect.
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I think I would have laughed, but I don’t think that would have meant I was showing disrepect to the President…
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That is the same position I took with my Mom who in fairness was not criticizing me as much as defending her right not to laugh at things I report. I like to think she struggled to keep a poker face on so much of what I had to say. Either that or I have to face being less funny than I imagine.😎
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I tell myself the same thing when I tell a joke to my students, and there’s no reaction. I know they are struggling to keep their laughter inside… 🙂
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It’s appalling when these brainwashing cultists pose as teachers!
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love that phrase – brainwashing cultist! 🙂
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Lol, feel free to use it 🙂
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👍
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And that is exactly why I am thankful I don’t go to school these days. I would have been kicked out way too many times if a teacher came close to saying anything like that. Leave kids alone. Let them be kids. They don’t need to know all the adult stuff. I began to study politics when I was probably around 16. Everything that came earlier was other people’s opinions. I saw that as only that. However, back in the day, even if I was indoctrinated, I could not do anything about it. I could not vote, I could not spout hate on social media, I could not start protests, etc. Things were different. Now, you have three-year-olds yelling into the camera what they think about this person or that. Anything for publicity – their parents think. And then the kid grows up and does not have a single brain self to think for themselves objectively.
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well said, Goldie! people teaching such young people should keep their opinions to themselves
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