Teacher Accused of Giving Liberal Quiz

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/11/25/liberal.quiz.ap/index.html

A teacher in Bennington, Vermont is being questioned by the administration of Mount Anthony Union Highschool about a quiz given earlier in the semester. The vocabulary quiz was said to include derogatory statements about President George Bush and the Republican Party. One of the questions read, "I wish Bush would be (coherent, eschewed) for once during a speech, but there are theories that his every day diction charms the below average mind, hence ensuring him Republican votes." The administration found this to be bias that was inappropriate for the classroom.

Although as a, ahem politicaly "progressive" citizen, I found such antics quite humerous. However, I can understand how such a quiz could cause controversy. In such a time of political polarity, there are plenty of toes to step on. This particualar incident brings up an important issue in this politically heated time. Should teachers be allowed to infringe their political beliefs on their students? Based on the First Ammendment, they should at least be able to voice their opinion. However, such input seems forced when it is inserted into school work. This kind of infringement of personal beliefs can cause distance between a teacher and their students, as well as cause students to feel uncomfortable in their learning environment.

I think that anyone who is truly interested in politics and argumentation should be able to share their views, while sharing the views of the opposing side equally. Such a presentation of information paired with knowledge of deductive reasoning skills would allow students to analyze both sides and make their own decisions.

In the end, Bret Chenkin, the teacher in question, decided to do just that. He claimed that he had no problem throwing in views from both political parties.