Reading, Writing, And Political Activism?

North Carolina Teacher Caught On Tape Teaching Pro-Obama Lessons

A North Carolina superintendent said Friday that he was "shocked" after viewing video footage of an elementary school teacher harshly questioning a student in class for supporting John McCain.

William Harrison, superintendent of Cumberland County Schools in Fayetteville, has launched an investigation of the teacher, Diatha Harris, and has promised to bring disciplinary action.

In a video produced by a Swedish production company and posted on YouTube, Harris is seen asking her elementary school students whom they support for president. She tells them that they can support whomever they want, but when one student says John McCain, Harris responds derisively, "Oh my, John McCain." When another student said she supports McCain, Harris replies, "Oh Jesus, John McCain." [...]

Harris also asks a female student to explain why she supports Obama, to which the student replies that Obama meant change -- such as ending the war in Iraq.

"So in other words, Barack is going to end that war in Iraq," Harris said before turning to a girl who had announced her support for McCain. "Now talk to me, because your dad is in the military. Talk."

The student doesn't say anything, but Harris goes on.

"It's a senseless war. And by the way, the person that you're picking for president said that our troops could stay in Iraq for another hundred years if they need to," Harris said. "So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years."

Harris has apologized and the parents have forgiven her; but this crosses the line. Harris is a bully and has no business teaching children. It is not acceptable to foist your political agenda on children in the classroom. We don't choose teachers just because they can teach their subject, we expect them to show good judgment as well. For that, Ms. Harris gets a failing grade. Thank God that film crew was there.