Richard Noggin Saturday: Diatha D. Harris
Posted by BuelahMan on November 8, 2008
Jonathon Turley had a post up that discussed a Swedish video of a North Carolina (Thanks for the h/t, Rev) teacher and her 5th grade class discussing the presidential race. In this video, Diatha D. Harris of Mary McArthur Elementary School shows a misguided effort to sway the mind of a very young girl in her class whose father is in the military by the threat of McCain’s 100 year war in Iraq.
Now, as she says in the interview portion close to the end, she can think whatever she wants to, but one cannot discount that she strong armed (brow beat, to use her words) this child with fear and even seems an attempt to place a wedge between this girl and her parents.
After one of her students said that she would support McCain because her family did (and coincidentally her father was in the military) Mrs Harris said, “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. So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years.”
“So that means your Daddy can stay in the military for another hundred years.” (And then waited with a deliberate scare chill in the air.)
Then the “Oh, Jesus” card comes out towards those children who said McCain:
“If any of you are pulling for John McCain, that’s fine, say him as well. Who you pulling for?”
One child, “John McCain”
“Oh, Lord. John McCain.”
Another child, “John McCain.”
“Oh, Jesus, John McCain.”
“So, in other words, ‘Barack is Going To End That War In Iraq’.”
Here’s my bitch: the woman is totally acceptable of Obama and does not use the “Lord Jesus, what is wrong with these kids” type of attitude, while on the other hand, she ensures that there is a near belittlement and a questioning of the children that said “McCain”.
Anyone who has read here knows that I agree with her sentiment in many ways, but what I don’t agree with is filling children’s heads with her feelings that if they support John McCain, there is something wrong with them. These aren’t adults. I don’t address children in this light over ANY subject, especially something this divisive and anti-parent.
She should be held accountable, but even more… I hope this was not rampant (even though I would not be surprised if it were).
I do agree with idea that “The Iraq war is senseless.” However, to say that to a child whose parent serves is scary bullshit.
This entry was posted on November 8, 2008 at 1:04 pm and is filed under 2008 Presidential Election, Barack Obama, Iraq War, John McCain, Jonathon Turley, Richard Noggin Saturday, Video. Tagged: Diatha Harris, Mary McArthur Elementary School. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
RevJATB said
The video is from Swedish television, not Swiss. And the school is in North Carolina, not Arkansas.
BuelahMan said
Thanks for the head’s up, Rev.
Ed said
wtf….I thought there were rules dealing with this kind of $hit. Specifically teachers forcing or voicing there Opinion on students / children. I do believe it all started with teachers in the late 70’s early 80’s who chose to voice there religion / opinion while they were supposed to be teaching a defined curricula.
You know what I think of the wars, same as you. But for this ‘teacher’ to abuse the children this way is unacceptable. These are children. She said it plain as day it’s ‘Her Opinion’. Her opinion does not matter while she is on the job teaching.
And you wonder why kids heads are so screwed up these days. She thinks Obama is different from the others. Boy….wont she be surprised.
Attilio Ciampini said
Hope this teacher will be fire..Not fare for the little girl
Attilio Ciampini said
Fire the teacher
Brian said
Children can’t vote anyway, so what does she care? Trying to sway the political leanings of children (who for the most part don’t have them to begin with) in a public school setting is wholly inappropriate, no matter who’s side you’re on.
Roschelle said
I saw this video on a conservative blog I accidentally happened upon. I think this woman is an insult to teachers everywhere. Those poor kids that showed support for McCain looked scared shitless. And the poor little girl who’s dad is in Iraq was almost to the point of tears. It’s okay to allow for class discussion but she should have kept her “Lord Jesus” and any of her other opinions to herself.
What a poor poor excuse for a teacher
Craig Knapp said
Just sent a letter to the Fayetteville (NC) Observer Editor regarding the article published in the Fayetteville Observer dated 08 NOV 2008 about the Fayetteville teacher Ms. Diatha D. Harris/
Will let you know if it gets published
11 November 2008
With freedom of speech comes the responsibility to accept the consequences of your words and actions. Ms. Diatha D. Harris should be summarily fired for using scare tactics in the classroom and for possessing less than a basic understanding of history.
Telling a fifth grader that her “daddy could stay in the military for another 100 years” is irresponsible in the aspect that fifth grader cannot understand the hyperbole of the statement. Since most civilians join the Army at the age of 18-20, it is virtually impossible for the child’s “daddy” to stay on active duty until the age of 118-120. Ms. Harris is apparently unaware that it is also difficult for this girls “daddy” to serve more than 30 years due to age and time in service limitations. The teacher’s remarks were meant to scare the children and should not be tolerated.
If Ms. Harris meant that the US Army could be involved in the Mideast for 100 years, which would also have been meant to scare the children of the class, would that have really been a scare tactic in light of the fact we still have Soldiers in Germany and Japan a little over 60 years since the end of WW II, and 50 years in Korea? If not for this nation’s actions we would all be speaking Japanese.
Exactly what are the “appropriate actions” Superintendent Bill Harrison refers to?
His actions should be the dismissal of Ms. Harris and the tendering of his resignation for poor judgment in appearing to stand up for a subordinate whose actions are unconscionable.
President Bush’s personal convictions and execution of the War Against Terrorism has resulted in the interception of planned terrorist attacks yielding zero attacks on U.S. soil since 9-11. Ms. Harris should be teaching her students to appreciate this often overlooked fact, and perhaps encouraging the children to write the president a letter of appreciation as his term winds down.
Americans celebrate Veterans Day, there is no Federal holiday for teachers.
Craig Knapp
Spring Lake, NC
BuelahMan said
Nicely done, Craig. Thanks for sharing.
Court OH said
First of all, anyone who slanders soldiers has a very poor moral compass, period. I am the wife of a US ARMY Special Forces Soldier who has dedicated 21 years of his life to our country. This women has no right to attack John Mccain the way that she did. What this educator fails to realized is that she is a key mentor to many school age children who are very imperssionable. Our children spend 8 hours or more a day being taught by people like this. What gives this teacher the right to teach strickly one side on a political note? Myself personally, If your going to make the KORAN required literature for my child to study, then why not make our Christian Bible also required. Meaning this, If this educator is a Barrack Obama Supporter, thats her choice, however don’t impose your one sided beliefs upon my young impessionable child. If schools intend to allow children to be taught about a presidential candidate at least give them all a fair chance to make their own opinion, by teaching all sides, Not just a biast teachers opinion. I will refur now back to my opening statement, why would any one person in a town full of military familys challenge the populus by commenting on a personal level about this war we are fighting. Just a closing note before I end this. This teacher stated in the classroom video I just watched “lord Jesus, Mccain, oh lord.” Im assumeing that this women has no idea that this country was founded on freedon… Meaning this, she was able to make those statements in her classroom because of all of the American soldiers fighting for our freedom today in the middle east. We can now conclude having seen her actions she is obviously an avid obama supporter, who would love to take that right away from her…..Im hoping that this quick blog reaches some of you on a personal level as it has me.
Concernd US CITIZEN!
BuelahMan said
Hi Court OH,
Thanks for the commentary.
She was over the top, for sure, equating a McCain pick to something that goes against “The Lord”.
B’Man