Originally posted by TrueTruth
Secondly, he's a human being, and he has a right to do it.
He does have the right to his views and his feelings. He does not have the right to set an example of violence as a way of dealing with one's
emotions in a public school setting.
I don't think Obama was personally involved in the school firings. They may have occurred in response to new educational initiatives by the
government, and these guidelines may not be the most effective ones possible. President's Bush's "no child left behind" policy has also been less
than totally effective. The teacher may have good reasons for feeling as he did.
I want to emphasize that, unless further evidence proves me wrong, I do not think it was a racially-motivated act. IMO it was an act in response to a
policy that was hurting the teacher personally.
As a teacher, I can say I have personally known some who started out on fire with enthusiasm for teaching and then, when it seemed they couldn't make
a positive impact no matter what they did, gave up on themselves and their students and just coasted along. I think I can understand how someone
could get overwhelmed or disillusioned in some of our worst public schools.
I don't think everything is the teacher's fault. But it's true that some people are just better at it than others, and we need to keep our best
and weed out the worst. However this happens, though, some good, well-meaning people are going to get hurt.
Hanging someone in effigy, however, only delivers the message that violence is an acceptable way to right wrongs. That's not effective teaching.
[edit on 20-3-2010 by Sestias]