I was pretty much forced to commit a

[shadowed by the secret police]

I'm a substitute teacher and some weeks ago, before this KKKristmas recess, I was summoned to fill in for a 2nd grade Social Studies teacher for one day. Things were chaotic enough with trying to impose classroom management on a bunch of zany 2nd graders. Well I looked at the teacher's lesson plans and it looked conventional enough. But at a closer look----that ***** intructed me to instruct the kids on patriotism! That fucking whore!!! I had to make the kids understand The Pledge of Allegiance, The Star Spangled Banner, love of country and all the rest of that garbage! What was I to do? I had already checked in at the office so they had me by the balls!!!!! No less than 90 kids went through the patriotic lessons that day under my guidance----an anarchist revolutionary. Goes to show how even the most radical revolutionary can be manipulated by the state to do its bidding.

Well I went home feeling sick to myself, inwardly lambasting those *****es at the school board. I hope you all can forgive me. I'm gonna try to atone for this huge crime against our society. Any thoughts on how I can avoid repeating this crime?

[OneBrickOneVoice]

ahahahaha that is great. Why didn't you just teach them something else.

[An archist]

yeah, why not teach them about patriotism? The real patriotism that is.

[manic expression]

At the end of the day, it was your job. You shouldn't be ashamed of yourself. ANY job you take in a capitalist society will be contributing, in some way, to the continuation of that system. Anyway, if you didn't do it, somebody else probably would've.

If you're supposed to teach patriotism again, maybe you could start a discussion on why people are patriotic. Why be proud of your country? Does this mean be proud of your government? Of your country's establishment? What do symbols of patriotism really mean? These questions might get some kids thinking and show them the true nature of patriotism.

[Janus]

I agree with manic expression in that such acts are quite common in capitalist society so you shouldn't get too hung up about it.


Any thoughts on how I can avoid repeating this crime?
Is it possible for you to avoid teaching such classes in the future. Other than that, there's really not too much else to do except to adopt a neutral stance on such issues (obviously) and try to teach critical thinking rather than simple patriotism.

[Dimentio]

It depends on how you spin things as a teacher. I mean, you could use the questioning of political power as a foundation of American patriotism. You do not even need to mention Bush.

[cb9's_unity]

The fact that they were in 2nd grade makes a big difference. Trying to push your views on kids that young is just as bad as the state trying to push in thiers. Don't feel to bad though, the kids would have that patriotic shit pushed down there throat no matter what you told them.

Hopefully you can be a full time teacher (if thats what you want) and you can at least make your students think more about there surroundings.

[sp468732]

Instead of teaching them blind obedience to the state (which is how THEY define patriotism) you should have taught them about what real patriotism is. Tell them about all the people who did the right thing even if it was against the law. Show them how MLK actually broke the law and was arrested many times out of love for his country, even when the government was wrong. Teach them the difference between love for country and love for government.

[shadowed by the secret police]

Thanks a lot, guys, for the advice. I will remember it for next time. I guess I panicked that day because if you don't start these kids on some assignment they smell blood and think they can run the classroom. These kids are 7 or 8 years old going on 40. It's crazy.

[bolshevik butcher]

My modern studies (basically politics) teacher is a leftist, he always makes sure we have more than just the convetional view presented to us, it's good. But it is your job, what I mean is do it in such a way that it won't get you sacked. Better an employed revolutionary than an unemployed one.

[Marsella]

Thanks a lot, guys, for the advice. I will remember it for next time. I guess I panicked that day because if you don't start these kids on some assignment they smell blood and think they can run the classroom. These kids are 7 or 8 years old going on 40. It's crazy.

My niece is 4 and I teach her about Marxism. When I taught her to say 'Lenin' she replied 'Lemmon.' Kids...