The Teacher As Bully

UPDATE: Since publication of this post, it has been revealed that Robert Stacy McCain is actually a gigantic liar and neo-confederate scumbag. He changed facts, embellished and lied in the article I quote below. Fuck you Robert Stacy McCain. Trash.

Robert Stacy McCain of the Washington Times on Children of Maine Guard unit taunted by teachers:

Members of the Maine National Guard, called up to prepare for an attack on Iraq, have asserted that their children are being harassed at school by teachers who oppose the war.

Guard members say their children are “coming home upset, depressed, crying,” said Maj. Peter Rogers, a spokesman for the Maine National Guard. “This was based on some incidents that were happening in school, both in the classroom and on the playground.”

In an e-mail sent to the parents of one child who had complained of harassment at school, National Guard officials said they had “over 30 complaints that name schools and individual principals, teachers and guidance counselors.”

Unbelievable. I oppose this war as well, but I can’t see what possible good it does to degrade individuals members of the military for the actions of the civilian Administration. I served my time in uniform and I wouldn’t have tolerated such nonsense then and I won’t pretend it’s okay now. Further, it is the height of cowardice to bully children who are scared and miss their parents who’ve been sent to fight and possibly die in a war halfway across the globe.

Letters of sanction, stern talks and “bad, bad, bad” won’t cut it. I want pinkslips. Degrading a scared child’s parent in his or her presence is inexusable. Nothing less than firing these despicable teachers and educrats is appropriate.

Update: See I Stand Corrected.