February 8, 2008
I have about half my seniors in my 5th period class out “sick” to watch Barack Obama, so I turned on his speech and let those who didn’t go watch it. It was the most excited I’ve ever seen my students. This guy is like the Mick Jagger of politics.
14 Responses to “Barackstar”
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That’s awesome that your students are all about Obama, but be careful about alienating those who may support Hillary.
Although I can’t say that any of my teachers in highschool or professors in college did anything to disguise their political opinions….
mark
i completely agree. i think teachers’ political preferences should be left out of the classrooms. i certainly didn’t appreciate it when i was in school and it does alienate students who have differing opinions. moreover, it was clear that it interfered with their ability to grade my papers objectively on the validity and strength of an argument, instead choosing to grade on whether or not they agreed. i have experienced this discrimination both favorably (once) though most often unfavorably in both my political and non-political classes. it’s incredibly frustrating and unfair to have someone judge my academic merits under the influence of their own political beliefs simply because i express my differing opinions in class–which is completely contrary to the concept of a liberal arts college.
if teachers want to discuss politics it should be in the role of a mediator or to talk about the political process objectively.
Mark and Deb - I actually cancelled the exam for my 4th period class so that they could hear Hillary Clinton speak as well. If John McCain or Mike Huckabee were speaking so close to the caucus I would have allowed my students to watch them speak as well.
However, when I had Hillary Clinton on, my students got bored, didn’t pay attention, fell asleep, or chatted with each other. While Obama spoke, they were keep silent, alert, and transfixed on the screen.
No students left school today to go hear Hillary Clinton speak. Over 50 (10% percent of the school) left to go hear Obama. When I told my 4th period class that we would be watched Hillary speak instead of taking a test, there was no excitement. When I told my 5th period class we would be watching Obama speak instead of taking the test, they cheered and jumped and up down. Many told me that they loved me.
A straw poll by the history teachers found that the vast majority of the students support Barack Obama, followed distantly by John McCain, with Hillary Clinton at third (Rudy Guiliani and Mitt Romney had been at second and fourth, respectively, before dropping out).
I absolutely do not bring my politics preferences into the classroom. My point was not that I was encouraging my students to watch Obama speak. I encouraged and am encouraging them to listen to all of the major candidates speak.
My point is that Barack Obama excites the hell of out young voters. You don’t often see a bunch of 17 and 18-year-olds excited to just hear someone talk for an hour.
Deb - Also, I teach a math course, so even if I did favor one student or another, it doesn’t really matter. If sin(60) = .5, and they put .5, it’s correct. I don’t favor students politically though, and I do not bring my political views into class, except to tell the students to get out and vote for someone, anyone, just vote.
Be careful about alienating those who may support Hillary. Oh be serious the Clinton’s have alienated themselves. They are at the heart of our problems, that idiot Busch would not have been elected if Bill had taken care of business instead of thinking with his dick. Can anyone remember the last sixteen years, the youth of today remember the last four at the most. Barack Obama may be the start of something new, a since of political responsibility. We the people need to watch who we elect and respond with haste when they do not respond too our will.
Obamamerica- Obamarabia
Obama words can be really used and adapted in a way that can contribute to uniting Arabs around a common purpose. (His rejection of US occupation of Iraq is appreciated and his support to Israel can be reversed if he were an Arab candidate, of course).
Apart from the purpose itself, Arabs have many things in common, more than Americans have. Obama can inspire people to rise above differences to serve a noble cause, at least at this phase of his candidacy. One can feel that while he is 6000 miles away.
I have always loved my country but like my children I am not always proud of the things they do. True Democracy is everyones child.
Terry:
Well that’s it. If you aren’t perpetually INCREDIBLY PROUD of EVERYTHING the US has EVER DONE, well, you’re a terrorist traitor. Yep, sorry, you’re out.
If you can’t tell, I’m being sarcastic
But this is one of the reasons I characterize the Republican party as psychotic. Simple honesty about our mistakes as a nation is viewed by Republicans as treason… if that isn’t psychotic, I don’t know what is.
[...] and bloggers have demonstrated, it’s a name that lends itself to neologisms—everything from Barackstar to Obamania to [...]
Andy, do you realize that you got us an inbound link from Slate.com with this post?
http://www.slate.com/id/2184502#
Nice work!
That’s awesome.
One of my recent favorites: Obamaganda.
That’s interesting. GO BARACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry hillary i believe in you in 2016 and then in 2024 I’ll be 35 and I’ll run for president!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!!! what about Obamafrica and obamaworld. Looking at everything surrounding us and the world, the change being advocated for by Obama deserves being given life and not simply a chance. Leeders are born and not made. Sorry hillary i too belive in you after this very one