problems with a teacher. - Page 4

sbriscoe · #31 12-19-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Line

psk,

As a fellow Jew/Zionist, I 100% understand where you are coming from. Unfortunately, not everyone else does. There are even some Jews (Eric5273 for example) who do not understand our unwavering support for a country that:
A) Has always had a HUGE population of Jews, even when it was called Palestine and was a "territory".
B) Is also largely inhabited by survivors of the worst atrocity in the history of mankind and their decedents
C) Is bordered by and in proximity to: A huge population of Muslim countries and people who have one main thing in common, their universal hatred of a Jewish state, regardless of the Palestinian Conflict.

Having said all that, you can make a disciplinary action against the teacher. Note and date incidents where his view on politics are being unfairly forced on you.

But also realize, when you go to school, often times you are taught things that may be in conflict with your own personal beliefs. Could you imagine being Native American and having to learn US History and expansionism from the colonial point of view?

If you have ever been on a debate team, they will often make you debate a side you don't agree with. It's not about your beliefs, it's about an approved curriculum.

I would take your punches, get your grades, then right an OP ED piece for your school paper.

You also have the right to drop the class.

I think I would take this as solid advice; teachers are like everyone else. Good ones and bad ones. The good ones will take into account a student's background; I believe much of what is learned is depended on past experiences. However, if you get a bad one (lots out there) you are subject to their opinions and teaching style. Having served in Israel in late 73 & 74 as a young soldier I can relate (in a small way) to what you feel. When someone tells me Israel is to blame for some conflict in the Middle East I get pretty heated pretty quick. Most have “not a clue” as to what is going on over there and debate is based on opinion or what has been spoon feed by the media; not personal experience. I question “contemporary history”; studying current events and calling it history would raise a red flag. Sounds to me like the teacher is spouting personal opinion; not historic fact. I think it best to take the grade and react after; especially if the grade given seems biased and undeserved. Colleges are there to make money and a teacher that gets a bad review by students will not last long, especially if they are there to teach just one or two classes. Do other students in the class have similair objections?