February 22, 2011

"About 300 students, staff and parents returned to East High School on Monday marching side-by-side with civil rights activist Jesse Jackson..."

"... who later urged them stay in school, vote and support their teachers."
"I can't think of a better way to come back home to school than to walk with the students and Jesse Jackson," said Sarah Motl, a social studies teacher at East.
ADDED: I think the best way to come back to school is to be there in the normal place at the normal time and to launch into the assigned material in the normal way — with a bit more briskness and good cheer than usual. Don't say a thing about politics. Give the students exactly what it is your duty to give them: a great education designed to serve their needs and interests, not yours. And don't delude yourself or try to bullshit anyone else with manufactured, self-serving theories about how the sickout and protest presents a wonderful "teaching moment" that ought to take up class time.

57 comments:

The Dude said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
PatHMV said...

Stay in school! [Disclaimer: I mean, except when I tell you to skip, to protest evil Republican policies. Or when your teachers all lie about being sick and force the schools to close.]

Lincolntf said...

"Stay in school"?
Tell it to the Teachers.

Scott M said...

I can't think of anything Jesse Jackson could possibly do that would come off as positive to anyone but the cool-aid drinkers.

MayBee said...

I want teachers to be paid well. I am thankful for good teachers.

The unions just make them so damn dumb.

SteveR said...

The best way they could support their teachers is to come to class, work hard and be well behaved. That is, of course, if the teacher shows up.

Bruce Hayden said...

WTF (and I don't means Winning the Future), what is that old race hustler doing still in Wisconsin?

GMay said...

Come on folks, JJ hasn't had some quality face time for awhile.

At least he isn't saying he wants to castrate anyone this time.

Lincolntf said...

No time off for President's Day, but a half-day whenever Jesse Jackson rolls into town?
Nice system, Badgers. I can't imagine why the country has been pointing and laughing at you for days on end.

Anonymous said...

Wisconsin public employees are just like blacks in the Jim Crow south!

We shall overcome!

Bartender Cabbie said...

Jackson is just trolling for poon.

TMink said...

"what is that old race hustler doing still in Wisconsin?"

Looking for a new gig I wager. The civil rights battle was won over a decade ago, so he is basically irrelevant. Notice how Sharpton has basically disappeared since his so called march on Washington?

Trey

Jason said...

Yes, quite an honor to march with one of the biggest race-baiters in the nation's history.

All for the children.

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

I remember back in the 80s when he was running for President, I got to go see (and by 'Got to go see', I mean, 'was forced to attend, and threatened with suspension if I refused') Jesse Jackson speak in my High School auditorium.

He was dumb as a box of rocks then, too.

JAL said...

"I can't think of a better way to come back home to school than to walk with the students and Jesse Jackson," said Sarah Motl, a social studies teacher at East.

Let me count the ways ... .. .

JAL said...

Did she explain her reasoning? Logic?

Wait.

It's all about how she * **feels.** *

wv ining
Spelt by WI 8th grader. Referencing baseball.

Jason said...

Like I said yesterday, JJ isn't doing this for free. SOMEONE is paying him.

I'd love to see the expense reports for Madison Teachers, Inc.

Automatic_Wing said...

This is truly comedy gold. The only way it could be any better is if Al Sharpton and Zombie Johnny Cochran were marching, too.

It's almost enough to excuse the lack of giant papier mache puppets. Almost.

If this doesn't win the hearts and minds of middle class Wisconsin, nothing will. Bread and circuses indeed.

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Like I said yesterday, JJ isn't doing this for free. SOMEONE is paying him.

I'd love to see the expense reports for Madison Teachers, Inc.


If it isn't them, also look to groups like ActBlue or people like Chucky Schumer, both of which are currently fund-raising for the 'Badger 14'.

Unknown said...

How educational. A living history lesson - the history of extortion, that is.

TMink said...

"what is that old race hustler doing still in Wisconsin?"

Looking for a new gig I wager. The civil rights battle was won over a decade ago, so he is basically irrelevant.


More like 50 years ago. People like Jackson had to invent Black Power, etc., or they would have had nothing to do.

WV "gosole" Make your own.

Anonymous said...

Don't leave us hanging! How much did the school have to donate to Operation PUSH to make the lawsuit go away?

Anonymous said...

ONLY 300 students/staff/parents???

I am assuming that this high school has well over 1000 students. Sounds like a paltry turnout.

Maybe the story should be about the many thousands of students / parents that were financially and educationally damaged by their teacher's actions.

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

Also, related question - Did Jesse Jackson show up on time?

:p

William said...

All students should stay in school and support increased civil service benefits for their teachers. The events of the past week have probably taught the children the paramount importance of civil service benefits. Still, the teachers should hammer the lesson home in this week's classes. The real purpose of education is the civil service benefits it offers for teachers. You can tell the quality of a nation's civilization by the civil service benefits it offers its teachers. What did Martin Luther King march for at Selma if not increased civil service benefits for teachers? It can be fairly argued that Jesus suffered and died on the cross in order that teachers should have increased civil service benefits. We can only hope that pastors bring this to the attention of their congregation during Sunday's sermons. Civil service benefits: are there any words in the English language that arose such sublime feelings?

Scott M said...

Also, related question - Did Jesse Jackson show up on time?

He was on time, but they started the movie fifteen minutes earlier.

The Crack Emcee said...

Amazing:

It's like the 60s all over again!

wv: "logic" - I shit you not.

The Crack Emcee said...

Scott M,

I can't think of anything Jesse Jackson could possibly do that would come off as positive to anyone but the cool-aid drinkers.

Interesting choice of words we're using, isn't it?

The Crack Emcee said...

MayBee,

I want teachers to be paid well. I am thankful for good teachers.

The unions just make them so damn dumb.


Keep it coming, y'all.

Scott M said...

No irony intended. The imagery is exactly as linked.

Chef Mojo said...

I'm picturing a painting from China, circa 1967, entitled, "The Sun Rises In The East."

The teachers and children smiling and laughing as they crest the hill of adversity with the new socialist sun at their back. Before them stands Chairman/Revrund Jackson. Pointing into the West, at the Gompers School, he assists them across the street, resplendent in his cap and reflective Sam Browne belt.

Onward the Long March!

The Crack Emcee said...

JAL,

It's all about how she * **feels.** *

I'm convinced you guys know what I'm saying, you just dance around it.

The Crack Emcee said...

edutcher,

More like 50 years ago. People like Jackson had to invent Black Power, etc., or they would have had nothing to do.

I gotta go - this is too easy.

JAL said...

both of which are currently fund-raising for the 'Badger 14'.

Where's TaxProf on this? What are the tax implications, if any, for being funded -- for not doing a job?

Does that go into campaign funds? A PAC? A 527?

Do they have to declare it as personal income? Is it a "gift?" if it is raised politically?

Unknown said...

"stay in school" to be brainwashed some more until you learn to "vote and support your teachers" to fleece your parents.

Wince said...

Students today are such cheese-eating conformists.

Real student provocateurs would ask their teachers to support a bid for students to collectively bargain for their grades.

Think about it. Teachers are demanding the right to collctively bargain for the compensation and benefits they receive for their work.

Why shouldn't students demand the same rights for the grades they receive to do the work they do?

Suggestion: I'd like to see Althouse interview some students on this concept to see how they differentiate the two situations.

lucid said...

I agree with what Ann added. Exactly right.

TosaGuy said...

So let me get this straight

Jesse Jackson marches with teachers.

The vast majority of teachers in WI are white.

Wisconsin public schools have one of the largest white-black educational achievement gaps in the country.

?????

GMay said...

TosaGuy,

It's the same thing when Enron was falling apart - JJ showed up and was holding hands with a bunch of spouses of employees who were all lily white people. The Rainbow Coalition's reasoning was something about helping people who have been screwed over.

Which was really just a nice way of saying "Getting Jesse some face time since he's been out of the news awhile and this is just as good a story to insert him as any."

Scott M said...

The Rainbow Coalition's reasoning was something about helping people who have been screwed over.

That's funny. I don't recall JJ holding hands with the families and players of the Duke Lacrosse fiasco.

GMay said...

Here we go - JJ helping the downtrodden Enron employees. Wish I could find that old hand-holding pic.

It's not like JJ could have been motivated by anything other than helping out the oppressed. Makes me wonder who's paying him for his WI appearance.

Jesse doesn't work for free you know.

Fen said...

Jesse Jackson marches with teachers. Wisconsin public schools have one of the largest white-black educational achievement gaps in the country.

I think it was Bill Cosby who noted that black kids are the last thing Jesse Jackson is concerned about. If at all.

Methadras said...

How does this not show that government run schools are nothing more than DNC/marxist strong holds that hold our children politically and mentally hostage?

Methadras said...

Sixty Grit said...

The only way to make it "better" would be to allow "Rev" Jackwagon to teach them English.


You would have to take the marbles out of his mouth first.

Fernandinande said...

Civil rights activist? The correct term is "race hustler".

Shanna said...

I remember back in the 80s when he was running for President, I got to go see (and by 'Got to go see', I mean, 'was forced to attend, and threatened with suspension if I refused') Jesse Jackson speak in my High School auditorium.

I remember somebody (not Jesse Jackson-I think he might have been an athlete?) coming to speak at an assembly in 9th grade who started saying that white people didn’t duck when gunshots went off and black people did. I was a little mystified why they called an assembly for the entire school for those incredible insights…

And then a couple years later I got to go to another assembly and watch my mayor hit on Miss America, after he told her that he was rooting for Miss Arkansas but that this lady was his second choice. Good times.

Toad Trend said...

Indiana dems now cutting and running:

http://jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com/2011/02/cut-and-run-dems-now-cutting-and.html

Richard Dolan said...

Having teachers on a sick-out (or however else they are making sure to be paid for not working) using the school for a political rally seems to be making the Governor's point perhaps better than he can make it for himself.

Not smart. And not long before HuffPo suggests that it's all the work of Tea Party impostors pretending to be teachers (with the help of a JJ impersonator, no less).

I'm a Shaaaaark said...

I remember somebody (not Jesse Jackson-I think he might have been an athlete?) coming to speak at an assembly in 9th grade who started saying that white people didn’t duck when gunshots went off and black people did. I was a little mystified why they called an assembly for the entire school for those incredible insights…

I don't know. I think that seems too intellectually deep for most public schools. ;)

DADvocate said...

Well said.

Even when JJ does something I agree with it means nothing to me. He's all about self-promotion.

If he stays in Wisconsin long enough he may be like Malcom X when he was a child. Think he's the only black person in the world.

Known Unknown said...

Did they stay out the bushes?


WV: beating. Oh, Blogger, you.

Scott M said...

Did they stay out the bushes?

Tut-tut. A point of order, sir. I believe the question was phrased, "out da bushes".

Derve Swanson said...

Kind of related:

Last month, I was visiting my sister's children, who go to an excellent small public elementary school in northern Illinois. (they group by age ability in core subjects, K-2; 3-5; 6-8; so if the child masters the material, they're not held back by their class level.)

It was a week or two after the Giffords shooting, and my sister and brother-in-law tend not to have t.v. on much at home. I mentioned to the 9-year-old something about the senator's shooting, and she looked at me blankly. They didn't mention it in class, and their parents didn't think it need enter their own childhood worlds.

Personally, I LIKE that schools either let the parents address current events, or not, as they see fit. The schools are there to teach the basics, not talk current events, or especially, not to editorialize. They'll be reading the papers, listening to news, and part of the grown up world soon enough. Let kids be innocent kids, if that's what the parents choose.

Plus, think of all the extra time to spend on mastering the math! Once they get past those times tables, and can work through the textbooks at their own speed... truly, there is no stopping some of them! It's like ... fun, a competitive game, to take the tests at their own pace, once the are ready.

Thank G-d they're not being educated in Madison liberal land.

Derve Swanson said...

Lake County, not Cook.

David said...

I would love it if Reggie Jackson came to my kid's school. Outstanding ballplayer, engaging personality, intelligent guy--what's not to like?

Oh.

Sorry.

That's an entirely different Jackson.

Freeman Hunt said...

We had a big assembly once where a large scale, convicted drug dealer told us to be good and avoid jail.

He also told us, in detail, how he ran his operation, made his own flights to South America, and how he fronted the business as a leather goods distributor and took drug orders in code with different types and sizes of leather coats meaning different drugs and amounts.

Not sure everyone in attendance got the intended educational experience from that one.

BJM said...

Hope is still alive! Lucky Libs can enter to win an all expense paid trip to Boston for dinner and [OMG!!! *getting all verklempt*] a photo taken with The Race Baiter in Chief and former Speaker Cruella for only $10.00!!!1

Robert said...

66% of 8th graders in Wisconsin have not attained reading proficiency. That's from the Obama Administration Department of Education. Does anything more need to be said? (Thanks for the info, Rush!)