Everybody Loves Education.

Everybody loves education. Hire more teachers! Spend more money on our schools! But what happens when the public discovers that their tax dollars are funding the repression of thought and opinion? What happens when a teacher berates a student for their political views? Does the student dress code insist that every t-shirt must be scrutinized and approved by the educational establishment? Should schools be breeding grounds of diverse opinions? Or merely an incubus of strictly patterned thought?  Philadelphia News Report FOX 29

“You can’t wear a Republican shirt in a Democratic school!”

Did you mean democracy exists here? Or facism? In Philadelphia, a 10^th grade student was verbally berated by a math teacher over her political views. She committed the grave sin of wearing a pink Romney t-shirt to school on ‘casual dress’ day. How unenlightened of her. Did she not understand that all in her school support the President and only the President in the upcoming election? And that the support included fascist repression of any and all expressions of dissent? Did she not understand, that since she is not old enough to vote, any teacher can simply tell her how she’s supposed to think, dress and act? What kind of America are we living in?

The Founding Fathers would be sickened by the actions of this “teacher.” It is a form of manipulative child abuse of the highest degree. Bullying needs to be stamped out of the schools, and should never come from a teacher to a student. And how will this teacher be ‘punished?’

Most likely, the teacher will be placed on paid ‘administrative leave.’ As an employee of the school district, she could continue to receive tax dollars for her ignorant and abusive presence in the school. She may even get a paid ‘vacation’ as the principal and district decide where exactly to ‘reassign’ her. This may come with some degree of sensitivity training, but most likely will not include an apology to the student or the student’s family. Truthfully, the district should be apologizing to America.

How could this sort of abuse happen in one of the most historic cities of America? Philadelphia!! How could the ‘city of brotherly love’ become a den of criticism and derision of our youngest and most vulnerable population? The entire city ought to hold candlelight vigil for the death of democratic principles. But instead, it will be ignored and accepted, just like another crack in the Liberty Bell.

How should the school respond? Maybe all political clothing should be banned so that no one gets offended. Well, where do you draw the line? Does that mean no more catchy Obama slogans and t-shirts? You know, the ones that appeal to the masses and even small children because they are colorful and inspire hope? What about historical slogans: ‘Don’t tread on me’? The Tea Party flag? The American flag? Anything with an elephant or donkey on it? What happens if the child of a politician sends their child to school with a campaign button? Should they be equally ostracized for supporting their political family? Did the Kennedys endure such ridicule? Somehow, I think not.

Americans, what country do you want your children to grow up in? One where teachers berate their students because they do not share their political leanings? Or one where all viewpoints are valued, even if one ends up on the losing end? A synthesis of ideas and thoughts rolled up into a nice neat zombie-like student ready to enter the world with a one-thought ideology, where oppression of thought is celebrated, free speech is ignored, and where all students shackle themselves with the chains of institutional slavery.

Invited co-author of this article, Sean McGowan is published author, a teacher of Civics and American History, as well as a Chaplain.