LA PAIX EST IMMORALE !

Portland Maine USA 28 02 03

Suite a des plaintes d’enfants de militaires contre des commentaires
anti-guerre dans les écoles de Maine, les profs ont été avertis d’etre plus
prudents dans la facon d’aborder le sujet de l’invasion de l’Irak.

L’Army National Guard a recu des douzaines de rapports d’élèves accusant des
profs et des camarades d’avoir fortement critique le conflit irakien.Les
parents se sont plaint de l’injustice et de la partialite des enseignants
qui ne tiennent pas compte des sentiments de ces etres qui voient des
membres de leur famille s’enroler dans l’armee.

Des enfants rentrent de l’ecole completement deprimes et tristes à cause de
ces remarques désobligeantes.Ils entendent dire que" la guerre contre
l’Irak est immorale et quiconque la soutient l’est également."

PORTLAND, Maine (Feb. 28) - After complaints that the children of soldiers
were upset by anti-war comments at school, Maine’s top education official
warned teachers to be careful of what they say in class about a possible
invasion of Iraq.

The Maine Army National Guard has received a dozen reports of children of
guard members in elementary and middle schools who said teachers and fellow
students have criticized the looming conflict.
Maj. Peter Rogers quoted parents as saying their children have come home
upset or depressed because of comments in class and on the playground.
They were hearing comments like, 'The pending war in Iraq is unethical' and 'Anybody who would fight that war is also unethical,''' Rogers said.So children who are already losing family members to deployment were
understandably upset.’’
Charles Haynes of the Freedom Forum, an educational organization in
Arlington, Va., said he has received several dozen e-mails and phone calls
in recent months from parents concerned that teachers are unfair or biased
in how they address the issue of Iraq in the classroom.
Haynes urged schools to keep alive classroom discussions about Iraq, and
present different views on the issue, even if there have been complaints
about teaching methods or teacher comments.
Often it is a misunderstanding of what the teacher is trying to do,'' he said.But it’s also the case that some teachers have a political agenda
they can’t keep out of the classroom, and that they must do.’’
In Maine, Department of Education Commissioner Duke Albanese sent a memo to
superintendents and principals, writing that it had been brought to his
attention some school personnel had been less than sensitive to children of military families regarding our continued strained relations with Iraq.'' He said discussion should allow for questions and differences of opinion, butbe grounded in civil discourse and mutual respect.’’
The issue has also grabbed the attention of Republican Sen. Susan Collins
and Gov. John Baldacci.
Any suggestion that their parents are doing something wrong is extremely unfortunate and could have a harmful effect, particularly on young children,'' Collins said. Baldacci said he'sdisappointed’’ by the actions of some educators in
public school systems.
02/28/03 01:35 EST

Transmis par M. A Portland ( USA )