Teacher who gave liberal quiz still on the job

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- A Mount Anthony Union High School English teacher who gave students a quiz that criticized President Bush is still on the job. Teacher Bret Chenkin apologized for the quiz and said in a letter printed in the local newspaper that he didn't use enough discretion when he prepared the quiz.

"I regret the attention and discomfort this may have caused for my students, colleagues, and the community," he said. "This was never my intention. I apologize for this action."

Chenkin's quiz used liberal statements as part of a vocabulary test.

"I wish Bush would be (coherent, eschewed) for once during a speech, but there are theories that his everyday diction charms the below-average mind, hence insuring him Republican votes," said one question. Coherent would be the correct answer.



http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VT_LIBERAL_TEACHER_VTOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-12-08-19-54-09

Hell, he should be given a promotion!

I totally disagree with his action, regardless of the fact that it was not only a question I agree with and find quite humorous, but am glad his job wasn't at risk over it since acknowledging the mistake, learning from it and knowing better than to do it again is all that was really required in this situation going forward.

Glad it turned out ok. Thanks for the update!

One major screw-up shouldn't end a career. God knows, I sure screwed up enough in my three years of teaching to last a lifetime. *sigh*

Even Bush has talked about the fact that he makes no sense. It's fact when the person admits to it. This teacher should be praised for working current events into a test.

You have to be careful with politics, because you don't want to force your opinions on students. Instead, you want them thinking for themselves. Of course, it was just a quiz, so it wasn't a big thing, but it wasn't very good. Imagine if the tables had been turned (as they were when Clinton was in power).

firing though, but inappropriate nonetheless.

I had a work study last year. During the election, my supervisor campaigned for Bush right there in guided studies. Also, I have a teacher who not only talks bad about dems, but he says that every female electronics student he has ever had was crazy. He talks bad about his students all the time like that. I figure if they can do that at the state funded college where I attend, then let a liberal have a say too. Stopping one while the other gets away with it just because it's nestled in red country all safe and protected is just plain wrong.

Student evals usually play a strong role in pay and class assignments. Make sure to write him up and tell everyone else to, as well, who thinks it's wrong. It is wrong--teachers are in positions of power and shouldn't abuse that.

He's still there and the supervisor was protected by the personnel manager who I talked to about the campaigning. She kept saying it was hearsay because she didn't see him doing that. She was never over there so naturally she did not see it happening. They promised to investigate and then told me I needed mental help. I know what happened. I was there. Others saw it too. The supervisor had one boy passing out Christian Coalition flyers that he printed on the printer in Guided Studies. They did nothing to any of them.

walk to the circular file and tell them, now I will express my beliefs, good day to you sir

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

You needed mental help because you saw and reported someone breaking their contract? That's seriously wrong.

If they give you a flyer again, accept it and turn it in. Maybe enough proof from all different sources will make them change their minds.

When I went to school it wasn't to be force fed my teachers beliefs regardless of what they are.
They view of life is just that, their view, not reality. It puts students in a tough spot if you don't agree with what they say, especially if your as hard-headed as I was and not a great student to kick

I am glad to see he apologized.

True, though...

But still wrong...

Teachers have to be neutral.

It wasn't, however, a "liberal statement" to suggest that Bush is less than coherent, and that his grammar errors provide a feeling of security and belonging to the under literate.

He is less than coherent, and is "grammatically challenged." That part is documented fact:

"Rarely is the question asked, 'Is our children learning'?"
--Florence, S.C. Jan 11 2000

"There's an old...saying in Tennessee...I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says Fool me once...(3 second pause)... Shame on...(4 second pause)...Shame on you....(6 second pause)...Fool me...Can't get fooled again." --Nashville, Tennessee, Sept. 17, 2002.

"The illiteracy level of our children are appalling." --Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004