A Parsippany, New Jersey high school teacher is drawing criticism for having students in an Advanced Placement government class hold a mock impeachment hearing of George W. Bush.
I think the teacher, Joseph Kyle, deserves a Teacher of the Year award. He is asking his students to think seriously about whether Mr. Bush's conduct related to civilian casualties in Iraq and the Abu Ghraib torture rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. That our establishment politicians and editorialists are too cowardly to engage in this discussion in any sustained fashion does not mean our young people should be prevented from thinking also. Maybe some of those students will walk away from the experience realizing the the US Constitution and international law are real documents and that world leaders who violate them ought to suffer real consequences.
The same teacher had his students engage in a mock impeachment trial of Bill Clinton in the 1990s. I don't remember hearing any outrage then.
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Saddam was violating international law and George Bush stopped him from doing it. So what if Bush stepped on the constitution to do it. Sometimes you have to break a law to uphold a law. It's like burning a village to save it.
What does play acting before an "international court of justice" have to do with a course on U.S. government? Absolutely nothing. It’s not in keeping with U.S. law or the Constitution. So how in the world could this stunt “connect perfectly with the AP government curriculum” as the high school principal claims in defense of Kyle? The school’s principal and the teacher clearly lack even a rudimentary understanding of U.S. government. Bad enough, but now they are passing their ignorance on to their students. Teacher of the year – gimme a break!
Tony gets a star on his chart for not responding to anonymous posters like he said he wouldn't. Such a good boy.
I think I see another Teacher of the Year in the making.
First, it is President Bush, not Mr.
Second, collateral damage is a part of any conflict, and is not unlawful.
Third, those responsible for the abuse at Abu Ghraib have been charged, convicted, and/or demoted.
Fourth, the of holding a mock impeachment trial during the actual impeachment of President Clinton was relevant and appropriate at the time. Holding a mock impeachment trial of President Bush, just because a teacher has an unfounded hatred of the President, is a waste of time for the students of that class.
Facts and reality should prevail over the hatred of liberal teachers in the classroom. A student can choose a university and the curriculum he or she receives. Students in k-12 public schools should be free from partisan political propaganda.
well i have seen that most people around my school think i am nuts for my anti-war pro-peace human&animal rights viewpoints and i often get into arguments in class and i note that often i am fighting not just the class but the teacher.
i would have to say that schools are fairly moderate and i am no longer sure that it's such a good thing.
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