Teacher Defends Bush-Hitler Comparison

[proud2BlibKansan]

DENVER, March 7, 2006

(CBS/AP) A high school social studies teacher who was put on leave after comparing President Bush's State of the Union address to speeches made by Adolf Hitler defended his lecture on Tuesday, saying he was trying to encourage students to think.

"My job as a teacher is to challenge students to think critically about issues that are affecting our world and our society," Jay Bennish said in a television interview.

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Bennish told NBC's "Today" show that the excerpts broadcast weren't representative of the full lecture.

"This is 20 minutes out of a 50-minute class. The rest of the class provides the balance," he said.

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Bennish said no parents — including the family of the student who recorded the lecture — have complained to him. He said all the students' parents had seen his syllabus and that school officials had approved it.

"My job as a social studies teacher is to argue alternative perspectives and viewpoints so that students are aware of those points of view. They do not necessarily reflect my own views. They are simply thrown out there to encourage critical thought," he said.

more . . .

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/07/politics/main1379331.shtml

[JohnnyRingo]

1. I was watching this on H&C...

Of course Hannity is going nuts, demanding the teacher be fired for "abusing children".
He's taking the position that all of America should focus on this big deal much like the nutjobs did with Terry Schiavo. I have a feeling from watching this young Newt wanna-be that there's more to the story than we originally heard about.

I suspect in the end, after Hannity gets his fans pumped up from 3 hours of radio and 60 minutes of TV a day he's gonna look just as foolish as he did in Florida last year. It doesn't seem to bother him of course because he just moves on to his next liberal target.

I'd like to see someone tape their Bushbot teacher (there has to be some) and bring in the recording and ask Hannity if the teacher should be fired for influencing young minds by not presenting an "opposing argument", as that seems to be Sean's biggest complaint.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. The whole thing has been blown way out of proportion

There are even DUers calling for the teacher to be fired!!

And this story, IMO, isn't about a biased teacher. It's about a kid who wanted attention. And boy did he ever get some. Damn brat.

[fknobbit]

3. Yup

:applause:

[BR_Parkway]

4. Hopefully all the local recruiters know him now too - after all, he's

publically supporting everything about Iraq, they have to know he's just dying to sign up.

[erpowers]

11. The Kid

So has the kid come out and spoken publicly about this incident. I support the teacher in that I think it is good to have kid think and teach them to think critically. Sometimes I think critical thinking should be a mandatory course in high school.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Yes he says he is afraid to come to school

The kids are teasing him.

Poor baby. :evilgrin:

[Rocknrule]

9. "Opposing argument" my ass

They don't want any opposing arguments, just their own arguments. Our Fuherer's way is the only way.

[sutz12]

5. Heaven forbid we should encourage students to think.

:eyes:

The goal of education is the lighting of a fire, not the filling of a bucket.

[ronatchig]

7. Encouraging Students

to think critically is really scary stuff to the fascists don't you know. Hell they may catch onto the idea that the worship of Mammon is not for everyone.
can't have that now can we?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. Pity students should be exposed to the opinion of 90% of the

world's population.... pity indeed.

[jeanarrett]

8. Here is a transcript of what he said in class recorded by the MP3 player

This is on the school district's website. Read what he said and decide for yourselves. Personally, I can't see what the hell the beef is all about.

http://www.ccsd.k12.co.us/

Go to the bottom of the page and choose the transcript for Geography Lecture February 1, 2006

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I have listened three times

and I don't get it either. And I am a teacher so I can listen for instructional mistakes. I heard a couple of those but they are minor and certainly not enough to be suspended for.

[Ignacio Upton]

13. Where is the transcript?

I can't find it on their front page. Do you have a more specific link?

[jeanarrett]

15. Try this:

http://pdfserver.ccsd.k12.co.us/OHS_GEOGRAPHY_LECTURE.pdf

[dogday]

14. What? You want these kids to have independent thought? nt