Third grade activities

LDB · Apr 10, 2015

Parents must be so pleased this is how their third graders are being guided.

http://eagnews.org/third-grade-students-write-get-well-letters-to-cop-killer-mumia-abu-jamal/

cheri1122 · Apr 10, 2015

LDB said:
Parents must be so pleased this is how their third graders are being guided.

http://eagnews.org/third-grade-students-write-get-well-letters-to-cop-killer-mumia-abu-jamal/

Kids should be taught to respect people like the judge who presided over the trial, and was overheard by his stenographer saying "We're gonna fry this :censoredsign:

.", eh? [A remark she didn't mention till well past her retirement, of course.]
There is evidence to indicate that Mumia wasn't guilty to begin with, but just for the sake of argument, say he was. Is 30 years of prison with no possibility of ever getting out not enough justice to satisfy people? We should teach our children to presume that every person in prison is guilty, and deserves nothing but contempt, for the rest of his life?
If Mumia is guilty, he deserves to be in prison. And he deserves 'get well' cards too, from kids who are not making a statement about what he may or may not have done 30 years ago, but about a human being who could use a little compassion. That's all he's going to get from them - not forgiveness, or absolution, or praise.
Those who think kids should be taught to hate are unworthy of parenthood.

LDB · Apr 10, 2015

It isn't about the judge, who's a scuzzball. It's about whether a third grade teacher should be spending teaching time on such a project. As much as it would be a right thing to do to spend that time writing to wounded warriors instead of a wrong thing to spend that time writing a cop killer the teaching time should be spent on teaching. In any event, parents should be advised prior to such an activity and permission to participate given, especially when it involves a cop killer or other criminal.

Pilgrim · Apr 10, 2015

cheri1122 said:
Kids should be taught to respect people like the judge who presided over the trial, and was overheard by his stenographer saying "We're gonna fry this .", eh? [A remark she didn't mention till well past her retirement, of course.]

Of course there must be proof that the judge actually made that statement - other than hearsay that surfaced from one person many years after the trial?? If he had actually said that it could very likely have resulted in a mistrial. Why didn't the stenographer come forward then when it might have actually made a difference? It really doesn't matter because it's irrelevant to the issue.

There is evidence to indicate that Mumia wasn't guilty to begin with, but just for the sake of argument, say he was. Is 30 years of prison with no possibility of ever getting out not enough justice to satisfy people?

I keep looking for the sarcastic emoticons, rolling eyes, or something like that after this post but they're not there; you can't really be serious?! This convicted cold-blooded killer was given his due process all the way through the PA Supreme Court and his conviction was upheld at every phase. He's getting exactly what he deserved, which turned out be be even better than capital punishment: life in prison and a slow, miserable death.

We should teach our children to presume that every person in prison is guilty, and deserves nothing but contempt, for the rest of his life?

We should teach our children that people convicted of and imprisoned for cold blooded murder heinous crimes are very bad people who have been put in prison for good reasons - their own punishment and the safety of the general public. "Contempt" has nothing to do with it, but is a result of their own actions.

If Mumia is guilty, he deserves to be in prison. And he deserves 'get well' cards too, from kids who are not making a statement about what he may or may not have done 30 years ago, but about a human being who could use a little compassion. That's all he's going to get from them - not forgiveness, or absolution, or praise.
Those who think kids should be taught to hate are unworthy of parenthood.

That has to be one of the most absurd statements ever posted in this forum, and that's a pretty high bar. "Hate" has nothing to do with this atrocity. Anyone who thinks a murderer like this Mumia character deserves "compassion" from innocent school kids (albeit imposed by an idiot teacher) must have some pretty warped social values. Walter Meyerle is spending 959 yrs in a PA state prison; I'll bet he'd love to get some happy letters from some third graders - maybe some pictures too. How about Maj. Nidal Hasan (Ft. Hood shooter) - poor guy is in a wheelchair. He could use some cheering up, and I'll bet he'd be glad to get some letters from these kids.

Any teacher who cultivates such disregard for the rule of law on impressionable third graders should be fired immediately, and it looks like that's what may be coming.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/teacher-suspended-class-write-notes-mumia-abu-jamal-30228661

Turtle · Apr 10, 2015

Actually, such a project warrants considerable time and attention in the classroom. It's an important case study of perverted justice. All you have to do is look at the groups who advocate for Mumia Abu-Jamal, versus the groups who not only advocate against him, but actively attempt to silence his advocates.

cheri1122 · Apr 11, 2015

Pilgrim said:
Of course there must be proof that the judge actually made that statement - other than hearsay that surfaced from one person many years after the trial?? If he had actually said that it could very likely have resulted in a mistrial. Why didn't the stenographer come forward then when it might have actually made a difference? It really doesn't matter because it's irrelevant to the issue.

I'm guessing she kept quiet in order to remain employed - judges have serious juice.

I keep looking for the sarcastic emoticons, rolling eyes, or something like that after this post but they're not there; you can't really be serious?! This convicted cold-blooded killer was given his due process all the way through the PA Supreme Court and his conviction was upheld at every phase. He's getting exactly what he deserved, which turned out be be even better than capital punishment: life in prison and a slow, miserable death.

Except when they turn out to have been not guilty after all of the due process. And decades in prison. Not saying Mumia is not guilty, but there is reason to think he just might be.

We should teach our children that people convicted of and imprisoned for cold blooded murder heinous crimes are very bad people who have been put in prison for good reasons - their own punishment and the safety of the general public. "Contempt" has nothing to do with it, but is a result of their own actions.

And only "very bad people" make mistakes - the police, prosecutors, judges never do. Contempt has everything to do with putting kneejerk emotional reactions in place of reason.

That has to be one of the most absurd statements ever posted in this forum, and that's a pretty high bar. "Hate" has nothing to do with this atrocity. Anyone who thinks a murderer like this Mumia character deserves "compassion" from innocent school kids (albeit imposed by an idiot teacher) must have some pretty warped social values. Walter Meyerle is spending 959 yrs in a PA state prison; I'll bet he'd love to get some happy letters from some third graders - maybe some pictures too. How about Maj. Nidal Hasan (Ft. Hood shooter) - poor guy is in a wheelchair. He could use some cheering up, and I'll bet he'd be glad to get some letters from these kids.

Warped social values? I'd attribute those to anyone who thinks prisoners don't deserve get well cards. There's a lot they don't deserve, but they're not getting any of it, and get well cards aren't on the list.

Any teacher who cultivates such disregard for the rule of law on impressionable third graders should be fired immediately, and it looks like that's what may be coming.

Disregard for the rule of law? Which law, exactly? Where in the rule of law does it say children should be taught that positive encouragement is deserved only by some people?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/teacher-suspended-class-write-notes-mumia-abu-jamal-30228661

Ragman · Apr 11, 2015

LDB said:
It isn't about the judge, who's a scuzzball. It's about whether a third grade teacher should be spending teaching time on such a project. As much as it would be a right thing to do to spend that time writing to wounded warriors instead of a wrong thing to spend that time writing a cop killer the teaching time should be spent on teaching. In any event, parents should be advised prior to such an activity and permission to participate given, especially when it involves a cop killer or other criminal.

Wow, Must be an alignment of the moons! I actually agree.

Turtle said:
Actually, such a project warrants considerable time and attention in the classroom. It's an important case study of perverted justice. All you have to do is look at the groups who advocate for Mumia Abu-Jamal, versus the groups who not only advocate against him, but actively attempt to silence his advocates.

But to third graders? I don't think so.

Turtle · Apr 11, 2015

Ragman said:
But to third graders? I don't think so.

Well, no probably not. But it's right around third grade when students are taught how to write, address, and mail a letter. This was probably a part of that curriculum. Without even checking it out, I feel confident in saying it was not a case of a teacher telling the students, "OK, kids, today you're all going to write 'get well' letters to a convicted cop killer who's feeling a little under thing weather."

cheri1122 · Apr 12, 2015

Turtle said:
Well, no probably not. But it's right around third grade when students are taught how to write, address, and mail a letter. This was probably a part of that curriculum. Without even checking it out, I feel confident in saying it was not a case of a teacher telling the students, "OK, kids, today you're all going to write 'get well' letters to a convicted cop killer who's feeling a little under thing weather."

Exactly. The reaction of the outraged presumes the teacher explained to the class that the recipient of their get well cards is a convicted cop killer, but we don't know anything at all about that. It would be nice to know what else was included in the lesson, [I don't believe kids have any place in political activities] before calling out the lynch mob.