My Soap Box

[Merika]

I don't know how everyone else feels about this....but I'm really tired of people living in America and showing no respect for our country. Perhaps this teacher could've reacted differently, but personally, I applaud him. I would've wanted to kick the little sh*t in the butt myself.

Being against a war or not liking Bush is a person's perogative. Showing disrespect for their country- ISN'T! It's very simple....if you don't like it here....get the hell out. No one cares.
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Incident may lead to cell phone ban
Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/1/05
By NAOMI MUELLER
TOMS RIVER BUREAU


BRICK -- The Board of Education may toughen its policy on use of wireless telephones in schools, after a videotape showing a Brick Township High School teacher screaming at his students to show respect for the national anthem — and then pulling the chair from underneath one student who refused to stand — was posted on several independent Web sites.

The tape was made by a student in Stuart Mantel's class and shows Mantel screaming at his students about standing quietly while "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played. When a student, identified on the Web site only as "Jay," refused to stand, the video shows Mantel yanking the chair from under him.

Although state statute does not specifically address whether a student must stand during the national anthem, Ron Rice, a spokesman with the state Department of Education, said there have been numerous court rulings stating that a student cannot be punished for refusing to stand while the Pledge of Allegiance is recited. Rice said those same rules apply to the anthem.

On the video, Mantel

tells the class to stand and keep their mouths shut. At one point, whistling can be heard, to which Mantel screams for the student to stop. He also told the students to stop whispering.

Then, while the anthem is playing, Mantel approached Jay, who was sitting, and told him to stand. When Jay told Mantel he did not have to stand, Mantel pulled the chair from under him.

"Are you serious?" Jay asked.

"I am damn well serious," Mantel replied.

Link for rest of story: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...NEWS/503010489

[Samson]

You know Merika, this story goes well with the Microsoft Teddy Bear monitor story, because quite frankly, the monitoring of teachers and students should be done to prevent nut cases like this teacher from being around kids. Yes, patriotism is important, and should be taught, but do you think the best way to do it is verbally abusing, and perhaps physically injuring kids that do not stand and recite the pledge?

[Merika]

Chances are....he had addressed the issue many times....that's why the kids had the cell phone ready to do camera shots. They set him up....becuase they are brats to begin with.

I can speak as a Mom of teens who has their friends around MUCH too frequently.... there just comes a time when raising your voice and yeah, pulling a chair out from under their smart mouthed butts.....seem HUMOROUS to me!

If I had the teacher's name... I'd send him flowers and a box of cookies.

[Star]

that teacher was deffinately set up by these rotten kids. they peed him off on purpose to set him up to look bad. They are manipulative troublemakers that get off on other people's pain. I bet they're the bullies at that school too.

That teacher should get a trophy for having to teach those little brats!

[Merika]

Isis was late back from lunch one too many times.....so the school called me to ask if it was okay to put her on after school detention for a couple of afternoons. Even the school seems hesitant to discipline these kids for fear of law suits.

I told them it was not only okay with me...but to give her a broom and make her sweep the halls while she was there! HAHA!

[Star]

LMAO!! teachers are afraid to discipline because they could get sued easily! it's crazy!

I sat with krystal everyday for a month after school in an extra help class to make sure she would behave and pay attention. It worked, she got better grades then she didn't need the help anymore so my sitting with her days were over. She didn't like that too much! it was very embarassing for her. but i told her that if she did what she was supposed to do in the first place, i wouldn't of had to be there holding her hand like a 2 year old. she was in the 7th grade.

[Duke]

I'm on the fence on this one. Yes all the kids should prolly do the same thing, any less is disrespectful to the teachers wishes IMO. I haven't seen the vid yet but I do have a problem with adults screaming at kids for any reason. That's not exactly my idea of setting a good example.

[Star]

I do agree with the teachers screaming at the kids thing too. my kids had teachers like that, always screaming. i have to ask myself if any other teacher hears them scream or maybe even the principle...if so, why aren't they being disciplined for screaming?

I did tell one of kassandra's teachers once that she is never to scream and yell at my daughter again. i told her she's got excellent hearing, she doesn't need to be yelled at. of course the teacher denied it but at least she knew that i knew she did it. kassandra never complained again after that. She was only in the 1st grade when that happened! my poor little baby girl. she was yelling at the whole class and it scared kassandra.

[Merika]

Sn00p: Why are you yelling?
Mom: Because this is the 5th time I've told you.
Sn00p: Told me what?
Mom: To put your shoes on.
Sn00p: Where are they?
Mom: Where did you take them off at?
Sn00p: Okay
5 minutes later....Sn00py is still watching TV with no shoes on.
Mom: (yelling) PUT YOUR SHOES ON!
Sn00p: I hate when you yell at me....you are always yelling at me.

hahaha.....that's how MY morning went...today...and yesterday....and the day before. We go through the same thing everyday. And yes....it makes me yell!

[Star]

Originally Posted by Merika

Sn00p: Why are you yelling?
Mom: Because this is the 5th time I've told you.
Sn00p: Told me what?
Mom: To put your shoes on.
Sn00p: Where are they?
Mom: Where did you take them off at?
Sn00p: Okay
5 minutes later....Sn00py is still watching TV with no shoes on.
Mom: (yelling) PUT YOUR SHOES ON!
Sn00p: I hate when you yell at me....you are always yelling at me.

hahaha.....that's how MY morning went...today...and yesterday....and the day before. We go through the same thing everyday. And yes....it makes me yell!

sounds like what i have to do with kassandra! LMAO! must be the age. snoopy and kassandra are about the same age right? she's just turned 13. I have to tell her to do everything at least 5 times and by then i'm yelling and she says the same thing. why you always yelling at me? i say, because you don't hear me unless i do!! geesh!!!! kids! LOL!

but you know what? if anyone's going to yell at my kids, it'll be me or their father. I wouldn't yell at any other person's kids and never have and i have had a lot of kids stay here in the past! I didn't even yell at my 2 nieces that i had living with me for months.

[darkangelism]

Thats like what my brother is like he is 14

[Duke]

Wait for a cold, miserable, rainy day and drag him outside with no shoes on, that'll learn 'em.

[Merika]

He wouldn't care Duke. Like most men....he would be content to live in a pair of boxers.....he only changed twice a week. LMAO!

I really am not as mad at the shoe thing....as the fact that if he isn't ready....he runs out of the door late to ride his bike to school with his friends.,...and forgets all his other stuff. This mean that once he realizes he forgot his money, notebook and whatever else he needed....I will have to get dressed and bring it down to the school.

Yes.....I've tried giving him checklists.....but he loses them too! HAHA!

[Star]

aren't kids fun when they reach puberty? :?