I posted a link to an article about Veteran's returning and going to college with that fancy GI Bill! If you have anyone around you that is a veteran, recently returned etc.. Please read it. Here's my brief story. My guy came back and was on fire to go to school. He started classes 3 weeks after getting home. I thought it was too soon, he could hardly wait! It went bad fast.. First, he was in pain, second, he couldn't remember when to go. Third, and worst of all, he had a political science teacher that would not shut up about how useless the war was. Hey, say that to a Purple Heart Veteran that has had to bury friends, who is trying to get a life back, one who would love to ambush you rather than listen to you... He dropped the class. The other class, Algebra...the math teacher wrote in red on the board, was too lazy to get an eraser and instead erased his equations with his hand then proudly showed that to the class, "hey, it looks like blood." It didn't go over well for my medic man. Who had already seen too much blood and blown up bodies. It had been three weeks since he patrolled the streets of Baghdad. He came home with his own injuries...
Veteran's are all different, especially in this nutty war... A supply clerk is likely to engage the enemy.... However, the Infantry, the SEALS, the absolute war PITBULLS of patrol, they have a longer way to go to get back to "Calm Labrador Retriever" status. OK, not maligning dogs here or Screaming Eagles, just mentioning that experiences are different. What if we put together an inservice for colleges on how to incorporate the veteran into classes. Please read that MSNBC article...It's long, but good.
Second- The Bombshells Party! Pretty Women, good books and fund raising for Soldiers! Please read the Bombshell Party entry and send me your great comments. In the meantime..
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2487638612433437293&q=Veterans
A heart warming video for the Veteran SOUL! or click this link! Party on! Click the heading to go to the link--
Monday, April 23, 2007
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3 comments:
"Third, and worst of all, he had a political science teacher that would not shut up about how useless the war was. Hey, say that to a Purple Heart Veteran that has had to bury friends, who is trying to get a life back, one who would love to ambush you rather than listen to you... He dropped the class."
Fundamentally, this just sounds wrong to me. We're not allowed to discuss politics in any way shape or form at my hosp/university, and it's part of the WA state/univ. system (public hosp, university hosp, VA). Is your man willing to make a complaint to the admin uppers? The higher he goes the better (I'd recommend e-mailing the Univ/college president, dept chairperson, the provosts (esp one of faculty development etc), and every dean (arts and sciences, of students, of faculty, etc). CC'ing any student groups that support him couldn't hurt. The e-mail can be short and simply written--they should take him very seriously--although I would understand if he didn’t.
This faculty member has a right to free speech but I'm fairly certain not in his classroom in this particular situation--he's being paid to teach, and I'm pretty certain his employer has rules about this that this faculty member is disregarding (even if it is a private school). The fact that this faculty used the word “useless” to describe his opinion on the war suggests to me he thinks he’s intellectually better than those who support it, and is more interested in how he feels about things than he is in his students’ feelings. If he was teaching critical thinking and writing and presented both sides of the 'debate' (sans personal opinions) it would be different.
You're a teacher, published author, etc. and you might have a different opinion on what goes on in the classroom. I'm obviously not a teacher (!). I've worked at three universities over the past 15 years and had been married to faculty (I‘ve been involved in all sides except the personal view from the faculty desk), so this may explain my enthusiasm here. :) My ex never expresses his personal beliefs in class b/c he doesn't believe they are important (plus he's also just very private)--getting the student to develop their own critical thinking skills and being able to defend them on paper is what is important. I mean--if a student cannot use personal opinions alone to substantiate their claims in a paper (not a personal essay), a college instructor has no business hurling them at students. That’s my take, at any rate.
Certain things rile me, and not following rules, inappropriate behavior, and self-absorbed people who continually put themselves first drive me batty. Feel free not to publish. :) I won't be offended!
He dropped out rather than confront and I don't know why. I wrote our assemblywoman to ask her to write a bill to provide a sensitivity inservice to all UC, State and junior colleges in order to help vets transition back to school. It's one thing for admin to attract them, it's another thing to know what red-flag behaviors to avoid. The teachers don't know....but they can be taught.
There is so much money available for schools I would think they would try to attract and keep the veteran students, NOT further traumatize them.
Excellent points! I wasn't considering the 'not knowing they were being insensitive' angle at all, which makes total sense. And those I have had conversations with who are vehemently anti-war usually assume everyone agrees with them, including the troops themselves.
Your idea is excellent and makes a lot of sense, much more than my suggestion to complain, although I think complaining here is fine also. ;) I would imagine most teachers would be personally interested in an inservice dedicated to this. Teachers nowadays are asked to wear so many hats!
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