I've lived in Mtn Home since 1989, so that's...hold on...I'm thinking...WOW! Exactly 25 years! Boy, I think I can almost declare myself an Idahoan. But my family is British and I grew up in Louisiana around lots of other Brits so I still think I'm a little bit of a mutt. Those of you who have been around awhile may remember when I used to blog all the time. My opinions weren't very accepted and there was always an issue because I work for the county. That really wasn't fair because I NEVER blog at work! And I am still entitled to my opinions and thoughts about city and county issues, right? However, it stirred a lot of pots and those pots certainly can make a lot of noise! Since I'm a writer, I took what I wrote in my blog seriously so I spent a lot of time researching things which got exhausting to do when you're not even get a paycheck for it. So I stopped. That was a blessing to many! However, to this day, I still have people stop me and ask me why I wasn't blogging and t! hey missed it. I've missed it. Mainly because there are so many issues that come up and I have no voice except around my friends and I'm sure they are tired of it.

Kids take a Stand or Just Skipping School

Posted Thursday, March 3, 2011, at 12:29 AM

I got a text from my daughter on Monday, bless her heart, telling me that she had left school to protest. My first thought was relieved that she would make sure that I knew where she was and what she was doing. My second thought was kinda proud that she would make a stand for something she believed in. However, I am a mother and so called Queen of the Morons so I will admit that the words I texted to her were as follows:

Her: Mommy, I am protesting.

Me: What are you doing?

Her: protesting

Me: U in school?

Her: No but I won't get in trouble cus there is alot of people doing it. They said its ok if its ok with ur teacher. she said I could go protest with everyone.

Me: Where?

Her: Standing in front of Dollar Store yelling No More Luna.

Me: You have teachers there?

Her: No cuz not everyone in class left cuz you don't have to go if u don't want to.

Me: Do you even know what you are protesting? Have any of you read the bill?

Her: We know what it's about

Me: So u r against getting a laptop? Online classes? More science or technology training?

Her: Yes, I'm against it!

Me: Ur against that some teachers may lose their jobs.

Her: Yes

Me: Did you actually get to read the bill?

Her: They told us about it.

Me: So you are protesting based on what someone told you? If u protest u should have all info b4 making a decision.

Her: We do! ok!

Me: The teachers explained it?

Her: Yes

Me: Really?

Her: Yes all of us

Me: What don't you like about it?

Her: That teachers will lose their jobs

Me: It's not all about that. It is more

Her: I know!

Me: I don't think you can know if you didn't read it. You can't make a decision about it if you don't get all of the info for yourself.

Her: I know enough!

That was the end of the conversation as I drove by the Dollar Store. The students weren't there so I drove by the school and my daughter was safely back in class. My feelings as a Mother are very mixed. Concerned! Worried! Angry! Confused?? She just answered my questions. What am I supposed to think? I know that I am not comfortable with the idea of teachers complaining about this bill, giving their feelings about it to the students. If there was to be discussions about it with the students, then first all of them should have had the bill to read before making their decision. I am all about protesting something that you are against. Taking a stand is a proud thing for a Mother to see in her child. Following blindly without being informed is not such a proud thing. Allowing yourself to be influenced without demanding to know the whole story is dangerous. However, this could all just be a great way for the kids to get out of class for an hour or so; blow off steam, enjoy yelling and being part of a group rebelling against something. Afterall, she's only 14. This little trip could have all been about getting away with it and being a follower. I can't help but worry. She's a teenager.

Comments

View 15 comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

Kim:

you asked all the right questions. Our kids don't know enough at times but they want to be grown-up and formulate their own opinions.

I used to make my own mom cringe with some of my "causes". I didn't skip school or lead a protest. But I conducted "surveys" for Speech Class. And some of my speeches involved research into controversial subjects.

Any way. Good Job Kim!

-- Posted by KH Gal on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 7:39 AM
Good Job Kim

I think you asked all the right questions and it sounds like you have a good relationship going on with your daughter.

I seen the news the other night where they interviewed some kids in Boise and they said their teachers encouraged them to go and protest...... seems the teachers here are not alone when they feel the need to have our kids do some outside work for them. The protest I guess was sort of like an excused field trip here !

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 8:58 AM
Even for a field trip they have to get the parents permission. Now these scumbag pimps just impose their personal opinion on the kids? Be still my heart, its not all about the children after all.

-- Posted by CountryDweller on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 11:55 AM
My daughter goes to Meridian High and she also walked out - she is very informed of the bill and she is only a freshman -(she was even on the radio telling about it) we tried to look up the bill on line but there is NO site - even the public records where we could find the exact bill so we have to trust the newscasters and teachers and politicians as to what it really says - I saw Mr. Luna on the news the other day and he really whitewashes over the kids protest - he is in la la land - these kids are speaking out that they do NOT want their teacher replaced with laptops!! my daughter is getting all A's this year (since coming to Idaho and EXPERIENCING their wonderful teachers with a hands on approach!!!) These teachers are NEEDED badly - I promise you a computer screen is NOT going to explain things to our kids or understand their frustrations if they are not getting the material!!! LET THE CHILDREN SPEAK THEIR MINDS - THEY ARE OUR FUTURE! - Sincerely, a concerened MOM!!

-- Posted by janakiser on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 12:15 PM
janakiser,

Most of the students feel like they are "very informed" on the bills. They have been educated on these bills by "their wonderful teachers". I do not trust that thet were given all of the information without the bias the teachers would naturally have, given the circumstances. These are the same teachers who are encouraging the students to walk out and protest these bills and to make the verbal attacks on Mr. Luna. Did your daughter hold a Luna-tic or Luna-cy sign? A large number of sons and duaghters did. I do not believe that this is what I want my children to learn.

What are you using as a baseline when you judge online learning? Have you experianced this educational tool or are you just winging it? A computer will give an unbiased, non opionated education. I do not believe that all learning should be accomplished online, but there are classes that are condusive to that environment.

-- Posted by jtrotter on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 12:47 PM
That should have read ...that they, not that thet... and opinionated, not opionated. Sorry.

-- Posted by jtrotter on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 12:55 PM
janakiser,

Oh yeah I bet you're real edumacated huh? Try this dummy....

Idaho department of Education where they have these links. http://www.sde.idaho.gov/

1108 http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1108.pdf

1110 http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1110.pdf

1113 http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1113.pdf

Figures that someone that can't even find the bills online would shoot her mouth off before she knew what she was talking about. Oh but thats what you're teaching your lil white trashyness to do as well so it makes sense.

-- Posted by CountryDweller on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 1:57 PM

Brenda Fincher, Bus. Mgr., MHNews
Wow!!! What part of be nice did you not get?
Country Dweller, you give free speech a bad name. In my opinion, the only thing these students are guilty of is showing poor judgment and making bad choices. To refer to them in the manner in which you do, is disgusting and vile. That type of attitude and arrogance belongs in the gutter with the bigots and the Nazis.

-- Posted by CuriousParents on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 2:37 PM
HAHA at County Dweller...Little harsh but kinda what I was thinkin!

-- Posted by bloodyknuckles on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 2:43 PM
Thanks Curious. I shed a little tear for ya. Why is it that someone can throw out an accusation on our whole system like they are trying to hide the bill and that is not mean or not nice but directly confronting them is mean? I'll tell you why. Because you don't agree with my side of the argument so its bigoted or nazi blag blah blah. I'm so sick of you little weak minded idiots trying to pull some card every time you don't agree with a point of view. You only agree with the 1st when it suits you otherwise you want speech shut down by calling it nazi or bigoted. You're an idiot and prove it every time you post.

-- Posted by CountryDweller on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 2:59 PM
I guess I just dont understand how someone can claim that their child is very informed on something that they havent read. I dont know whats in the bill, I havent read it, so i really dont have an oppinion as of yet. I do however, hear alot of people complaining about whats in this bill. When I ask them to please explain what parts of the bill are inciting them the most, they all seem to refer to the online education part. When I ask them if they have read the whole bill, I get the same response, no I havent read any of it. Im not going to bash anyone for their oppinions, they have a right to believe as they like. I just wish more people, including myself would read the bill and see just whats in it before making a decision. The local news channels appear to be only reporting on how people are against this bill. Perhaps they should explain some of the ideas to us common folk. I know that will never happen, so I guess i have to go read it for myself.

-- Posted by KRKJR on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 4:07 PM
And yet another example of those tax dollars at work! Perhaps during school hours the teachers can teach and skip the politics. And now Mr. Murray and Jim Alexander can get on here and say how misguided this all is.

It is enough to make an educated person want to vomit.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Thu, Mar 3, 2011, at 9:15 PM
The day this blog was posted, I got a call. I was asked many questions. I will tell you that the school powers that be are not happy at all. I was assured that the school administration will not allow teachers discussing this bill with the kids and giving their opinions. I truly believe that the school board and Principle have done what they can to discourage emotionally charged "soap-box" discussions. They have specifically told the teachers that they weren't allowed to talk about this Luna Bill to the kids or give their opinions. I was also told: The teachers were told that any kid leaving school couldn't be stopped and that the kids would be marked absent. The kids could be excused if the parent gave permission for them to leave. However, I was also told several times by my kids that they were given permission to walk-out, encouraged to do it. (by mis-guided teachers and students who haven't even read the entire bills)

-- Posted by kimkovac on Sat, Mar 5, 2011, at 6:56 AM
I agree that they have done all they could. It would have been impossible to resolve MY situation more to my satisfaction. Mr Gilbert and the district did an outstanding job in every way.

-- Posted by VT on Sat, Mar 5, 2011, at 8:40 AM
NO walmart doesnt but you can get end off rolls of printing paper from the newspaper or any one who has a large printing press.

THE NONE STOP LETS GO AFTER ANYTHING THAT IS NOT NEO CONSERVATIVE IS OUT OF HAND.....YOU DONT LIVE IN THIS WORLD ALONE. the only tolerance and understanding i hear is for your way or else.IS THAT AMERICA????????? nOT THE ONE I GREW UP IN

-- Posted by lamont on Thu, Mar 10, 2011, at 8:23 AM

Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register