Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Patriotic/Unpatriotic Facts After teaching middle school Social Studies for many years, I decided to go back to school to get my graduate degree. In one of my classes, we studied James Loewen's Lies My Teacher Told Me. I was so influenced by this book and the idea that we have been presenting students inaccurate information that I have been thoroughly researching the content I teach before presenting it to my students. Recently we have been studying international affairs of the US government. Some of the information I presented revealed actions the US government engaged in other countries that resulted in killings and disturbances. My students were interested in the materials and some of the issues we discussed in class made dinner-time discussions at home. One of the parents who is a retired army officer came to the school to talk to my principal. He told the principal that I was indoctrinating students. When my principal told me about this, I explained to her that all the information I presented was factual and that I researched the information from multiple resources. Her suggestion to me was that I should focus more on teaching patriotic materials. I am so frustrated that I do not have the support of my principal. Also, I disagree that what I teach is unpatriotic. I am simply trying to teach accurate information. If I continue doing what I do, I may lose my job. However, I do not want to give up teaching my students the truth. How should I go about this issue? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) This is a delicate situation that requires one to carefully weigh their options. If you stick with the truth than you may lose your job. If you sugar-coat a lesson, than you are not being true to your priorities. I would start by considering the age group of these students. I have worked with middle school students for two years as a substitute teacher and I cannot say that I truly believe in their maturity to accept such serious truths about our world and their country. I don't believe that I would be brave enough to venture out into the realm of presenting them with such gruesome and disturbing facts. However, I do believe in teaching the truth. I do believe that students need to be exposed to different perspectives. I would approach this situation by assigning them to collect current events from various news sources on a particular topic. If the student's research leads them to findings that would be rated "mature", I would not steer them away from it. As one person suggested before me, I would facilitate the discussions about these findings. Maybe do a "pros" and "cons" of American invasions of other countries. This way, they will see both sides. As far as having administrative backing, this is crucial in our line of work. I would not want to get to a point where I am being targeted and feel as if all my actions are being scrutinized by my superiors. I would ask my administrators how I can approach these lessons. I would also ask if I could take a seminar or a professional development course that will show me how I can approach and manage controversy in the classroom. As educators, we are responsible for being clear and precise on what we want students to walk away with for the day. If a parent is unsatisfied with what their child brought home, than there is a likelihood that they will complain about it. In my short four years of teaching, I have come to believe that my profession sometime feels like "customer service." We have people to please and satisfy with the services we provide. Why should educators feel that they are exempt from this? It is unfortunate, but it is how I feel.