Update (2/22/12): I called Loretta Harper to ask her about the program, and she said the students aren't getting extra credit, but class credit. More at the bottom of the post.
We've had public schools teaching kids to literally sing President Obama's praises, so why not take a more direct route and put those kids to work?
Never mind that Nevada's high school graduation rate currently sits under 45 percent, liberals have a president to elect. We all have to get our priorities straight now, people.
In case you were wondering how Nevada can nearly triple inflation-adjusted, per-pupil education spending in the last 50 years and get stagnant results, tidbits like this provide part of the answer.
Update (2/21/2012): Shortly after I published this post, I called Loretta Harper to ask her for more details about this. Her is what she had to say:
First, she said the kids weren't receiving extra credit as the RJ reported, they were receiving actual class credit. Students need 7.5 "extra curricular" credits to graduate and volunteering 60 hours gets them .5 credits. (There are other ways to get these credits too.)
Second, when I asked her if students approached her about volunteering for Obama or if she suggested it, her reply was "both ways." (Emphasis added.) So, yes, she did use her position as a school counselor to steer students into volunteering for Obama's campaign. If this was a private school, this wouldn't be an issue, but she works for a public school.
Third, I asked her if the same thing would hold for a student wanting to volunteer for a Republican presidential candidate, and she said it would, but no students have asked her about that.
And yes, she is planning on having students volunteer for Obama to receive class credit again this year.
Update: Thanks to Patterico for the link and the kind words!
Update: Thanks to Gateway Pundit for the link!
We've had public schools teaching kids to literally sing President Obama's praises, so why not take a more direct route and put those kids to work?
Loretta Harper of Las Vegas is a newly named national co-chair of President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. ...No word on if Harper, who makes $74,000 a year plus benefits, plans to expand outreach "efforts" like this nationwide now that she's a co-chair of Obama's re-election campaign, but if you've got "free labor" available, why not take advantage?
Harper, 58, is a counselor at Desert Pines High School. She’s also a member of the Board of Directors of the Nevada State Educators Association.
During the 2008 Obama campaign, when he won Nevada on his way to the presidency, Harper said she got more than 100 students extra credit when they volunteered to help elect the Democrat. (Emphasis added.)
Never mind that Nevada's high school graduation rate currently sits under 45 percent, liberals have a president to elect. We all have to get our priorities straight now, people.
In case you were wondering how Nevada can nearly triple inflation-adjusted, per-pupil education spending in the last 50 years and get stagnant results, tidbits like this provide part of the answer.
Update (2/21/2012): Shortly after I published this post, I called Loretta Harper to ask her for more details about this. Her is what she had to say:
First, she said the kids weren't receiving extra credit as the RJ reported, they were receiving actual class credit. Students need 7.5 "extra curricular" credits to graduate and volunteering 60 hours gets them .5 credits. (There are other ways to get these credits too.)
Second, when I asked her if students approached her about volunteering for Obama or if she suggested it, her reply was "both ways." (Emphasis added.) So, yes, she did use her position as a school counselor to steer students into volunteering for Obama's campaign. If this was a private school, this wouldn't be an issue, but she works for a public school.
Third, I asked her if the same thing would hold for a student wanting to volunteer for a Republican presidential candidate, and she said it would, but no students have asked her about that.
And yes, she is planning on having students volunteer for Obama to receive class credit again this year.
Update: Thanks to Patterico for the link and the kind words!
Update: Thanks to Gateway Pundit for the link!
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19 comments:
I would think such a practice would be illegal? I'm almost speechless...
Wow i did not know that a counselor at a the High school i graduated from had such a huge role in electing the president. I think it is awesome.
With a name like Rashon I doubt that you actually did graduate.
I graduated with a 3.7 GPA and I have a college degree so Anonymous you should really think about what you are saying and who you are saying it to. Well i am glad that I have proven you wrong.
"Well i am glad that I have proven you wrong."
Yes, and I'm the pope. With critical thinking of that caliber it's no surprise you'd support an idiot like Obama.
Anon - please stop the name calling.
Victor
I called the school and spoke with Ms. Harper. I questioned the practice. I asked several different questions and she answered all with the same answer, which was that there is a community service booth where students could at the beginning of the year sign up for community service requiring parental consent.
She wouldn't comment on her own promotion of a political position and student activism as part of the school curriculum.
She stated that if students requested to assist with Republican campaigns they would be provided with the appropriate phone numbers. Of course, no conservative political options are automatically offered.
As I pressed her further about the conflict of interest, she would not answer but continued with the before mentioned talking point, then said she was ending the call and hung up.
Everyone should call. The phone number is easily found with a search of the school's name in Las Vegas.
I'm not surprised she changed what she said -- this is a big story.
When I called her to find out what happened, here's what she told me. First, she gave me background on the program (which is why I changed the text from extra credit to class credit and added the extra details). She never mentioned a community booth, although she did mention she didn't have contact info for any of the Republican candidates' campaigns.
Then I asked her if the students approached her to volunteer for Obama or if she suggested they volunteer for Obama, and she said it happened "both ways."
I then asked her if someone wanted to volunteer for a Republican candidate, if they would also receive class credit. She said they would, but that no one had so far.
Giving kids class credit for volunteering may or may not be a good idea, but have a public school employee (who's now a co-chair of Obama's re-election campaign) steer students to volunteer for Obama (or for any Republican candidate) isn't appropriate.
That's the crux of this story and why it's outrageous.
They Removed GOD from schools. Keep politics out of schools
I was speechless, then I took a deep breathe and thought, the first time, First African American President, historic, great teaching moment, ok. But to think that we have a teacher who would not insist on teaching choice and the civil and political process that we so need to learn, is a waste of my tax dollars. My christian,political and constitutional views on the subject, make me want to ask what is the 30% rule?
Why is this such a huge deal? She is not persuading anyone into being democratic or republican? I graduated 2009 and i had no idea she supported President Obama so I feel like you all are trying to make this into something that it really is not. She is a counselor that has done her job and now it is her right to support whoever she wants to.
To my fellow bloggers;
I can't tell you how disappointed and offended I am to know that my tax dollars are being funneled to a teacher that bribes her students with class credit, to support a particular political person or party. The next thing will be to promote a particular religion and maybe even a particular alternate life style with substance abuse attached for more class credit. This type of activity is not supporting the plight of teacher pay across the board and with this type of incentive for students to graduate, now wonder we are in such a mess. Just an old veteran cop reflecting,
Gordon Martines
CURRE.ORG
@ Gordon Martinez. The daily “Minute of silence” in the public schools IS a form of state sponsored religion.
If she is a "counselor", whose class is she getting them credit for? Why would a "counselor" need to advise high school students on the need to support any political candidate when they are not of voting age in most cases? I don't agree that this should be allowed, but if the school does allow it, then another "counselor" of opposing candidates needs to be provided to students. I have a feeling this "counselor" position is another unnecessary expense that the school district should cut.
Anonymous,
They are earning a portion of the elective credits that they need to graduate by volunteering their time. It should not matter where they are volunteering as long as they are doing something productive. It seems like it is a HUGE deal because she is a co-chair for the President but she is not using her position to sway kids or anything. She is aiding them in the process of graduating.
@ Rashon, she was doing them a dis-service by not encouraging at least half of the students to work for a candidate from the other side. After that she should have had them write up some notes and compare results. This would have shown the students the whole process instead of one side and encouraged them to listen to opinions other than their own. Truly an injustice here.
Rashon, how are you a college graduate if you attended the high school I 2009? Busted.
I have an associates degree from the University of Phoenix. People are hilarious.
@ Steve, okay i understand where you are coming from and i do not disagree with your point. I can see where there is a bias or perception that she is being bias.
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