Date: Sun, 04 Nov 2001 13:54:19 -0500
From: Terri Washer 
To: tnellen@iris.host4u.net
Subject: Re(2): a request 

Ted, right now I'm practically speechless and have a pit in my stomach
after perusing this page.  I'm not sure what avenue you're taking on this
presentation or what you're hoping to glean from my response, but I have
fairly strong feelings.  My thoughts are random, not fluent.  Try to piece
them.

First, I'm amazed that these children appear to be so schooled in the
evils and history of America's "past sins."  Their thoughts are complete,
but, my gosh, the tone of those thoughts. . .  America has definitely been
presented as a horrible ogre, and one student made a subtle allusion to
the mixed messages that seem be being presented by the US sending both
bombs and food.  He/she had images of bombs and food being dropped from
the same jets.  That must be confusing -- "Live so we can torment you." 
Don't get me wrong, I believe in both of these behaviors, but I also see
where that must be difficult to comprehend.

The brainwashing that these young students have experienced is quite
evident in their writings, too.  "Bin Laden doesn't have the brains or
power to put this together" was repeated in several works.  It's no wonder
that these young ones think that we're the enemy.  The political cartoon
used as a prompt is a fairly strong example of not-so-subtle brainwashing. 

I'm not sure of your relationship with the Pakistani teacher, but I found
his/her grading rather interesting.  Did you notice that Natasha sored the
equivalent of a 53?  10 1/2 out of 20?  (She was the one student who
commented that she didn't feel war or terror would solve anything and that
differences need to be handled peacefully.)     The teacher said that she
didn't have enough supporting evidence and needed more details. 
Interestingly, this teacher placed large check marks in the margins and
presented high grades when students pointed out America's faults and how
we should be punished.

My thoughts and feelings are quite similar to those I experienced when
going through my divorce 11 years ago. . .we can never work this out. 
These student responses cause me to feel overwhelmed and lose sight of
hope for a better understanding in my children's world.  They also explain
the need for a different type of global warming -- tolerance for one
another.

How are you dealing with this after witnessing it first hand?  What are
YOUR thoughts about these letters?  Am I completely off-base?  Did this
help you at all?  You need to remember that I live in a sheltered
environment. . .not the bad big apple.


Terri Washer
Crossroads Academy
Grovetown, GA