Vermont's proud "organic, sustainable, localvore" traditions are being assaulted in the classroom. There'll be no talk of killin' in Kathleen Backus's fourth grade Bennington classroom. Even if it's a huntin' story told during snack time by accomplished young hunter Jared Harrington, son of Marty's Sporting Goods owner Mary Harrington.
Comments flew in the Wooden Soldier Restaurant Friday morning in Fair Haven, as patrons read the front page story. "I guess there are no fly swatters in her classroom," said one customer.
Hunting, particularly deer hunting, is an important boon to our economy at a critical time in the year when leaf-peeping dollars are disappearing and before the skiing dollars arrive. Hunters spend more than $189 million annually in Vermont, according to a 2006 National Survey by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Hunters have traditionally been the backbone of Vermont. And the safety of our country has always largely depended on them. If I were broken down on a backroad, and two vehicles approached, one a pickup truck with an NRA sticker and the other a BMW with a PETA sticker, I know which one I'd try to flag down for help.
The worst part is that the school wants to control the children's time so that the school can control what is talked about. That has a real smell to it.
Posted by: Lazarus Long | June 22, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Personally, I find the teacher's actions in the classroom to be reprehensible. The teacher needs to be disciplined or fired. I've known a lot of bad teacher behavior in my time, but none so stupid as that. What kind of example does this set when a supposed grown up acts in this manner in front of children?
I would also like to add that I'm a customer of the boy's father and he seems a decent, hard working man. I feel bad for the family to put up with this kind of nonsense. I'm going into Bennington and into his store and buy some more stuff. It would be nice if other Tiger readers would do likewise and show the family our support.
Posted by: Brattleboro_conservative | June 23, 2008 at 01:16 AM
Which car would you want your teenage daughter to encounter? none of the above? What about the pickup truck with the PETA sticker?
The article is one side's story. There is no information regarding what was said or how it was said. I'll have to wait to pass judgment until I hear both sides.
Posted by: d.k. | June 23, 2008 at 10:26 AM
d.k. there is a better chance of finding folks with honor and chivalry driving a pickup truck with a NRA sticker as opposed to a PETA sticker. I pity the soulless folks who don't find this teacher's behavior reprehensible.
Posted by: GreggB | June 23, 2008 at 12:46 PM
I have not seen a denial by the teacher or the principal. Seems like either of the local papers (Banner or Herald) would have loved to have that article. A little odd that they haven't so far.
d.k., I'd bet that if it was a pickup with a peta sticker and on a backroad, the sticker was for this organization -- http://www.mtd.com/tasty/ and not the pleather people.
Posted by: T. Shea | June 23, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Why does a person who loves hunting also necessarily support people owning assault rifles? I'd drive a truck with a gun rack, but I'll skip the NRA...it is a bit like saying if you support teachers you must love teacher's unions.
Posted by: TD | June 23, 2008 at 01:28 PM
I won't hold my breath while you prove :
"there is a better chance of finding folks with honor and chivalry driving a pickup truck with a NRA sticker as opposed to a PETA sticker. "
Funny how you grasp for some moral high ground, yet show that you do not accept the concepts of fair trial and of innocent until proven guilty.
Posted by: d.k. | June 23, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Are we testy since the public no longer assumes the moral high ground belongs to the left?
We don't need a trial, the teacher isn't guilty of a crime, just immature behavior not befitting someone who works with children. Fire her for incompetence and all is well.
Posted by: GreggB | June 23, 2008 at 02:33 PM
T. Shea should consider that if it weren't for the NRA, he wouldn't have to worry about gun racks or even guns. They'd all be gone by now.
C'mon, T. Shea. The NRA is all about the 2nd Amendment. If it falls, all the rest will go, too. Read your history!
Posted by: F. Neff | June 23, 2008 at 05:16 PM
F. Neff, I assume you are really commenting on TD's post.
I am a firm believer in the constitution, especially Amendment #2. I am also grateful that Vermont still has (for now) the state laws that most strictly adhere to Amendment #2.
I also know that Amendment #2 has NOTHING to do with hunting, rather the ability of the populace to retain the means to overthrow an out of control government, should the need arise again.
And no, this does NOT mean I am advocating a violent overthrow of the guv'mint.
Posted by: T. Shea | June 23, 2008 at 06:11 PM