February 26, 2009 10:31 AM
Raising politically aware and confident teens
The difference between conservative and liberal teens - in general - is that conservative teens know how to think, analyze and discuss.
Contrary to the stereotype that they are just echoing their parents' views - as one of Maddy's teachers recently opined in Latin class - most of them are used to lively dinner discussions and debates. They are not growing up with parents who echo the Mainstream Media's Blame Bush/Assassinate Conservatives Attack Machine.
(Tripp, btw, went to talk to this teacher a few weeks ago. We'd been hearing about his classroom put-downs of conservatives for years since he's had a number of our kids as students. He's a nice, funny, intelligent guy - and a popular teacher - all the more reason why he should be more respectful of diversity in his classroom. Funny, but he would say conservatives don't respect diversity - I see it exactly the opposite with liberals who think Their Way or The Highway.)
One of the frustrating things Maddy found in the months running up to the election was that while she was equipped to discuss issues and would have welcomed some give-and-take with liberal friends, their talking points were limited to ad hominem attacks and mindless slogans. When confronted, they had no knowledge of the issues at all.
Conservative kids are familiar with the liberal point of view. It's all around us, isn't it? And they have to endure teachers who use their bully pulpits to try to - in the self-righteous teachers' minds - undo the damage their parents have done by raising them with a conservative point of view. What presumption!!!! All based on the idea that conservatives are stupid and liberals are smart. I said it before, but it bears repeating: what presumption!!!!
As a former radical liberal, I can tell you from experience that where there is logic and reason, there is conservatism. Where there is passion and confusion . . . .
Well, you get the point.
We have had discussions here about the place of politics in the lives of parents. I know many readers here have left because they want to see MommyLife stick to raising kids.
But, moms and dads, this is part of raising kids!!! Obama & Co are so busy saddling the future generations with indebtedness to finance their socialist agenda - all based on building voting blocs to keep themselves in power - these kids must understand the economic and political forces at work and be prepared to deal with them when their turn in the voting booth comes.
They must be equipped to analyze and sort through the issues and hear the truth - in spite of the Government/Media complex which would rather analyze Michelle Obama's toned arms than dig into the fairy tale of Obama's promising the world to the plebes out here by limiting the salary and perks of CEOS - even while conspicuously consuming every White House perk he can.
Don't forget to read Animal Farm by March 12 - and have your spouse and your kids read it too.
Other resources:
Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity
World Magazine
Heritage Foundation
American Thinker
Critical Thinking Skills - teach your children to think for themselves
Feel free to add your own ideas.
Posted in Homeschooling, Loudoun County, Obama Nation, Public schools, Teens and Tweens | Permalink
Comments
Right on, Barbara! You are such an inspiration. Thank you for being such a source of encouragement to all conservative parents. May our Lord bless and keep you close to His most Sacred Heart.
Kate
Posted by: Kate Hollmann | February 26, 2009 10:23 AM
I would though advise being aware of how Rush phrases some of this emotions, such as "bending over, grabbing your ankles and taking it". That phrase may not be the best way for children to be thinking in a way to talk to their peers and teachers because most likly the child would get in trouble.
[Note from Barbara - you are right, I'm not fond of that metaphor, just as I am not fond of Viagra commercials or Cosmopolitan covers in the grocery store. Our children swim in a constant sea of pollution. I would certainly not advise against them hearing Rush's brilliant analysis because of this. And I have a feeling you are baiting and probably have no objection to Bill Maher or SNL's crude material. But glad to hear you are a Rush listener :) ]
Posted by: J.D. | February 26, 2009 10:29 AM
My kids are all conservatives. Some even more conservative than I am. One a deeply devout Catholic. It's good for them to hear opposing arguments as it forces them to always think about their beliefs and opinions instead of just reacting out of habit. My son's close friend, also a conservative, is one of the top debate kids in the country, and earned himself a spot at Harvard because of his strong arguments mostly against liberal stances.
It is very important to recognize the worth and truth in opposing views, or you risk becoming as a stereotype, as I believe Rush Limbaugh has become. Even the most conservative folks here shake their head at him and consider him as entertainment in our area.
[Note from Barbara: The only reason Rush is a stereotype is because of the purposeful misrepresentation and marginalization of him. If you or your neighbors had been listening to him the past month you would know he is the only person who was faithfully analyzing and reporting on the Stimulus Bill you seem to have so much hope in but so little detailed information on.]
Posted by: Cath Young | February 26, 2009 11:34 AM
I have been listening to Rush this month. And many of us are analyzing the Stimulus Bill very carefully in hopes of getting some relief. Many of us are in dire straits, and right now that is the only life preserver thrown out to us. It just might get us through this year...maybe. And so we hope it works. I have read every word of the bill and have detailed every bit of the bill, as we, as a family can use to help us out of economic crisis. I have also been spending hours reading views, opinions, of the Bill including Rush Limbaugh's as he has really been one of the few very conservative commentators who seem to know the bill well. The Bill has a lot of problems with it, but I think any solution would have. It just might help enough of us squeak through to bring the number of those hurt by the last few years of the economy down from approaching a melting point which is what is rapidly occurring here. So yes, I have much hope, and also a lot of very detailed information. Will know if it works for us as we act on it in the next 60-90 days.
Posted by: Cath Young | February 26, 2009 11:54 AM
Barbara I've noticed this in our public schools to and a few times have wanted to address a problem I see with a teacher overtly taking political sides in school and dissing other views. Do you have any ideas on addressing teachers or principals about how they characterize conservatives or conservative leaders in the classroom. I am always afraid I will cause issues for my child in the classroom. While I would like to stand up I fearful of doing so in situations where my kids will bear the brunt of the fallout. How did Tripp handle his interaction with the teacher and do your children welcome your intervention in the classroom? Cause I'm thinking my Jr. High daughter would never speak to me again.
Posted by: Joy | February 26, 2009 12:48 PM
I too am interested in Tripp's trip to the school. I feel that too many of the teachers and professors are not receptive to hearing ideas other than their own. It usually is a liberal stance that is being taught to the kids as facts. Our kids are in Catholic schools right now where that is greatly mitigated, but our public schools here are unabashedly liberal in every way and form. Throw in the extreme liberal bias in the main stream media, and it is tantamount to brainwashing.
Posted by: Cath Young | February 26, 2009 1:13 PM
As a conservative teacher in the South, while I agree that the liberal viewpoint is very prevelant in educators, I would caution the assumption that liberal children are just repeating verbatum and conservative children think more critically (ie assumption of absolutes or stereotyping). Working with my high school kids during the election (and while we discussed the election I kept my personal politics out of it and am upset that so many teachers did not...)I was appalled at how many kids on both sides of the pole simply repeated hateful, near sighted arguments with little if any critical thinking. As a whole they were not informed or aware of the issues or the facts.
I think, Barbara, that the bigger issue here, is that as parents (and teachers) we should be encouraging our children to think, to discuss, to question and to defend issues. So many kids don't and so many kids are not getting that message at home.
One thing I tried hard to emphasize in my classroom was that we should all listen, and discuss, but that while we had to be true to our fundamental beliefs we should try to listen to each other and know why we believe what we believe, the better to defend it.
Personally, I do believe that Obama is looking at this the wrong way and I think that many of his ideals are not mine, but I also choose to believe that he really does believe he is doing the right thing (though I disagree with it). I thought the same thing about Bush (though I agreed more with his views, personally).
Additionally, I really hope that Trip opened that teacher's eyes to the inappropriateness of teachers being political. We are to encourage thought, and further learning, but it is wrong for us as teachers to willfully "indoctrinate" students in politics.
Posted by: Sandy | February 26, 2009 1:55 PM
"The difference between conservative and liberal teens - in general - is that conservative teens know how to think, analyze and discuss."
Barbara, that statement is insulting and I'm kind of stunned to hear it from you. I know plenty of liberal AND conservative teens who think about issues independently. Why the need to bash the opposing point of view and slam people's intelligence? Not all "liberals" are evil. And not all "liberals" think conservatives are stupid or uneducated. Just because you've encountered some less than respectful people who happen to have opposing political views, doesn't make all people with similar views stupid. I'm sorry someone was rude to you and yours but that doesn't make it right to be rude back.
[Note from Barbara: this is my observation and I stand by it - there has been so much unbridled Bush-bashing for eight years that kids have heard little else unless they are exposed to alternative media. Most liberal kids do not seek out alternative media - and secure in being in the majority go along with the crowd. For example, the pro-abortion teens really don't have arguments to back their beliefs - they don't need them because they haven't had to defend them.
I didn't say liberals were stupid - don't put words in my mouth. But they are often driven more by emotion than reason and I think it has been bery clear through SNL and all the media that they are much more mean-spirited and ad hominem in their approach than conservatives. Conservatives tend to be more rational and more polite.
Yes, I am speaking in generalities, but that does not make what I say untrue for most.]
Posted by: Jillbert | February 26, 2009 2:18 PM
I have always been right of center. Federal government should be conservative, state government should be centrist, local government should be liberal. In other words, there must be an inverse function between the population represented by the government institution and that institutions ability to take my family’s money. The federal government should never be able to override state or local decisions or force financial burdens that are not deemed important at the state or local levels. Many of the current economic problems for many states are directly due to unfunded federal programs mandated by the federal government.
“Funny, but he would say conservatives don't respect diversity”
I would categorically disagree with this bias statement as most of my own personal actions would disprove this statement and I vote for politicians that also disprove such statements.
My family has been on waiting lists for services for years at the state and local level. The current democratic governor and democratically run legislature has decided to not increase funding for these services by $0.01 for the next two years. The Federal IDEA under Obama will not see any increase (that would actually fully fund the program for the first time in history). My own father worked his entire life and never received one penny of financial assistance from the federal government. The Social Security Administration denied giving his estate any money even as a death benefit to help bury him.
I have given three concrete examples of why liberal government entities don't respect diversity and are completely incapable of solving individual’s problems. I honestly believe that I am more likely to win the multistate lottery rather than receiving positive, beneficial services from the state or federal government.
I don’t expect that any government would ever be able to help me out of a problem. I can only hope that my friends and family would.
Posted by: Resident Old Married Man | February 26, 2009 2:42 PM
Dear Barbara,
I am a new reader to your blog. It is amazing with all the blogs out there to read, I was led to yours. :)
I am a cradle Catholic that left the church right before I was married. That was almost 29 years ago. I have attended various Evangelical churches since then. But in great times of trial, I felt the need to return to the church of my youth. I found great comfort there. I know God was working on me still as He is now.
Lately, I have felt my heartstrings pulled ever so gently to return home and this time to stay. I have been reading your "Evangelical to Catholic Journey". I have been so blessed by your testimony. I see it as yet another sign that I am on the right road home.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Gina
Posted by: Gina | February 26, 2009 3:28 PM
I have noticed that the folks who "claim" to be the most tolerant are the most intolerant.
Check out Rush's website. It is a wealth of information.
www.rushlimbaugh.com
Posted by: Amelia | February 26, 2009 8:04 PM
Barbara, I see what you are trying to say here, but I think you have it backwards. It's not that kids who are liberal are unthinking, it's that kids who are unthinking lean toward the belief system being fed to them by the media, youth culture, educators and charismatic politicians, which is currently liberalism. If MTV had supported McCain, all those unthinking kids would have jumped on the bandwagon. The ones who knew the issues would stay liberal or conservative.
[you are absolutely right, Michelle!]
Posted by: Michelle Potter | February 27, 2009 1:21 PM
Learning to think is not easy. I have 2 daughters, homeschooled, ages 14 and 11 1/2. My older daughter was born with an ability to reason things out - like me, she can hear supposedly unrelated information, and link the facts together to form a solid opinion. She is strong willed and opinionated - and very conservative. My second daughter lacks this ability. It has been an uphill battle to help her learn to reason - she hates crossword puzzles, because she has to THINK her way through the clues. Logic does not come easy to her, and she often parrots what she thinks she has heard with very interesting conclusions. But she is open to learning and understanding. She is young yet, and I have hope. In the meantime - I drum into her the correct explanations and arguments. Her favorite things to listen to on her MP3 players are sermons, so I pick good strong preachers.
Hmmm... can Rush be downloaded to MP3 for free? I should check into that.
Posted by: Rachel | March 7, 2009 5:44 PM
