Go for it girl. As a democrate I also find this type of thing highly unnecesarry. As a former teacher I think it is with a doubt unfair to the children to be given misinformation of this nature (though both parties do this type of B. S.). One thing we learn as teachers is the mind of a child between K and 5th grade are highly opened to any thing that can be placed in them. Also, teachers (believe this) are some of the most influential individuals in a childs life. If you do not believe this then see if you can remember some of your teachers from elementary school. (Mrs. Hays 5th grade teacher, I am 57, and there a few more I remember.) Visual media is one of the great influence on a child, and when you attact a caption to the picture it becomes more power to the young mind.

Becasue of this type of advertising a young child becomes someone a Kerry or Bush can use to spread their form of political B. . . S. . .

Pam

Agreed. However, I imagine you are a little over-excited. Haven't read Time for Kids, but everything you say sounds more or less 'ok' with me. If I saw it...might change my mind. There should be NO bias in journalism.

However, and the point with my post....Kerry should be on the cover. One of the most important things we can do for our children is to teach them to understand, respect, and appreciate a vibrant democracy. Saying Kerry 'wants' something is wonderful. It shows that people can have hope to improve what is out there. Can Kerry do a better job? Doesn't matter. The point is...we have to keep kids hard to the line that with diligence, with creativity, and with hope we can do better. Doesn't matter who the president is, I will always want my kids to want better.

Great post, though. I'm tired of bias. It's sad when NPR is the most unbiased reporting you can hear.

The classroom should be politically neutral. Teachers have no right to be influencing our children regarding politics. Their job is to teach facts not opinions.

YES!!!!!!!!

I'm right behind ya, sista.....

You are correct, but you shouldn't worry too much. Elementary school age children believe what their parents believe. At least that's how it was in my daughters' classrooms.

Elementary school age children believe what their parents believe.

Not in my house they don't.....

Sherye, I encourage my kids to ask questions and form their own opinions. When my first grader brought this home, I asked him what he thought. I told him that it is important to form opinions based on information you gather not on others' opinions and that he has every right to believe different things than I do. I have told him many times how much I learn from him. I also have taught him that he has to obey the teacher but he can tell me if he questions anything the teacher says. He also knows he has the right to talk to the principal if the teacher says to do anything that I have told him is specifically wrong to do. He has never abused this right.

My parents taught me to form opinions on my own. I wasn't born into a religion for instance. My parents didn't want me to feel like I had to follow a particular religion just because that is what they did. They encouraged me to go to different churches with friends and family and learn as much as I could under as little influence as possible. I questioned things all the time. My parents would always tell me what they new of the subject and then ask me what I thought.

Dylarama, I agree that Kerry and his ideas should be represented but they should be presesented in a fashion equal to what was given to Bush. Kerry wasn't just "on" the front page, he "was" the front page. These was very not-so-subtle uses of images and language. I am not over excited and I don't worry too much. Kids this age are very impressionable. Like Pam said, teachers are a huge influence in a child's life and they soak in visual media to an extent that a lot of adults don't give credit.

I started off my college studies with courses in child development and psychology. Elementary aged kids tend to be highly influenced by authority figures and their peers. They will question something their parent said over something their friend said. That is why it is so important that they be taught to discern fact from opinion. That distinction needs to be clear. If it is something printed in any publication circulated to students by their school, it better be fact.

BTW, I emailed Time For Kids this evening. I will let you know if I get a response.

thats typical, jill............. liberals behave like that. I can't even say what I think of those jerks.

Marvin,

Not all us liberals are jerks; as is the fact that not all you conservatives are jerks. It is just that you look at things a little different then us liberals. It is that difference which makes this country great.

Pam

I think the main point wasn't that Kerry was represented, it was that there was not equal treatment.  Sounds like that ended up just campaign propaganda.  And, what a waste of money- it's not like kids can vote

Marvin, conservatives are just as big of jerks as liberals, they just show it in different ways. And liberal does not equal democrat anymore than conservative equals republican.

>>> ""Mr. Bush wants kids to learn".

Well isn't that nice. He "wants" kids to learn. How is he going to do it? This says to kids that Kerry doesn't care about kids learning. My daughter even said "Doesn't Preseidential Candidate Kerry want kids to learn?" Of course he does! Easier said than done.

Goes both ways doesn't it ?

Oh wait.. I forgot about shrub's program: No Child Left Untested

lmao

Poet, you just never pay attention. It said that Mr Bush want kids to learn by giving them more tests. BTW, do you even have kids or are you just being snide. I thought from your writings that you didn't have kids. I'm also pretty sure an Elementary school age child did not use the phrase "Presidential Candidate".

They picked things for Bush that Kerry is "currently" against (i.e. No Child Left Behind) and the War but the things they picked for Kerry are not things that Bush is against (i.e. creating new jobs and caring about pollution).

Here we are trying to discourage Marvin's attitude toward liberals and Poet here is encouraging it.

Like I said all, I would have been upset if it were presented with the reverse bias. You can grasp at straws all you want Poet, but the fact is, this was not an unbiased presentation therefore it does not belong in the classroom.

I have always been suspicious of people like you who look into every nuance to try and find bias. Now, not being American, I have not read "Time For Kids" so I can only go on this review. Lets have a look at just a couple of your claims:

1. "I want my son to show respect to officials so "Mr. Bush" should be President Bush" but apparently you did not find it disrespectful that Senator Kerry was referred to as Mr Kerry
2. You say that "Again, Kerry "wants" to clean things up. Implies that Bush doesn't care about our air and water." But, on this logic, the statement "Mr. Bush wants kids to learn." implies that Seneator Kerry doesnt want kids to learn but you don't take them to task for this. Also, what happened to your holier than thou desire to show respect for officials? Here you do not even give either Senator Kerry or President Bush any title let alone their proper title....what values does this hypocrisy show to your son?
Maybe you should heed some advice that I once read in a book:
"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

Do people honestly believe that kids will act favorably when they hear that they'll receive more tests?

1. There is a bit of a difference between senator and president...but they probably should have called them both by their titles.
2. Bush wants kids to learn...by giving them more tests, implies to me that Kerry wants kids to learn but without the tests. Something like giving more tests is going to make a child not like the person, like saying Bush wants to make kids healthier by giving them a lot more shots.

I am angered by such obvious bias in something for children. I don't want children recieving bias either way, at least not in school. They should be allowed to get both sides fairly and be allowed to develop their own opinions on a subject, not be so obviously directed to one.