Wolves are Extremely Important to the Environment and Need to be Tolerated

[CedarPants]

This was the report my son was assigned today at school.

While we are very tolerant parents open to discussing issues, we have none the less scheduled a meeting with the principal to discuss the intent of this "education"

[Ice Cap]

Have your kid write a report on why a wolf pack is bad for elk and a menace to society!

[turkeyfeather]

This sounds like it may have been done intentionally. I would be having it out with teacher and principal. 

[rtspring]

Just speechless!!!

[snowpack]

Didn't know you moved to the wetside....

[deaner]

hmm. id be thinking really hard about home schooling

[Ductsquatch]

Have read this over and over.
Maybe I am new..........but I don't get it......

[7mmfan]

Have him instead write a report stating how the wolves we have now are not the wolves we used to have and that the wolves we have now are actually destroying the wildlife that conservationist have struggled for 100 years to bring back from the brink of extinction. His research in trying to prove that wolves are important to the environment actually turned up that wolves are a menace and need to be heavily controlled.

[popeshawnpaul]

Sounds like a good opportunity to detail why they should be tolerated in remote regions of Alaska and Canada, and point out the facts on why they are difficult to tolerate at best in our populated state.  Perhaps educate the educator.  Talk with the principle?  Taking it way out of proportion.  You can't force only the messages you want your kids to hear.  Have them hear all sides and if you are on the relevant and educated side and if they are rational they will side with you.

[huntnphool]

Perhaps educate the educator. 

+1, go in there with facts.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Nah ..I would have him write a report on how he likes to hunt and can not wait to one of the 1st ones in line to buy a tag 

[Buzz2401]

Let the kid right what he wants.  I know it sucks but it really isnt gonna get you or your kid anywhere trying to "win" this fight with the stupid tree huggin teacher.  I would explain to your child the facts and then help him right the best report he can without stirring the pot to much.  Think about how your child perceives the actions you take against the teacher and school.  The teacher is probably looking for a reason to start trouble.

[turkeyfeather]

Let the kid right what he wants.  I know it sucks but it really isnt gonna get you or your kid anywhere trying to "win" this fight with the stupid tree huggin teacher.  I would explain to your child the facts and then help him right the best report he can without stirring the pot to much.  Think about how your child perceives the actions you take against the teacher and school.  The teacher is probably looking for a reason to start trouble.

So your solution is to just cower down and bend over and take it. I don't think so. This is not education it is pushing ones agenda and that is not what WE pay teachers for?

[buckfvr]

This was the report my son was assigned today at school.

While we are very tolerant parents open to discussing issues, we have none the less scheduled a meeting with the principal to discuss the intent of this "education"

Thanks for tending the matter............

[huntnphool]

Let the kid right what he wants.  I know it sucks but it really isnt gonna get you or your kid anywhere trying to "win" this fight with the stupid tree huggin teacher.  I would explain to your child the facts and then help him right the best report he can without stirring the pot to much.  Think about how your child perceives the actions you take against the teacher and school.  The teacher is probably looking for a reason to start trouble.

The problem with that is its difficult writting to appease a point of view in which your inherent view is completely opposite. It would be like you trying to write a knowledgeable essay from a PETA point of view, I would imagine very difficult.

[snowpack]

Agree with TF.  Teachers should keep neutral, teach how to think NOT what to think.  Teacher could have just assigned the paper asking to explain the relationship of the wolf to the environment....not plant things in the kid's mind 'extremely important' and 'need to be tolerated'.

[splitshot]

  I would have the kid choose what he wants but have him do the research of why we hunt.  talk to different groups of people and get all sides of the story.    I do believe we should treat the  wolf like the coyote and shoot them on sight.  they are eating cows,sheep, dogs, etc.  do your homework.  mike w

[CedarPants]

We're very open minded and are going to let him write whatever he wants, make no mistake we have no intention of trying to get to him write something one way or another.  We just feel strongly that wolves, or any other topic for that matter -  the instructor .... school .... and system needs to be held accountable to knowing the science, facts, and realities behind what they are "teaching" the kids.

Our thought is that we'd like to sit down with the them and present facts, from both sides, on the topic.  The kids should be allowed to make informed decisions instead of being told what to think 

[splitshot]

  I should have read snowpacks post before I did mine.  good stuff.  mike w

[wolfbait]

We're very open minded and are going to let him write whatever he wants, make no mistake we have no intention of trying to get to him write something one way or another.  We just feel strongly that wolves, or any other topic for that matter -  the instructor .... school .... and system needs to be held accountable to knowing the science, facts, and realities behind what they are "teaching" the kids.

Our thought is that we'd like to sit down with the them and present facts, from both sides, on the topic.  The kids should be allowed to make informed decisions instead of being told what to think 

 

[grundy53]

Let the kid right what he wants.  I know it sucks but it really isnt gonna get you or your kid anywhere trying to "win" this fight with the stupid tree huggin teacher.  I would explain to your child the facts and then help him right the best report he can without stirring the pot to much.  Think about how your child perceives the actions you take against the teacher and school.  The teacher is probably looking for a reason to start trouble.

The problem with that is its difficult writting to appease a point of view in which your inherent view is completely opposite. It would be like you trying to write a knowledgeable essay from a PETA point of view, I would imagine very difficult.

[Fl0und3rz]

FWIW, it's a good exercise in critical thinking and persuasive writing to prepare a paper on something that you know, with every fiber of your being, is complete horsepucky. 

The best revenge is to do a good job, get an A, if they still give grades these days. Then, after the year is up, tell the teacher how you thought it was a transparent attempt at brainwashing, you could read him/her like a book and used them by feeding them the stuff they wanted to hear, and if he/she would just open his/her mind to alternative viewpoints, he/she would likely come to the realization that he/she is plain wrong.

Or you could skip the last part.

[h2ofowlr]

Help him write a paper that will educate his teacher.  Add pictures and references.  There are plenty of references on here.  If the teacher has an issue with it, then talk to the principle.

[KFhunter]

bring it to the school board?

[Mudman]

Do the report with the negative points and facts as a strong and sarcastic counterpoint to pro-wolf agenda.  Show em how foolish they are.  Ex.  Wolves must be allowed to breed and prosper so they can weed out the sick elk.  Of course being an intelligent predator they realize a sick animal is an easy kill so they kill 100 cattle while waiting for the elk to get sick! Ya, don't forget the pics!

[Buzz2401]

Let the kid right what he wants.  I know it sucks but it really isnt gonna get you or your kid anywhere trying to "win" this fight with the stupid tree huggin teacher.  I would explain to your child the facts and then help him right the best report he can without stirring the pot to much.  Think about how your child perceives the actions you take against the teacher and school.  The teacher is probably looking for a reason to start trouble.

So your solution is to just cower down and bend over and take it. I don't think so. This is not education it is pushing ones agenda and that is not what WE pay teachers for?

Not quite sure what grade the kid is in, but my only concern is that if the teacher doesn't like his point and gives him a bad grade or fails, it may have consequences for his/her future. Most of the time the school board is gonna side with the teacher and the only one with anything to lose is  the child.  Rather then taking the fight to the teacher maybe round up your children and maybe attend a WDFW wolf meeting or join a anti-wolf campaign ouside of school.

[lokidog]

Agree with TF.  Teachers should keep neutral, teach how to think NOT what to think.  Teacher could have just assigned the paper asking to explain the relationship of the wolf to the environment....not plant things in the kid's mind 'extremely important' and 'need to be tolerated'.

This is what a good teacher without an agenda would have done.  As an ex-teacher, and parent, I think it is totally appropriate to approach the teacher and administration to point out that this phrasing of the assignment appears to be agenda driven and to not allow another point of view/perspective to be expressed.  And, that you would appreciate the phrasing of the writing prompt be changed to allow for all students to be able to apply critical thinking to their assignment.   

[Elkaholic daWg]

Obamas minions.....NEA,WEA.I'm hoping there are good teachers out there, but too many are carrying  to force feed the exteme liberal koolaid.
 Is it any more obvious the reason they want them as young as possible to get that "headstart"?

[wolfbait]

Obamas minions.....NEA,WEA.I'm hoping there are good teachers out there, but too many are carrying  to force feed the exteme liberal koolaid.
 Is it any more obvious the reason they want them as young as possible to get that "headstart"?

It isn't just the young'uns that are getting fed, WDFW etc need to keep the lying program up as the truth unwinds. Wouldn't want the parents telling their kids the teachers are full of chit, just ask fitkin and crew.

[wolfbait]

Obamas minions.....NEA,WEA.I'm hoping there are good teachers out there, but too many are carrying  to force feed the exteme liberal koolaid.
 Is it any more obvious the reason they want them as young as possible to get that "headstart"?

It isn't just the young'uns that are getting fed, WDFW etc need to keep the lying program up as the truth unwinds. Wouldn't want the parents telling their kids the teachers are full of chit, just ask fitkin and crew.

Poll shows support for wolves
 
Most Northwest residents say protection is needed
 
Idaho Mountain Express Sept. 20, 2013
 
Most residents of California, Oregon and Washington believe wolves should continue to be protected under the Endangered Species Act, according to a new poll released by the nonprofit organization Defenders of Wildlife. The poll comes as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service takes public comment on its proposal to strip federal protections for gray wolves across most of the lower 48. That includes northern California and the western halves of Oregon and Washington, where there is unoccupied wolf habitat.
 
Wolves have already been delisted in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, where they are hunted as big-game animals.
 
The poll, conducted in early September for Defenders by Tulchin Research, shows that most Californians, Oregonians and Washingtonians want wolf recovery efforts to continue
 
Continued:
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2007148198

[lokidog]

Interesting poll, people are starting to wise up in OR and WA, we'd beter throw in CA for the survey to get the results we want....  Said one wolf lover to another. 

[Humptulips]

Agree with TF.  Teachers should keep neutral, teach how to think NOT what to think.  Teacher could have just assigned the paper asking to explain the relationship of the wolf to the environment....not plant things in the kid's mind 'extremely important' and 'need to be tolerated'.

This is what a good teacher without an agenda would have done.  As an ex-teacher, and parent, I think it is totally appropriate to approach the teacher and administration to point out that this phrasing of the assignment appears to be agenda driven and to not allow another point of view/perspective to be expressed.  And, that you would appreciate the phrasing of the writing prompt be changed to allow for all students to be able to apply critical thinking to their assignment.   

Don't put the kid in the middle.

[Dadx6]

I commend you, CedarPants, for being aware of what your child is being assigned and taught at school. Too many parents are very hands off when it comes to a child's education.

The state is taking a very strong stance when it comes to kids. It seems the state thinks it is a better parent, caregiver, and educator than the parents are. Is some cases, I might agree. However, that's not how it should be.

Public schools teach children theories as if they're facts. They indoctrinate the young to believe even the mention of a gun is bad. This is why my children are home schooled. My twins are in Running Start in order to get a free AA, but their mom and I are on top of what they're learning so we can add our input and let them choose from more than one point of view.

We teach our kids to "Eat the meat. Spit out the bones". In an assignment like that which your child was assigned will have morsels of truth that they should learn about, but offer you perspective to balance that which the state is feeding our young ones.

[jackmaster]

have little dude do a report as to why they were erradicated in the first place, and how the state will be spending millions a year to protect them even though the state has NOOOOOO money.

[hntrspud]

Whatever you decide to do, please keep us updated so we can see how it goes. Good luck trying to reason with them.

[Old Man Yager]

Have him find reports from local areas in the states where the wolves have decimated the game populations, and then ask the teacher what they think now that they have all the facts

[stevemiller]

What class does the wolf topic even belong in?Math,if one wolf can eat 20 deer or elk per year how many wolves does it take to destroy the entire deer,elk population.Bonus question,In how much time would the herds be destroyed?Science,Whos fault would it be?

[buckhorn2]

Make sure he tells them how good they are for the inviroment and they helped get rid of 15;000 elk in Yellowstone and are now helping get rid of those buffalo now people can vacation there and see nothing.

[wolfbait]

Have him find reports from local areas in the states where the wolves have decimated the game populations, and then ask the teacher what they think now that they have all the facts

http://www.pinedaleonline.com/wolf/wolfimpacts.htm

[Old Man Yager]

Have him find reports from local areas in the states where the wolves have decimated the game populations, and then ask the teacher what they think now that they have all the facts

http://www.pinedaleonline.com/wolf/wolfimpacts.htm

PERFECT

[hntrspud]

Here is a group that I follow on FB. Very good and credible info especially on the Lobo Elk herd in Idaho, or whats left.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lobo-Watch/213339158676640

[cvandervort]

Evolution vs creation, sex ed vs abstinence only, gun control vs gun rights, ...the only way you're going to have a teacher who teaches EXACTLY what you want your child to hear is by homeschooling. I would treat this as an opportunity to open up a discussion, not start a battle...
I like what one poster said about "wolves not being the same as they were 100 years ago": wolves ARE a part of the environment and they HAVE been an important part in the past (sucks for hunters to have them around, but before us, they were the ones culling the herds...). Anyways, that's what I would discuss with your kid: how the nature of wolves and their place I the order of things has changed over time...
My 2 cents

[TheHunt]

Since you posted on the board you are requesting opinions.  Well, so far you have gotten many.  Here is what I would do.

Have your child do some research on the topic.  Ask them what is the good and bad of wolves.  YOU and your WIFE prepare your child to have a conversation with his/her teacher.  You and your wife will need to work with your child to be able to argue respectfully with the teacher.  The discussion is to provide both sides of the topic.  If this is done respectfully I would bet the teacher would agree allowing the child to write both sides. 

If that does not work, YOU and your WIFE should go talk to the principle and let your child do the talking.   Letting your children do the talking sure teaches them a lot more then you and your wife coming with guns blazing.  You are there to intervene if the principle tries to push the kid around.  If that does not work have a meeting with the teacher and the principle. 

If the child is under the 6th grade it does not matter what grade he gets from a college app perspective.

[Marcoramius]

Agree with TF.  Teachers should keep neutral, teach how to think NOT what to think.  Teacher could have just assigned the paper asking to explain the relationship of the wolf to the environment....not plant things in the kid's mind 'extremely important' and 'need to be tolerated'.

There is no better way to teach a child how to think than to assign them a project where they have to defend a point of view that is inherently contradictory to their own. If they do the research and lay out the facts (using the game numbers before and after wolf introduction) and also be sure to spell out that currently the wolves face no threat and are able to run rampant due to the laws protecting them, then it will be very obvious to your child and will probably even strengthen their current views. Having any animal run unchecked through an environment is an inherently unstable ecosystem and will eventually lead to a collapse.

Don't shy away from an assignment like this, embrace it, because it may just help convert others when the facts are placed in front of them.

[Bob33]

I might suggest challenging the hypothesis that wolves are important by questioning what we lacked for the decades they were absent from our state.  Did our economy suffer? Did the lack of wolves contribute to global warming?  Suicide rates up?  What do we have now that we didn't 25 years ago that is attributable to wolves?

[BOWHUNTER45]

I have some 140 grs that would love to show you how important they are to the environment 

[pianoman9701]

I hear that they are important to the environment. Their remains help to nourish trees and plants. Here's to hoping they all die of natural causes and help the environment! 

[mossy8352]

I might suggest challenging the hypothesis that wolves are important by questioning what we lacked for the decades they were absent from our state.  Did our economy suffer? Did the lack of wolves contribute to global warming?  Suicide rates up?  What do we have now that we didn't 25 years ago that is attributable to wolves?

Now that is a good equalizer for the topic without leaving any real room for an argument from a reasonable teacher! If not then you do not have a teacher you have an agenda pusher!

[sakoshooter]

Have him instead write a report stating how the wolves we have now are not the wolves we used to have and that the wolves we have now are actually destroying the wildlife that conservationist have struggled for 100 years to bring back from the brink of extinction. His research in trying to prove that wolves are important to the environment actually turned up that wolves are a menace and need to be heavily controlled.

Exactly..............And you should definitely help him with this project Dad.