"N.J. Principal Unapologetic for Videotape of Kids Praising Obama"
Michel
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"Black religious leadership and seminary formation"
Author: Denise King-Miller
Publisher: 1995.
Howard University
Religious coping, formal service use, and the preception of gain
among
African American caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease
Author: Marilyn Denise King
Publisher: 2007.
HS/HSL, Univ of MD Baltimore
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/25/principal-nj-school-long-o...
N.J. Principal Unapologetic for Videotape of Kids Praising Obama,
Parents Say The principal of a New Jersey elementary school where
young students were videotaped singing the praises of President Obama
is making no apologies for the videotape and says she would allow the
performance again if she could, according to parents who spoke with
her Thursday night. The principal of a New Jersey elementary school
where young students were videotaped singing the praises of President
Obama is making no apologies for the videotape and says she would
allow the performance again if she could, according to parents who
spoke with her Thursday night. Three parents told FOXNews.com that Dr.
Denise King, principal of B. Bernice Young Elementary School in
Burlington, N.J., defended the controversial performance, which was
videotaped and posted on YouTube, when they approached her during a
"Back to School" event. Parent Jim Angelillo said King told him the
lesson was merely part of Black History month, and not an attempt to
indoctrinate students, as critics have charged. He said he believes
teachers have the freedom to express their political views, but not in
the classroom. "Freedom of speech, not freedom to teach," Angelillo
told FOXNews.com. King has long been a fan of Obama, hanging pictures
of the president in her school's hallways and touting her trip to his
inauguration in the school yearbook. Included in the full-page
yearbook spread were Obama campaign slogans ("Yes we can! Yes we
did!") and photos King took in Washington on Jan 20, when she attended
the inauguration. There also were photos taken at the school depicting
students doing Obama-themed activities about their "hopes for the
future," featuring posters of Obama. According to the yearbook,
students watched the inauguration in class. Parents said Elvira James,
the teacher of the class that was videotaped, also seemed to be
promoting Obama. "She praised him, she put pictures on the walls,"
said Jim Pronchick, whose 8-year-old son, Jimmy, was in James' class
last year. "When he won (the election) they really went off." Leslie
Gibson, who has two children at the school, said she was "shocked" at
the videotape, adding that political beliefs, like religious views,
should be kept at home. She also said King made a "big deal" about her
attendance at the inauguration. "Throughout the school, there were
signs posted supporting Barack Obama quite a bit," Gibson told
FOXNews.com. "I understand it's a historical event, but on the same
token, I like politics to be left at home and I think she should
follow that as well." Attempts to reach King on Friday were
unsuccessful. A recording at the school said its mailbox was full and
could not accept new messages. A search of public records revealed
that King, 46, of Cinnaminson, N.J., last voted in 2004 and had not
declared any political affiliation. No records of political
contributions could be found. In November, the 9,700-plus residents of
Burlington, N.J., a Philadelphia suburb, voted overwhelming for Obama,
who received 3,285 votes to Sen. John McCain's 1,308. The controversy
over the YouTube video extended into northwest Arkansas on Friday, as
officials at the Bernice Young Elementary School in Springdale said
they had been received calls from across the country and Canada from
irate parents and other individuals. Principal Debbie Flora told the
Associated Press that the callers claimed the school was teaching
political opinion and that some "did not use very kind language."