Teachers aren't trying to indoctrinate their students
By NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (122461)
United States
April 23, 2025 5:24pm CST
It makes my eyes automatically roll every time I read some news article with that premise. "Indoctrinate" basically means to brainwash students into a particular belief or mindset. Maybe there are a few teachers out there with bad intentions but overall we are just trying to teach and do our jobs.
Like if I had some *superpower* to indoctrinate students it would be to pay attention, take notes, and study for tests and other assessments. I'm not trying to persuade anyone to have a particular gender identity or attraction to a particular sex. I literally don't care.
Sure some political things come up in my class during lessons (vaccines, biological sex, abortion, etc) but I never reveal my personal thoughts on any of it except vaccinations. I do everything I can to tell my kids that vaccines don't cause autism. I don't do any special lessons though so I'm certainly not indoctrinating them even about that.
Seriously if I could indoctrinate the students it would be to get the hell off of their phones and try to learn something. Lofty goals I know. 
7 people like this
6 responses
@wolfgirl569 (114860)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Apr
I think you are trying to teach them facts and now that is bad. Because it will make them think about things
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (114860)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Apr
@NJChicaa Not when they want to change reality
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (49367)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Apr
You sure you're not trying to get them to believe that 2 + 2 = 4 and not 22?
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (122461)
• United States
23 Apr
I'm starting evolution next week and I always tell them before I start "I love you but I don't care what you think or believe--you just have to know about it" I have every opportunity to "indoctrinate" the students and WOW I don't. WOW LOOK AT THAT. I present the information but it is up to them whether they internalize it or not.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (49367)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
24 Apr
@NJChicaa What are you going to evolve into?
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (122461)
• United States
24 Apr
@BarBaraPrz as an individual I cannot evolve into anything
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (114860)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Apr
I think you are trying to teach them facts and now that is bad. Because it will make them think about things
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42984)
•
24 Apr
For some reason I am not totally clear on, many people seem to think teachers should literally teach everything. Like you said, you literally don't dare. You are there to teach a subject and to try to do it to the best of your ability,
I like your goal of get off the phones. I have read where some schools are banning phones during class time. Has your school considered this?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (42984)
•
20h
@NJChicaa
That's just nuts. Kids need to learn that they can't be on the phone constantly. I can't imagine calling one of my own children while they were in a class!
@jaylar (1243)
• Kingston, Jamaica
15h
as a teacher you are given a syllabus, the texts, and aren't to stray too far from that 'grid'. As to the vaccinations causing autism... the doctor who started that hoax, Andrew Wakefield and his cronies were deregistered, some went to prison. This was a big case in England...even wikipedia has the story.
How can people be so stupid? This was a hoax so he could earn money pushing his own vaccination.
I am amazed by this continuing belief in a fraud.
