I agree with you, Irish. I don't have a problem with the teacher encouraging the students to discuss current events ... or even to offer a balanced appraisal of both sides of an issue so that the kids can better appreciate the subject ....

But I don't think it's the teacher's job to try and influence kids with their personal views; and in particular to encourage kids to begin to doubt the sincerity, morality, or integrity of friends or families who have been called on to serve out an obligation.

Can you imagine the outrage if a teacher proposed that a fireman shouldn't respond to a fire if it involved a place of worship or ethnic background the teacher did not believe in.