LA Teacher Fired for Teaching Students to Think

[marmar]

from AlterNet's PEEK:



LA Teacher Fired for Teaching Students to Think

Posted by , Feministe at 7:56 AM on June 20, 2008.

Students rally behind inspirational instructor.



Yesterday while listening to Democracy Now! I heard about Karen Salazar for the first time. She is a high school teacher who was fired from her position at a school in LA because her curriculum was too “Afrocentric” - instead of, you know, the usual Eurocentric curriculum that’s delivered to American students on the daily. From a letter by Salazar posted on the Vivir Latino site:

I am being fired because I am trying to ensure that my curriculum is relevant to my students’ daily lived experiences, and in the process, create a space for them to be critical of Eurocentric society and curricula that only serve to reinforce their dehumanization, subjugation, and oppression …

I have been observed in the classroom and evaluated by administration over a dozen times (almost twice a month) this school year, whereas in comparison, most teachers are observed and evaluated 1-3 times per school year. The evaluations claim that I am creating “militancy” within students, promoting my personal political beliefs, and presenting a biased view of the curriculum. It has also been implied that I have been teaching students “how to protest.”

Three weeks ago, things began escalating when I was again observed, and in his evaluation, the administrator accused me of “brainwashing” my students and “forcing extremist views” on them. The class had been reading a 3-page excerpt of the Autobiography of Malcolm X (an LAUSD-approved text, of which we have several class sets in our school bookroom), in which Malcolm describes the first time he conked his hair…My contract is being terminated because according to the principal, I am “indoctrinating students with anti-Semitism and Afrocentrism.” The anti-Semitism accusation comes solely from the fact that I have an Intifada poster hanging in my classroom (a symbol of support for a free Palestine), and the Afrocentrism accusation comes from the fact my culturally-relevant curriculum reflects the demographics of my students, though I am surprised I am not being accused of Raza-centrism as well.

Needless to say, this shit is disgusting. And of course, as Democracy Now! reports, it’s not an isolated incident:

In 2006, Jay Bennish, a high school teacher from Aurora, Colorado, was briefly dismissed because one of his lectures was deemed “anti-American.” On the eve of the Iraq war in 2003, Deborah Mayer, an Indiana schoolteacher, was fired after telling her class, “I honk for peace.” A federal appeals court in Chicago upheld the school’s decision last year and ruled public school teachers do not have the constitutional right to express personal opinions in the classroom.

But this isn’t just about expressing personal opinions; it’s about the restrictions imposed upon teachers who may wish to counter the so-called history in most history books with information that actually reflects the many cultures and histories that make up this country - histories that often don’t make the United States look so swell. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/88845/

[marshall]

1. It cuts both ways

Schools don't want teachers imposing their personal agenda, whether it is fundametnalist Christian or whatever.

[marmar]

2. But how is teaching an alternative version of American history imposing a personal agenda?

I wish someone had taught me something other than the glossed B.S. in U.S. history class.

[marshall]

3. Remember when that guy in CA was using early American documents to promote his Christian beliefs

He was selecting things (like the Declaration of Independence) that specifically mention God. It's basically the same thing from another direction that is going on now. Schools don't want either extreme.

[rucky]

4. Peace is Anti-American

according to that second one.

shit like this pisses me off to no end.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. I Can't Totally Disagree With The Decision, And Definitely Don't Find It Disgusting.

She was TOTALLY pushing a personal agenda and definitely injecting way too much personal viewpoint into her curriculum. That's not really appropriate for a public school.

[RethugAssKicker]

6. Much of the current history being taught is just plain

not factual.... It is Eurocentric, and extremely biased.

We must challenge the school system... to change their textbooks !

[Swamp Rat]

7. and so it goes...

[geek_sabre]

8. Well, my issue is that she is an ENGLISH teacher

She should be teaching students how to read critically and write analytically, not rail against "the man." Of course, she is free to include whatever readings she feels will empower and interest her students, but she crossed the line for sure.

Watching her students defend her, I agree with the administration's decision. She would make a good guidance counselor or mentor for her students, but doesn't seem to be doing her job as an english teacher.