[Dialogue] Emailing: US Teacher Is Suspended For Letting Pupils Read Bestseller - CommonDreams.org.htm
Harry Wainwright
h-wainwright at charter.net
Sat Jul 5 17:22:48 EDT 2008
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Published on Thursday, July 3, 2008 by The Guardian/UK
<http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2288658,00.html>
US Teacher Is Suspended For Letting Pupils Read Bestseller
by Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
An Indiana teacher who used a much lauded bestseller, The Freedom Writers
Diary
<http://www.amazon.com/dp/038549422X?tag=commondreams-20&camp=0&creative=0&l
inkCode=as1&creativeASIN=038549422X&adid=0BW96QQN5ZK1NJFQ68DM&> , to try to
inspire under-performing high-school students has been suspended from her
job without pay for 18 months.
<http://www.amazon.com/dp/038549422X?tag=commondreams-20&camp=0&creative=0&l
inkCode=as1&creativeASIN=038549422X&adid=0BW96QQN5ZK1NJFQ68DM&> 0703 02 1
The effective book ban by the school authorities in Perry Township has
outraged teachers and education reformers.
The Writers Diary, a series of true stories written by inner-city teenagers,
was put together by a teacher, Erin Gruwell, and has been celebrated as a
model for transforming young lives. It was made into a film with Hilary
Swank last year.
Connie Heermann, a teacher for 27 years, sought permission to introduce the
book to her students last autumn after attending a training workshop held by
the Freedom Writers Foundation. "If you read the whole book you will see how
these inner-city students grow and change and become articulate,
compassionate, educated young people who want to do something good in their
lives despite the environment in which they were raised," she told the
Guardian. "I thought my students would very much relate to those kids."
Her head agreed and Heermann got written permission from nearly 150 parents,
but the Perry Meridian high school board urged her to wait for its decision.
Teachers' union officials say that a single board member objected to
swearing in the book. The school board member allegedly persuaded the other
six officials to ban Heermann from teaching the book. It remains available
in school libraries.
Heermann and the union say there was no explicit ban on the book when she
handed it out to pupils on November 15. But later that day she received an
email from the board advising her not to teach the book. "That was the
pivotal moment of my life, when I saw how my students were taken with the
book, how they loved it, and then I am told not to let them read it? I said
no," she said.
After being threatened with dismissal, Heermann was eventually suspended.
The union is deciding whether to take the case to court.
The school board denies book banning and accuses Heermann of
insubordination. Barbara Thompson, the school board president, wrote in an
email yesterday: "She knew she had defied her supervisors' direction in her
work and that her defiance was 'insubordination' and 'neglect of duty'."
guardian.co.uk C Guardian News and Media Limited 2008
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75 Comments so far
1.
jesusofjonesboro July 3rd, 2008 11:10 am
This situation points up the principal weakness in American public
education: local control of schools.
"Insubordination" is a blanket charge that is generally used to
conceal the true reasons for action against a teacher. In this case, those
reasons are ignorance and intolerance.
Public education in the US is bad and getting worse because good
teachers - those for whom their students' education is the most important
factor in their teaching - are constantly being fired for standing up to the
stupidity and narrowmindedness of local school board members.
As a former teacher myself, I can testify that the teaching of
writing is one of the most difficult tasks in the classroom. Anything that
gets students motivated is worth trying.
No teacher's career should be subject to the whims of local politics
which are virtually never driven by concerns for educational quality.
jj
2.
satr9prodxns July 3rd, 2008 11:52 am
The Writers Diary, a series of true stories written by inner-city
teenagers, must never be read by other inner-city teenagers.
stupid pro-lifers.
3.
elmysterio July 3rd, 2008 12:09 pm
Yep. Can't teach those kids anything that'll help them grow. gotta
keep em dumb so they can be good little consumers and fodder for the
military machine. God forbid that you teach them to THINK. The board member
who objected to the book because of "swearing" should come down out of their
ivory tower and listen to how the kids speak. I'm sure they'd come away with
a whole new outlook on swearing. that the kids already know all those
naughty words and it's not gonna hurt them any to see them in print.
The other thing that I find ridiculous, and this a bit off topic, is
this. At the local video store, I'm looking at movies to rent. there's one
that bills itself as "Disgustingly Graphic Violence", pretty much violence
porn. and it's rated 14A (have to be 14 or older to rent it). now, on the
same shelf is a movie that has some nudity and sexual scenes, but no
violence and it's rated 18A (have to be 18 or older to rent it). so what
message does that send? Violence and murder are ok but sex and the human
body are bad? Talk about mixed messages! No wonder this generation of kids
are growing up much more screwed up than ever!
4.
Forgiveness July 3rd, 2008 12:15 pm
Fucking stupid shit jackasses getting upset about some bad words in
a book that can fucking help kids grow up into better people.
Fucking retarded.
5.
huntz July 3rd, 2008 12:41 pm
Reading for me is like swimming in an ocean of thought, it feeds
when nothing else can, it loves when all else is lost.
The more I read, the less I need. It's a good antidote to the poison
of materialism and power.
Here, where I live, we have a radio talk show host who is similar
(but not nearly as well paid) to Aerica's Rush Limbaugh. One day, this guy
asked the question, "In this day and age of easy accessability to books, do
we still need public libraries? When I heard that, the image of a bloated,
ignorant, hateful fool popped into my head. Man I was pissed.
Read til you bleed!
6.
citizenblog <http://www.citizensnews.org> July 3rd, 2008 12:49 pm
Forgive Forgiveness for he knows to not
7.
timebiter July 3rd, 2008 12:53 pm
Not sure of the point of not saying ok to the school board. Try to
stop anyone from doing anything they really want to do. She could have
simply stated that the school board said this book can not be read in school
and told the students they would have to read it at home. As to the school
board. What do expect, we live in America were the youth can view and
participate in the obcenity of war but nothing else.
8.
barksnotbites July 3rd, 2008 12:57 pm
One board member?!! A personal friend of Bush or Cheney? This is
disgusting that her firing was allowed to happen! Those poor students. I
indeed worry about kids these days when this kind of thing happens to
someone legitimately trying to help and inspire some troubled kids. ..the
book. It remains available in school libraries. Whatsup with the fascist
rubbish in Indiana?!
9.
workreno July 3rd, 2008 12:58 pm
I don't see it as "local" being the problem I see it as the "school
board " attempting to censor education.
Public education is a sick joke.
I am bartering with a friend of mine to educate my 12 year old son .
She just took a portfolio of my sons work up to the school district
to show them what he had learned . The superintendent was amazed at what
they had accomplished.
I'll be getting a copy of "The Freedom Writers Diary" .I don't
intend on allowing a bunch of brainwashed morons to tell me what my child
needs.
By the way I don't believe in religious fairy tales either .
I just think that children should understand that education isn't
going to a building and having shit jammed into their brain, rather a life
time of intellectual evolution.
Government education is called Indoctrination.
10.
luckylefty July 3rd, 2008 1:07 pm
Indiana, is the Klan still 6 deep? Beyond that, inner city kids are
supposed to fail. They are universally chosen as our de-humanized scapegoats
and cannot be allowed to rise in any way. America drinks their blood and
likes having a steady supply. A teacher, holding these children up, NOT as
creatures to sneer at, mangle, or to spit on, BUT presented as humans who
grow and change - THAT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. Our collective Cruelty demands
our victims receive no aid.
And ONE guy got everybody else to go along? Very persuasive fellow.
I'll bet he looks like Karl Rove and shares several of his 'higher'
attributes. Americans always see the truth and sincerity of fist pounding
and snarling.
11.
Little Brother July 3rd, 2008 1:10 pm
You may rest assured that defenders of this punitive action will
confine themselves to self-righteous letter-of-the-law arguments:
Teacher Broke the Rules; violated duty to the employer to serve, in
part, as Role Model to define and enforce Respect for Authority, Taking
Personal Responsibility, Coloring Inside the Lines, Not Rocking the Boat.
There are other variations on a theme of blaming the victim and
avoiding the larger and more profound implications of this sort of petty
repression- but why make their case for them, eh?
12.
Coyotita July 3rd, 2008 1:29 pm
"Teachers' union officials say that a single board member objected
to swearing in the book. The school board member allegedly persuaded the
other six officials to ban Heermann from teaching the book. It remains
available in school libraries."-
The language that teens use in high schools around the country is a
real hard pill to swallow. Educators must override their squeamishness in
order to educate youth about language. Did that board member think the
students had not heard or said them before? Why even the VP has been quoted
extensively using the F word.
Here is where the compassionate genius of the late George Carlin can
teach us a thing or two about neutralizing the affect that words have on us,
to get down to the business about exploring our humanity.
13.
Niko July 3rd, 2008 1:30 pm
"neglect of duty"
A teacher's "duty" should be to the students that have been forced
to be there and to No one else.
A+ for workreno - Government education is called Indoctrination.
It is not at all surprising that this article is found in a foreign
newspaper, because most people, including most ignorant and/or indoctrinated
Americans, would find this to be just plain wrong.
14.
jamienewman July 3rd, 2008 1:55 pm
Here in Indiana, this is rather old news. The events that led to Ms.
Heerman's suspension occurred last November, and the suspension itself was
imposed last March. Sort of odd that the Guardian is just picking up on this
now . . . For a bit more detail, you can go here
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8060931.
What's truly bizarre is that, according to press reports, the high
school where Ms. Heerman taught had not just one, but ten, copies of the
book in its library at the time she was being "insubordinate."
15.
claudius July 3rd, 2008 2:00 pm
I saw the interview. There is one important detail. 149 out of 150
parents signed the permission slip!
16.
nigelUK July 3rd, 2008 2:05 pm
Makes me think of ".Harper Valley PTA."
17.
fanny666 July 3rd, 2008 2:13 pm
For more information:
http://www.takebackperryschools.com
18.
Rockerbabe1 July 3rd, 2008 2:22 pm
Anyone who would punish a teacher for teaching such a good book does
not deserve to be on the school board. The politics of reading books in
school is out of control and is unamerican. Maybe that is why our kids are
so cynical about everything. They are denied factual info on their bodies
and its processes, they are denied a proper scientific education and now,
they are denied an experience in learning from others on how to deal with
problems. How sad is this? Thank god, I went to a Catholic school in the
1960's and the nuns taught us much; more than that, a lot of it was not
politically correct at the time; very valuable lessons were taught and I
have benefited from those lessons well over the years. My best to Ms.
Heerman.
19.
leftk July 3rd, 2008 2:32 pm
I'm a teacher who taught the Freedom Writers Diary in my class. I'm
sure glad I live in Massachussets and didn't get fired. I shudder to think
what would happen if I taught a truly progressive book (oh wait I'm teaching
Zinn's People's History too)
My students chose the book. I wouldn't have chosen it because I
didn't like it and didn't find Ms. Gruwell's teaching style somewhat less
than progressive. Gruwell did empower her children to confront their
realities using literacy skills, however she did not seem to question her
own elitism and inherent prejudices. She was the rich white teacher who saw
her work as a kind of charity. She doesn't ask the students to question the
power structures that hinder them. Racism for example seems to be understood
as a personal vice and not a systematic problem.
If you watch the movie with even a slightly critical eye, I think
that racist viewpoints are reinforced under the guise of anti-racism. It
really is a disturbing film.
In any case my students had a good experience with the book and
really enjoyed reading a book that was by students with whom they could
relate.
20.
NativeSon July 3rd, 2008 2:39 pm
Unfortunately the Teacher in this story was controlled by a
"conservative education bloc" where the Tax payers money is used to promote
the same faulty approach that has made the American people some of the most
ignorant people of power --in history.
Had she been better represented by her "union" she would have either
been prepared for a conflict or prepared to pass off the conflict to other
better organized "Union" teacher representatives. She is a member of a
Teachers Union that no matter how powerful, is not allowed to follow
directions from anyone other that the school board--all of which are elected
officials-beholden to the "voters", who most often are under educated
themselves ....
Her Union could have been prepared to take the system to task. Instead under
the Bush administration's (and the voters on a National level) "No Child
Left Behind" program--those teachers , Union members, are forced to spend an
inordinate amount of time preparing students to take tests, the material of
which is comprised by very few educators, and provided by "friends and
associates of the Bushs" for millions of tax payer $$$$$$$$(don't take my
word for it-research it yourself).
The "education system" has always been under the control of the
politicos--or the religious organizations *, and for very good reason. From
the conservative stand point of view-and they have been in control for
several generations now--an " educated mass" is easier to control, easier to
convince ( of even the most mind numbing philosophy), and much easier to
manipulate-when that "education" is "selectively applied" and "controlled"
by them-the conservatives.
Being a former educator (former because I could not fit in well with the
politics, and believed that the only future human kind has is with a LIBERAL
EDUCATION-since a CONSERVATIVE EDUCATION is ineffective, and contrary to an
intelligent approach and hazardous to the future)---
Since the "Conservatives" under the "Great Communicator" (Reagan) broke the
back of organized labor, teachers who should be considered the first most
important profession in our society, even the medical (who teaches the
Doctors), are powerless to intervene in the stupidity they are forced to
promote-because their union is only a union in name-it has no power that is
effective, or can be used to better the profession or
the product, i.e, educated people...
They cannot strike for better working conditions, so that they can deliver a
better product. The Labor Unions were and are the only true representatives
of a Democratic Society-they are in the hands and control of the
PEOPLE...not big business, not religions, no "special interests"-the PEOPLE.
But now they have no POWER excepty in a limited capacity--for limited
purposes.
This approach has been very successful for the conservative element,
since the people who vote the school board members into power, are under
educated themselves.
Even though the conservative element is under educated and in many
cases just outright ignorant, the approach they have taken thus far has been
exactly what they wanted....
*In most parts of the Country, people who can afford the expense
send their children to "private schools" most of which are "religious
schools". For the fundamentalist Christians/Jewish schools there are not as
many people who send their children to them as the Catholic schools--my
question is simple-how can the Catholics develop more desirable schools than
the public arena? The answer is simple. They are not subject to the same
political influences as the "public" schools......
Which is amazingly contradictory given the Catholic doctrine--or any
"religious doctrine" in general.....go figure.
Then one must consider that Mr. Bush, (just one example) attended
private grade school, then private "prep" school, then TWO highly regarded
Universities, Harvard and Yale, and still is as dumb as a door nob...he can
barely speak his own language "Englush" and his Spanish is laughable and
insulting to the Hispanic world---yet he will spend this his last 4th of
July--in office, still the most powerful moron in history....go figure that
one!
21.
NativeSon July 3rd, 2008 2:48 pm
Excuse me please, a sore finger made me do it--
that should read above-Dumb as a door KNOB.
Thanks
22.
leftk July 3rd, 2008 3:27 pm
First of all I disagree that Catholic schools are better than public
schools. I have attended both and found much more open-mindedness in public
schools.
On the other hand, NativeSon's observation that sometimes Catholic
schools are paradoxically less-repressive for a different set of political
standards.
Sure the Catholic church is repressive but it's CLASS INTERESTS are
nto the same as the government's.
23.
herbalist July 3rd, 2008 4:06 pm
I always find it ironic when schools try to censor 'bad language'.
Yet, they don't care when students go home and hear more cussing from their
own parents than they'll ever read in a single book.
24.
bizona July 3rd, 2008 4:23 pm
I'd rather my kid learn English from a book with a few bad words
than by listening to some of our public officials.
Is our children learning?
25.
Jack37 <http://ancientgreece-earlyamerica.com> July 3rd, 2008 4:31
pm
TAKE IT TO COURT! What should they be reading-"My Pet Goat"?
26.
sebouhian July 3rd, 2008 4:41 pm
As a beginner, teaching college-bound high school seniors in Florida
many years ago, I included LADY CHATTERLY'S LOVER on a list of recommended
books-not required. The local paper "found out" and ran a strong editorial
condemning the book and me. But I wasn't suspended or fired, even though I
did not have tenure. I was asked to write an explanation of why I had LADY
CHATTERLY on the list; I did. Copies went to the board, the principal, and
the paper that day. I heard no more of it.
But I must add, even though the principal whom I deeply respected
was himself caught in accusations, I have to assume, though he never told
me, that he was the one who persuaded the others that I was not a pervert,
trying to push "dirty" books on innocent youngster.
As a matter of fact, in spite of the nasty publicity, most of my
students did read the book, and exclaimed that it should have been required
after all.
There must be a message in this for those who want to protect our
students from the tree of knowledge-which most of them know about anyway.
But for educational "leaders," principals, superintendents, and school
boards to savage a teacher, with lengthy experience in the classroom who
probably knows a lot more about learning than they do!.
27.
bluedegree July 3rd, 2008 4:55 pm
sizzling logic
A) the book is not banned
B) the charge is insubordination (teaching the book)
see A)
the Board isn't fooling anybody
28.
joachin July 3rd, 2008 5:10 pm
Simple minded self serving busy-bodies, the same morons who wave the
flag for an illegal war in Iraq, and give willing assent to the war on drugs
and the building of more prisons. Yuck! This culture thrives on ignorance
and enemies. Yuck!
29.
busterkikki July 3rd, 2008 5:33 pm
I don't know if it is true today. I graduated from high school in
1947. But in those days the Blacks in my school were adamant that
Huckleberry Finn was a racist book that belittled Blacks and they avoided it
like the plague. I don't know if they still do, but reasonably well-read
people understand that Mark Twain's masterpiece was a complete put-down of
the American Whites' prejudices against Blacks, exactly the opposite of the
general Black feeling.
School Superintendents and Board Members are good at taking the bulk
of the money available for employment in their school districts. The
teachers, the ones in whose custody we place our children, are poorly paid,
poorly treated and tortured by having to listen to the drivel put out by the
"leaders."
This is simply another case of Ignorance over Learning. Most of our
schools won't let the students learn. Too bad.
And too bad Mark Twain isn't here to write a book about the stupid
shit-heads. But then, they wouldn't read it anyway. It would have words with
more than five letters in them.
30.
irma July 3rd, 2008 5:34 pm
I support subversive teaching. The trick is to do it without being
noticed. Always appear to be teaching the curriculum, and make sure you can
support everything you do by citing specific objectives.
My comments are based on 22 years of teaching English in an Oklahoma
high school.
31.
david.peace2002 July 3rd, 2008 5:35 pm
Amazing. The teacher's union has to take time to "decide" whether to
pursue this in court. One thing that should be universal in all of our
nations schools, pubic and private, is teaching the Bill of Rights. I only
went to public school and there was only a brief overview of the entire
Constitution and scant attention to the amendments, Bill included. How can
the powers that we "elect" expect to encourage REAL patriotism when they
themselves don't much about the founding documents of our country? Real
patriotism, for this country, is about questioning authority. The teacher
did the right thing in going forward with the book and the fact that the
"union" behind didn't immediately jump to her defense and immediately file
court papers says a lot about what pathetic sheep We the People have become.
32.
corvo July 3rd, 2008 5:36 pm
Well, this IS Indiana we're talking about. So we can be outraged-but
not surprised.
33.
Leah 1946 July 3rd, 2008 5:38 pm
I think the school board should be removed and a new board set up. I
find a huge lack of confidence in a group of six who allowed ONE person to
persuade them to go against their own beliefs. Parents & educators in this
school system should be raising their own voices in support of this teacher
and against a whimpy school board who could not find within themselves to
stand on their own convictions and instead capitulated to one lone board
member. The school board itself was and is insubordinate to the needs of
it's students and it's educators..fire em all and get those on "board" who
can be strong leaders who truely care about the students and their
educators.
34.
Debmcd July 3rd, 2008 5:39 pm
This is what happens when small minded people are given a bit of
power. It would be funny if it wasn't so scary that these small people who
probably haven't even read the book decide to ban it and then blame the
teacher.
35.
Truthseeker58 July 3rd, 2008 5:41 pm
It's because the idiots are running things in this country, and they
want us all to be as stupid as they are. My father was a Republican
misogynist and never attended college because there wasn't the money. Then
he actively stood in my way to attend college because he couldn't stand the
thought of his daughter being more educated than he was. That kind of
backward thinking is sick and demented.
It's about time we pull the idiots up by their extra-long boot
straps and tell them we're not gonna take it anymore. We're going to read
what we want when we want it and they can stay stupid.
Kudos to this teacher for wanting to better the chances in life for
her students. She should be given an award instead of a suspension.
36.
flyline July 3rd, 2008 5:53 pm
Is book burninng the next "logical" step for the stamper-outers of
free expression? Isn't there great benefit from learning from one's peers?
One has to wonder if these Board Member's and their spokerperson are trying
to keep their children from hearing words they probably already use when
gathered together amongst themselves. Certainly these kids have heard the
language before.
By the way, an act of "subordination", you will find, has a whole
different meaning than the one applied by the Board Members. Hopefully the
Union will serve that spokerperson and the Board a good lesson in that
definition. In the meantime one has to wonder at their (the Board's)
response to a tenured teacher with 27 years of service. Surely this
community can elect better representaion than what they presently have.
37.
jclientelle July 3rd, 2008 6:04 pm
Wise comment, irma.
Insubordination is a vague term that can be applied to any
resistance to orders, legal or illegal, moral or immoral, sensible or silly,
reasoned or arbitrary. The charge of insubordination should be used
sparingly if ever.
The teacher is a trained professional who obviously thinks and cares
about her students. She chose a book that she thought would serve the
purposes of developing literacy and developing the students as people.
The union should back this teacher up. (I know, a preposition at the
end of the sentence.)
38.
off22 July 3rd, 2008 6:09 pm
Just wait until I start teaching James Loewen's "Lies My Teacher
Told Me". I can't wait to get fired.
39.
daddyact July 3rd, 2008 6:17 pm
The problem is not local school boards, and schools should be able
to evaluate teaching materials. The real problem is A SINGLE ZEALOUS MEMBER
who cannot see the value in the materials simply because they can't relate
to the material. One zealous member convinced the rest of the board that
these materials were objectionable to that member and therefore should be
banned.
The problem is that the teacher was never given the access to pleas
her case before this board. They never gave the materials or the teacher a
hearing. Especially after all the parents have given their permission.
I've taught this material in the past, and without exception, it
engages at risk students unlike anything else I've seen with the possible
exception of The Diary of Anne Frank.
Yes, this teacher should get full backing of her union, but she may
be forced to relocate to another district eventually.
40.
workreno July 3rd, 2008 6:30 pm
Seems to me that this teacher has been handed a rare opportunity.
She has been shown that public education is about the dumbing down
of the sheeple by a constant barrage of left brain indoctrination. Including
"higher education".
Teacher pounds information into students head.
Student is tested to insure that information stuck.
If info. stuck student becomes teacher or leader in dumbed down
society.
Repeat proccess.
DO NOT USE THE CREATIVE SIDE OF YOUR BRAIN .
IT MAY SET YOU FREE FROM THE BULLSHIT.
So to the teacher in question I say run away as fast as you can and
become a true teacher .One that helps others to learn their potential.
41.
GKL July 3rd, 2008 6:44 pm
When I was a beginning teacher and taking grad classes at night, a
linguistis prof introduced me to Noam Chomsky and Neil Postman. I think that
Postman's TEACHING AS A SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY was the most influential book of
my career. (I did get punished for it too!) So you active teachers out
there, keep up the good work. You are the real heros in the fight against
Holy Ignorance!
42.
citizenblog <http://www.citizensnews.org> July 3rd, 2008 7:03 pm
bizona July 3rd, 2008 4:23 pm
"Is our children learning?"
Are they?
43.
hetzer <http://www.nazilieskill.us> July 3rd, 2008 7:04 pm
The hidden curriculum is always indoctrination and conformism. When
people begin to think the kingdom of the crooks begins to fall.
44.
onelove July 3rd, 2008 7:21 pm
"In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then he
made School Boards."
- Following the Equator; Pudd'nhead Wilson's New Calendar
by Mark Twain
45.
Exsisto July 3rd, 2008 7:35 pm
Another sad day in America's Institutional Learning Facilities!
Let Ms. Barbara Thompson know how you may feel about this decision
to suspend a teacher for teaching.
Barbara Thompson Contact Information:
227 Huddleston Dr. South
Indianapolis, IN 46217
Phone: 317-888-0073
E-mail: bjthompson at msdpt.k12.in.us
46.
lobster <http://NONE> July 3rd, 2008 7:51 pm
Irma and GKL, Thanks. I too loved "Teaching as a Subversive
Activity."
I'm not pushing an ideology, but teachers are not in the army. One
shouldn't be "punished" for "insubordination."
I speak as one who has spent a lifetime in schools
as either student, teacher, or administrator.
I think a teacher should be given the syllabus on the things a
student should learn in his/her class and the time to teach them free from
micro management.
47.
bottle July 3rd, 2008 8:07 pm
Gather all the people in Perry, Indiana in a single place. Ensure
that they have brought their checkbooks. Each person to empty one bank
account and give the proceeds to the good teacher.
48.
Paul M <http://www.users.bigpond.com/pmurray> July 3rd, 2008 8:24
pm
Why aren't there 18 and 19-year olds on these school boards, if it's
just a matter of getting elected?
49.
tailcap July 3rd, 2008 8:51 pm
I regularly go against the grain and speak truth to the principal's
power. He can't do anything about it. But when he gives a directive you must
comply or they can get you for insubordination. It's better to find a way of
complying but still be a thorn in the side.
If a violation of the teachers' contract is committed then you can
file a grievance. In my district insubordination is grounds for termination
so better not go there or you'll get permanently neutralized. Better to lose
a battle but live to fight again than go down for good.
Sounds like she did it but she can still make a good case in court
because it sounds like McCarthyism.
50.
BobBeaSea July 3rd, 2008 8:59 pm
Why is failure an option for our kids? Because some want it to be
so. What other reasonable explanation can there be for allowing a single
board member voice his or her displeasure and then having the "weight" to
convince 6 other miscreants on the board that he/she is right and the book
shouldn't be used.
Education, the public variety at least, in America is doomed.
51.
Seventhson July 3rd, 2008 9:31 pm
Thank goodness we live in a "free" country, huh? Nudge nudge wink
wink.
52.
Soeharto July 3rd, 2008 9:31 pm
I think Connie Heermann's using her students as a political football
in this way would be less likely under a McCain administration than an
Hussein Obama one.
53.
Seventhson July 3rd, 2008 9:39 pm
Hey off22 - awesome book!
I assume you already know about Howard Zinn's "A People's History of
the United States"? If you don't, check that one out too!
I tip my hat to all you subversive teachers!
54.
decrepittex July 3rd, 2008 10:05 pm
With McSame as President we can look forward to his appointing a
couple of "real conservative" judges to
the Supreme Court. Then we can look forward to having our reading material
selected for us by some old perverted Republicans and approved by that
court. If anyone thinks they have problems with closed minded people in
Indiana, they should live in Texas.
55.
shakker July 3rd, 2008 10:35 pm
I smell politics. Someone laid in the weeds and complained after the
school year was well under way to make a big splash. I actually believe in
parental control of the school and any parent that wanted to keep this away
from their kid should be able to do so.
The teacher took great pains to get clearance and should not be
severely punished if at all. The administration should be reprimanded for
not notifying the parents of all curriculum prior to the school year. The
administration is at fault here and are covering their highly paid asses
with a UNION teacher.
56.
lobo72 July 3rd, 2008 11:08 pm
Soeharto:
How is stimulating students to learn using them as political
footballs?
You are so right though! Under McCain Ms. Heermann likely would be
jailed for subversive activities.
A dolt like you would fit well on the Perry Township school board!
57.
ponygirl July 3rd, 2008 11:31 pm
Oh, so many stories I could tell about working in the hallowed halls
of public education. My husband as well. Some really really good folks that
dig kids knocking themselves out in those tight ass places. Reminds me of
the end of the year, same year I picketed against the war in Iraq, that I
had two flat tires when I went to get in my car or how about when I resigned
rather than be fired for trumped up crap.
Oh yes, they can do whatever they please to you. Being a public school
teacher/employee is like sizzling in a frying pan on low heat.
The good ones aught to be sainted.
58.
Anita Linker July 4th, 2008 1:25 am
Makes sense. If students read about freedom, first thing you know,
they'll all want some.
59.
nckamdar July 4th, 2008 3:09 am
Sticking to the truth when confronted with power is the most
courageous thing one can do (when the power insists you do otherwise).
For her insurbodination, she should receive a medal, and she should
be used as an example for others to follow.
Who am I kidding, things don't work like that anymore, right?
60.
hedology July 4th, 2008 3:32 am
A case of law being followed minutely but without meaningful justice
of any kind.
This seems to be case of a system power play to crush the smallest
ounce of insubordination and creativity. If teachers do not have a little
latitude in these professional matters, then their is no freedom at all, and
such teaching might be a joyless task. If experimentation and variation is
not allowed, there is no development or evolution.
The mere fact that a teacher felt the necessity to undertake such
boot licking approval outside of the class room situation, to introduce
worthy and uplifting material speaks volumes about a intolerant and overly
rigid and authoritarian supervision of education.
The by-laws used here are are far too rigid. If no one is allowed to
bend restrictions and take small liberties with instructions under
advisement without fear of career retribution, then both US education and
society are due to break and shatter.
61.
braithwa842 <http://web.aanet.com.au/webspace/BloodForOil> July
4th, 2008 6:02 am
What was the problem/reason for objection about the book?
How come this is a US school, but the issue is reported in a UK newspaper?
62.
greatbear215 July 4th, 2008 9:06 am
God forbid, any teacher should do more than teach the Bush politics
and the party line to her/his students. In conservative America, teachers
aren't really permitted to teach-it's all propaganda or out the door they
go! It's GOP all the way-and it's their way or the highway. Sad.
63.
Hector July 4th, 2008 9:14 am
"How come this is a US school, but the issue is reported in a UK
newspaper?" There is a great deal about the "US" that is better reported, or
simply reported as opposed to ignored, in UK and other foreign presses, than
in US papers.
64.
Texas Tom July 4th, 2008 9:56 am
Lemme guess. the sole dissenter to the book was a Christian, right?
I thought so.
65.
alank <http://cosmeticdemocracy.org> July 4th, 2008 10:55 am
Insubordination?
Cleic your heels as you obey our commands!
Insubordinate to education is what that so-called "school board" is.
Another one of many little acts. Next come the jackboots.
66.
ubrew12 July 4th, 2008 12:24 pm
If there was any justice, the kids in that school would leave and
refuse to come back for 18 months. If the school board wanted to know where
they were, they could find them at Teacher Heermann's house, getting an
education for a change.
Soeharto said: "I think Connie Heermann's using her students as a
political football in this way.."
Wow. Someones been hit by one too many footballs.
67.
USAn July 4th, 2008 12:33 pm
Several here have written about the poor state of public education,
one even calling public schools "government schools" - Implying a support
for privatization of education - or home schooling.
But by doing so, you are falling into exactly the trap the
corporate, "libertarian" capitalist right has set for you.
It is a deliberate project of sabotaging the public service by
filling it's management with people who are tasked with destroying it. Then
once the service is bad enough, people associate it with "big government"
and accept privatization. It works the same whether it is a public utility,
public transportation, or public education.
Free public education is the fundamental in any democracy. The
answer isn't privatization or home schooling, it is taking the schools back
from the capitalists and the dumb neanderthals in the school boards.
68.
alaskamaid July 4th, 2008 12:55 pm
Neanderthals had bigger brains than ours. They may have been 'dumb'
in the sense of not having spoken languages (that is recently being argued
with the discovery of a hyoid bone in a Neanderthal fossil), but they
survived for hundreds of thousands of years so i don't think they were
stupid. It is a mystery to me why we are not more interested in these
recently disappeared hominoids who were really our closest relatives . . .
'Entrenched Reptiles' would be my choice of describing who is on the
school boards, as well as pretty much every other board i can think of . . .
anyone who has been a board member has a pretty good idea of the type of
people you can expect to meet . . . the board i am on now is presided over
by a lonely older single woman who thinks of the board members as her
(dysfunctional) surrogate family . . . since this particular board is
self-selecting and has not bothered to set any term limits you can imagine
what it's like, i am the vocal newbie and they are already trying to run me
off so they can go back to sitting around with their collective thumb up
their collective you-know-what . . .
Teaching sounds a lot like medicine, you start off with good
intentions but then end up sucked in by the system . . . i know a lot of
teachers who are bailing for other occupations . . .
69.
iwarrior <http://www.myspace.com/iwarrior> July 4th, 2008 1:02 pm
Yeah, I guess inspiration empowers, and the powers-that-be can't be
havin' a bunch of empowered poor kids running around! That would be scaaary.
Like, maybe they'll start to see the big picture and find solidarity with
others who are disillusioned, disadvantaged, and disenfranchised.
70.
lyllyth July 4th, 2008 4:03 pm
Someone needs to find out what local chapter of which union is SO
FUCKING GONADLESS to not take this to court.
Then we need to have their website, mailing address, and phone
number posted so we can all call and tell them that IF THEY DON'T TAKE THIS
TO COURT THEN THEY AREN'T WORTH THEIR FUCKING DUES!!!
71.
lyllyth July 4th, 2008 4:13 pm
*ackhem* excuse me for being so.untactful.
I've been harrassed out of a job over religious differences (my team
lead, supervisor, and HER supervisor all went to the same congregation when
they found out I was pagan. Suddenly there was an alarming focus on my work
errors - no more than they made themselves - and being 1 minute late for
lunch here and there, etc.). I quit six months later. Throwing up bile
everyday before you go to work is a sign that you are in the wrong job.
Oh yeah, this was under the auspices of SEIU Local 30 in San Diego.
They had accountants classified as "data entry" staff and basically
collected dues and did whatever management told them. Management says "Fuck
you" and they roll over and say "Okay, goodie goodie!"
If unions weren't so toothless these days, everyone would be better
off.
So hell yeah I'm bitter on the subject of unions. The most
innovative and original people who could really bring change to
organizations ARE NEARLY ALWAYS THE FIRST TO GET SNUFFED OUT OF THEIR
PROFESSION.
And teachers and education is needed MORE THAN anything else in our
nation. We need to reroute about 80% of pentagon money to the educational
system and kill No Child Left Behind. Then we'll have a semblance of a
chance for equal footing in global politics for the next generation.
I can only hope that we invest in SOCIAL PRIORITIES rather than
senseless WARS soon enough to save ourselves.
72.
jlees July 4th, 2008 4:54 pm
So there is not going to be a lawsuit? One would think, if that
union wasn't totally worthless, they would already be in the process of
going through the motions to see what can be done.
What a total waste of an apparently decent teacher, all for retarded
pretended morality on the school board. It's about time younger people
started running for the school boards of the nation; while I don't know the
age of the people on that board, they're certainly older, small town
conservatives who frown at the idea of intellectualism. Many great books
have "swearing" in them. Who gives a shit? Do these idiots not think those
kids probably swear all the time themselves? I've got a ten spot they do.
Would they ban her from having her students read 'Of Mice And Men'? That has
swearing in it. Does that not teach their standard of "morality"?
I agree with some others, that this is just one more example of why
"local control" in education is a bad, bad idea. It smacks of that
conservitard favorite "states rights" nonsense, and leads to a gap in
quality in education.
73.
JH July 4th, 2008 9:58 pm
The biggest danger in American public education is the ignorance of
the vast majority of the public who went through this public education.
Teaching to the lowest common denominator is bearing fruit, and probably has
for decades. We, as a society, have become too stupid to recognize an
education when it bites us in the butt. The curriculum is a reflection of
the fear and ignorance that pervades our society - and the biggest deterrent
to fear is education. Looks like the logical outcome is: "We're screwed."
74.
fastsurfer989 July 5th, 2008 12:33 am
Is Barbara Thompson, a bush licker or the bad type of communist?
there are 2 types of communisism, one that wants to conquer the world, the
BAD one, like W Bush and the GOOD form of communism which is Socialism, that
takes care of the people, like China does. I Back Up Heermann the Teacher.
75.
Boots July 5th, 2008 9:55 am
I can see another Thomas Frank book coming out. What's the Matter
with Indiana? - to go along with his other two - What's the Matter with
America? - and What's the Matter with Kansas?
Ain't America great?
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