Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Chapter Four
The fight mentioned in the beginning of the text was very significant because the fight is what woke Beto up and prepared him for the real world. When he came to the realization that his opponent was going to keep hitting him in the boxing match whether he fought back or not reflects social construction in a few ways. Even if we sat here and did nothing about it, the social structure of schools will keep coming at us. We are all in a situation that cannot be ignored, just like being in a boxing match and not fighting back. Eventually somebody has to step forward and lay out the truth about what is going on. In the case against three San Fernando High School administrators being tried as guilty of harassment and violation of the first amendment, a crucial question was brought to attention: Do teachers have the right to speak on matters of public concern during their off hours? I agree that they do. If a teacher is at a coffee shop complaining about the drop out rates at SFHS, the principle and staff do not have the right to treat the teacher any differently than the others for expressing an opinion out side of the classroom. Qualified immunity was being used to protect the administrators and say that they were not aware of the harassment that had occurred. SFHS claims that Beto broke school policies, and constantly did things his way. They claimed the problem with him was that he was self righteous in his approach to teaching and that he felt entitled to break policy based on observations of others. The truth of the matter is, he was not just simply observing others. He was taking into consideration that SFHS is an extension and continuation of white domination and the fact that the existence of white domination depends on social mechanisms that mass produce failure and ignorance within communities of color. However, the principle of SFHS does not believe in rocking the boat or exposing students to information that can be too controversial for their own good. If this information is never exposed to students, this social construction will never change. The administration is just an ugly extension of history. Times have changed. Reprimanding a teacher for making facts public to students such as the high school drop out rate in comparison to the excessive military recruitment is not right. Students have the right to be exposed to facts and teachers should have the right to speak on matters of public concern.
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You brought up some great points here. Do teachers have the right to speak on matters of public concern during their off hours? I think we have a big problem separating teacher from the classroom and the real world. Teachers are people too, they have a life outside of work, just as everyone else. Yes, they should be able to speak freely etc., but with that said, they also need to be respectful and say things in a proper and lawful manner, as any professional should.
ReplyDeleteI had a teacher in high school who also felt it necessary to expose the truth to his students. I found more respect for him than any teacher I have had previously. He did not talk badly about the school system or government, by any means, but he showed us a different side and allowed us to open a perspective on our own.
I think that both of you are on the wright path. “Do teachers have the right to speak on matters of public concern during their off- hours?” I think there is something wrong with this question, and it is that during off-hours teachers are regular people, their role changes to father, uncle, brother, and to a concerned member of community. What they say and what they do, should not be penalized, and have negative consequence on their careers and the line of work they are involved in.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Wikipedia the First Amendment is:
The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution is part of the
Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an
establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom
of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably
assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.
I personally do not see anything wrong with speaking and communicating, especially in a peaceful form, with people who are not aware of things that are going on around them; or do not have the time or do not see any problems with the lack of progress within their community. People with higher knowledge are responsible for action or lack of it in our society. For example; SFHS’s Principal Jose Luis Rodriguez who spend most of his life gaining education to reach to this level of responsibility in a vulnerable society that needs help, and just saying that he does not want to be bothered, with schools problems, is a shame, specially being originally from Mexico. When someone from the same demographics refuses to help or turn a blind eye to what his community members lack it diminishes hope for that society’s advancement. Especially as, “San Fernando High School is neither black nor white, nor is it a mix of races or nationalities; SFHS is a racially segregated high school with 99 percent, predominantly poor, Latinas/os.”(p. 21 Gutierrez). It is the Mexican community’s responsibility and their representative’s duty to ask the LAUSD to contribute to the advancement of the education systems and schools in the community. This is not an issue of all white; there is a great lack of individuals willing to express their needs and to argue their way for more rights and advancement.
The deeds conducted by Professor Gutierrez are no different that the deeds conducted by white professors in predominantly white schools. For example, my critical English instructor in Glendale City College showed us movies by Michele Moore, such as American Sicko while it was being shown in theaters, analyzing the film as we watched so we could debate the issues facing many Americans.
In conclusion, I believe that teachers are responsible for directing the attention and the focus of the students to issues surrounding their education and advancement in life. Instructors need to be able to show the correct course of action to the students, wheatear the students decide to follow is up to them. The instructors have a duty to protect and develop the minds of the students to an extent where they will question their position in life as they gain knowledge and information, which will provide them with a better future.
You guys all bring up valid points! I personally do believe that teachers should be able to expose facts and truth to their students because it affects them. I know I would want to know what was going behind the scenes and what's going on with my education.
ReplyDelete