Far removed from the troubles of the world is the sleepy township of Perry. 2002 One of two high schools in the area Perry Meridian High School was recognized as a National Service Learning Leadership School. But on March 24, 2008 the school was embroiled in a quiet controversy when it suspended an English teacher for a year and a half without pay.
According to the schools board the suspension was for insubordination. But the by the teachers account the issues at stake could have broader impact. Connie Heerman, the teacher in question believes the what's at stake is censorship. According to one parent what's at stake is a parents right to choose what is and is not acceptable for there children's development.
The book at the heart of the controversy is The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them. At it's heart it's the inspirational story of how a group of teens seemingly destined to be swallowed up by the inner city are transformed by a journey of expression and communication that transcends the boundaries of class, race, religion and circumstance. But who cares.
What's important about this story is that by Heermans account the school took three months to answer the question can the students be given this book as part of there curriculum. With no answer and a finite amount of class time, Heerman decided to ask the students parents. She sent permissions slip home for 150 students and got 149 resounding YES replies.
It was not until after the books had been distributed to the students that the school asked her to take them back.
Though our strength in the world has diminished as a nation the USA is still a giant. While out national system of education has fallen into what must now be considered it's own local "Dark Age". I am left asking, is this because the people making the decisions can't finish a book in three months? How can it be that hard for a school board to read a book these days.
I don't buy Ms. Heermans tearful plea that she's fighting for the right to learn. I am concerned more about the people who have continued to fail to secure our children's future. For over a decade our nations school systems have been in sharp decline. Perhaps this is a clue as to why.
According to the schools board the suspension was for insubordination. But the by the teachers account the issues at stake could have broader impact. Connie Heerman, the teacher in question believes the what's at stake is censorship. According to one parent what's at stake is a parents right to choose what is and is not acceptable for there children's development.
The book at the heart of the controversy is The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them. At it's heart it's the inspirational story of how a group of teens seemingly destined to be swallowed up by the inner city are transformed by a journey of expression and communication that transcends the boundaries of class, race, religion and circumstance. But who cares.
What's important about this story is that by Heermans account the school took three months to answer the question can the students be given this book as part of there curriculum. With no answer and a finite amount of class time, Heerman decided to ask the students parents. She sent permissions slip home for 150 students and got 149 resounding YES replies.
It was not until after the books had been distributed to the students that the school asked her to take them back.
Though our strength in the world has diminished as a nation the USA is still a giant. While out national system of education has fallen into what must now be considered it's own local "Dark Age". I am left asking, is this because the people making the decisions can't finish a book in three months? How can it be that hard for a school board to read a book these days.
I don't buy Ms. Heermans tearful plea that she's fighting for the right to learn. I am concerned more about the people who have continued to fail to secure our children's future. For over a decade our nations school systems have been in sharp decline. Perhaps this is a clue as to why.
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1 comment:
This story was featured on http://detentionslip.org! Voted #1 for crazy education news.
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