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A good teacher will take the risk of 'pushing the envelope'

Perhaps social studies teacher Dohn Bear "pushed the envelope" a little when he showed the movie Rosewood to his classes and asked them to write on their test papers the exact word used by a white character as a slur against a black character in the story of a terrible chapter of racism here in our own state. But it isn't a word that the students hadn't heard. In fact, and this seems to be exactly his point, students hear that word too often, and often it is being used by black students as friendly slang toward each other.

Bear's lesson, it seems clear, was to attempt to sensitize his students, black and white, to the hurtful power of that word, so that they might think twice before including it in their daily vocabulary.

But don't we want teachers who will "step out of the box" of the easy, the routine, the mundane and do something exciting that will bring their lessons alive for their students? When I think of my own teachers, from elementary school through seminary, it is the ones who "pushed the envelope" a little whom I recall and who really taught me something!

I am glad to know that we have teachers willing to be a little risky, a little radical, a little challenging in order to stimulate and motivate our young people. If they all get fired for "pushing the envelope," what will we have left?

Stick to the rules

Re: Learning the lessons of a loaded lexicon.

Just as students are expected to follow the rules of classroom etiquette, the same applies to teachers. Racially charged words are a "no no." And there are no ifs, ands or buts about it.

Even though no malice was intended, Pinellas County social studies teacher Dohn Bear strayed from the course and is in troubled water. Teachers need to stick to the curriculum and remember that there are no exceptions when there is a zero-tolerance standard to uphold.

Words must have context

Re: Learning the lessons of a loaded lexicon.

Application of any sort of zero-tolerance policy is an admission of failure. Human behavior is complex and there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to evaluating the meaning of someone's words or actions. Anyone on the receiving end of these kinds of indiscriminate judgments knows the desperate need to consider the context.

It is a well-established principle of communication theory that there is no meaning without context. Therein lies the difference between using racial epithets hatefully to demean or attack others and pedagogically, as a means of deepening understanding. The Pinellas teacher who used the "n" word in its appropriate historical context to better convey the struggle for civil rights should be applauded for his courage, not punished.

To be clear: There must be no tolerance for the abusive use of language in any setting. But a true appreciation of the power of language to strengthen or destroy lives can only be gained by looking directly at how it has been used in context.

Wilcox goes too far

Re: Learning the lessons of a loaded lexicon.

I am a senior citizen with a long history of support for African-American civil rights. I believe Pinellas school superintendent Clayton Wilcox is over the top in this particular matter. If he prevails, his action will further divide us - this time with the added dimension of teacher ethics. The teacher, Dohn Bear, has the background in the civil rights movement to personalize and add to the film Rosewood, which he showed to the class. What a great perspective for the students!

That does not relieve him of the responsibility to secure permission to show the film, which he did not do, and perhaps an admonishment is in order. What is particularly troubling to me is this quote from the superintendent: "I don't see all the shades of gray that everybody else does today ..." In my opinion, we, the citizens of Pinellas County, pay him for just that, to see all shades of an issue and then exercise good judgment.

R-rated movies not appropriate

Re: Learning the lessons of a loaded lexicon.

While the exercise of proper judgment by Dohn F. Bear is at issue in this case, buried in your article was the statement that this school district had given permission/approval for Bear to show an R-rated movie (Glory) to middle-schoolers! Who is going to be disciplined at the school-district level for that poor judgment? Even Hollywood suggests that persons under 17 should not view those movies without parental permission, and they are trying to make money at it. Shame on the school district for letting our teachers think R-rated movies are ever appropriate at the middle-school level.

The power of a song

Re: Respect the national anthem, letter, June 24.

This letter struck a "chord" with me. The letter writer may be interested to note that the National Association for Music Education is currently involved in the "National Anthem Project" to reinvigorate the public's interest in this song. Mrs. Laura Bush is the honorary chairperson for this multiyear project which began this past March 10. A look at the Web site www.thenationalanthemproject.org will provide more information.

Throughout my 28 years as a music educator in Pinellas County schools, I have taught the national anthem many times. I teach the words, the melody, the story behind the song and the appropriate demeanor with which to sing the song. My experience has been that students want to learn this song and are eager to sing it.

Ethnomusicologist Alan Merriam stated that music functions across all societies in many ways including: communication, integration of society, establishment/maintenance of group membership, validation of social institutions, and contribution to continuity of culture. Singing the national anthem at a ballgame or anywhere involves more than just notes and words; it functions on many levels. It is a very powerful thing.

Who needs the movies?

Currently the movie industry is lamenting the drop in attendance. Well, here are my reasons for not going to the movies anymore. First, I am a captive audience for commercials and previews etc. (which are usually played at double the normal volume). At home I have the "Mute" button. No such relief here. Then there are rude people talking during the movie or trying to quiet babies or small children. In extreme cases even answering cell phones. Who needs this? And that is why I quit going to movie theaters!

[Last modified September 20, 2005, 14:37:35]