Freedom Banned

In 1996, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night was removed from classrooms after a school board passed a "prohibition of alternative lifestyle instruction" act. Apparently, a young female character disguised as a boy was a danger to the youth of Merrimack, New Hampshire. Although teenagers in the 80's had survived Boy George, for teenagers in the 90's Shakespeare would have been lethal.

In 1999, at Windsor Forest High School, seniors were required to get adult permission slips before being allowed to read Hamlet, Macbeth or King Lear after the school board pulled them from class reading lists citing adult language, sex and violence.

School boards. Hmmm.

Now, in Perry, Indiana, according to a CNN report broadcast, the Perry Township School Board has suspended a teacher for allowing her students to read The Freedom Writers Diary. A veteran teacher of 27 years, Connie Heermann disobeyed her superiors who told her she may not teach the book. She has been suspended without pay until September 2009. She may not collect unemployment.

The Freedom Writers Diary was a national best seller and a film starring Hilary Swank. It is a collection of diaries -- true life stories told in true-to-life language -- about inner city children struggling to have an education, living with poverty, gang violence, domestic abuse, homelessness and racial intolerance. The boys thought they'd be dead at 18. The girls thought they'd be pregnant by 16. Black, Latino and Asian -- they hated each other on sight, fighting an undeclared war on the streets of Long Beach, California in the years following the LA Riots. None of them ever believed they would graduate high school. At fourteen and fifteen, they had lost hope.

But they did graduate. Many went to college. They became the first in their families to do so. The book is graphic, at times, because it is true. Stories of teens afraid of being killed on the way home from school, or witnessing the murder of a friend while buying candy, makes one understand they're inability to focus on homework once they got home. The book is also inspirational and transformative. I know the Freedom Writers and their teacher Erin Gruwell, intimately, having written and directed the film. They are extraordinary people. Within the course of their four years together, through the creative act of writing these journals, they learned about tolerance and service ... they learned that hope was available to them ...and they learned how to learn. Which is exactly why Connie Heermann gave her students the book.

In the CNN report, the Perry Township representatives cite the bad language in the book. The lawyer for the school board remarks it would serves as a bad role model. I don't know if every member of the school board read the entire book. If they didn't, that wouldn't surprise me. If they did read it, they are banning more than bad language.

Since these teenagers were killing each other in the streets because of racial differences, they were poised to kill each other within Ms. Gruwell's own classroom -- or at least in the schoolyard. To teach her students about the idea of tolerance, Ms. Gruwell taught them about an event they had never heard of before; The Holocaust. Many journals in the book describe the life changing experience these kids had reading The Diary of Anne Frank and visiting the Simon Weisenthal Museum of Tolerance. They also write of an extraordinary visit to their school by Miep Gies, the woman who helped the Franks remain hidden from the Nazis. Some of the more poignant journals describe their overwhelming reaction to Miep Gies, who called them "heroes" because they were fighting to transform their own hatreds. They also raised money to invite a Bosnian teenager, Zlata Filipovic, who had survived her own civil war -- writing her own book Zalta's Diary -- to visit them in Long Beach and share experiences.

These journals and stories have also been banned in the classrooms of the Perry Meridian High School.

The Perry Township School Board apparently believes the use of words like "motherfucker" is a good enough reason to keep teenagers from reading about the extraordinary effect the Holocaust had on these inner city children. Apparently, the Perry Township School Board believe there is no need for their teenagers to learn that when people are living in poverty-level conditions in this country, fighting for their survival -- sometimes in their own homes -- they are sometimes apt to use words like "motherfucker". Erin Gruwell told me when she went to Perry, Indiana to testify for Heermann before the school board, the book was compared to "pornography" and "Hustler magazine".

What's amazes me in the CNN report is that, although Ms. Heermann lost her job for giving the book to her students, the book remains available to everyone in the school library. When CNN reporter Gary Tuchman remarks to School Board President Barbara Thompson how he couldn't believe that the students would be worse off for reading the book -- and questions, is it possible the book could actually make them better for reading it, Thompson responded: "What worries me is that Connie Heermann ... sent a poor message to our children. If you're told no, do it ... it if feels good, do it anyway". She gave no response to the question of the book's value to a student's education.

What message is Ms. Thompson sending? Don't stand for what you believe to be right when faced with limited thinking, or worse, ignorance? Just say yes to censorship? Ms. Heermann disobeyed a direct order because she saw the effect the book was having on her students -- many of whom are bused from poor and dangerous neighborhoods (I wonder what representation they have on the elected school board). Heermann stood for what she believed in. Does Ms. Thompson believe this is a bad role model for teenagers? Was Ms Thompson ever inside the classroom when Freedom Writers was being taught? Does the student's learning experience in the classroom mean anything to the school board of Perry Township ?

During a three month period when the school board gave no decision, Ms. Heermann sent out permission slips to the parents, asking for their permission to let their kids read The Freedom Writers Diary ... Out of 150 permission requests, Ms. Heermann received 149 positive responses. And yet the school board still suspended her.

Erin Gruwell has created a community of dedicated Freedom Writer teachers across the country, using the book. She leads workshops that focus on inspiring teachers to reach students our education system regard as "unteachable". It is all too clear that too many children fall through the cracks of our American education system because they can not conform to the classic, often out-moded, sometimes puritanical, teaching methods and restrictions. Connie Heermann is a Freedom Writer teacher. I believe she represents the best of what dedicated teachers can be because she chose to serve her students, not her school board. Freedom Writer teachers from around the country are donating whatever money they can, to help Heermann obtain legal representation to fight.

I recently received an email from Jan Erik Dubbelman, the director of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, informing me they receive comments from schools and youth centers all over the world about Freedom Writers creating open discussions about exclusion, self awareness, racism and freedom. He listed Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and the West Bank. I know the book is also being read in schools in Germany and Amsterdam. How can it be that in America ... in Indiana ... we do not see the value of the lessons to be learned? How many times, over how many centuries, do Americans like Connie Heermann have to fight for freedom of expression and thought in their own country?

To view the CNN Report, click here.

For more on Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers Foundation, click here.

Comments

[erathwomen]

I'm sick to death of school board's interfering like this. The difference between creationism and a nationally recognized bestseller that's been taught all over the country is vast and only an idiot can't see that. I don't understand why she had to ask the school board for permission in the first place---school boards should not be deciding what texts are used in classrooms. That should be a decision made between the principal and her/his staff. Teachers are not puppets to be manipulated and if her school board did not trust Ms. Heermann's decision to teach this book, then she should go to a school district where the children are truly educated. There's no such thing as education in this country anymore, no wonder our kids can't compete nationally.

[GLaB]

If the school board/admi­nistration had instructed a teacher to NOT TEACH creationism, but that teacher went ahead and taught creationism, would you be fighting for that teacher's "right" to teach what she wanted?

[galaxian]

Hell no. "Learning" creationism will not help students.

[Cyke101]

(Part 2 of 2)

The Board heard testimony on March 11 and 12 providing clear evidence of Heermann’s defiance of a directive to coordinate her teaching with the instruction of the other teachers in her Department. The administration explained to the board that teachers do not work in a vacuum. Their work builds on the work of other teachers - - and they send their students on to teachers who rely on the foundation they establish. Based upon these principles, on March 24, 2008 the Board of Education voted unanimously to place Perry Meridian High School English teacher Connie Heermann on unpaid suspension.

The Board of School Trustees believes they made the right decision for the right reasons. The direction given to Connie Heermann by each of her supervisors with respect to her teaching was clear. Heermann recognized this and initially offered to resign. She knew she had defied her supervisors’ direction in her work and that her defiance was “insubordination” and “neglect of duty”.

****

It makes me wonder, though. Insubordination, I'll give them that (but not for long), but "neglect of duty?" If anything, Heermann did the exact opposite, attempting to go above and beyond. Her first duty is to her students.

Then there's the issue of insubordination. The Board's official response was that insubordination was at the center. But really, if Freedom Writers wasn't banned in the first place, what would there be for Heermann to rebel against? Nada.

[erathwomen]

In the reports I've read, it says she had permission from her principal to teach it. I think there's something more going on that we don't know about.

[Cyke101]

I emailed Barbara Thompson about the article and this is the response I got (Part 1 of 2):

he Board of Education

Connie Heermann “Freedom Writers Case” response

Perry Meridian is a world class high school because its leadership coordinates the work of faculty. In the Fall of 2007, Connie Heermann, an English teacher at Perry Meridian High School, distributed and utilized the book entitled “Freedom Writers Diary” in her English 11 classroom. The board members heard from four levels of supervision in this School District that the use of this book was denied. In the Perry Township Schools, the Board of Education holds the administration accountable for student achievement. The administrators, in turn, hold teachers accountable. Accountability is important in the core curriculum which includes four years of English. The teaching in English 11 builds on the teaching in English 10 and prepares students for English 12. This is a case about a teacher’s decision to substitute her own judgment for the judgment of every administrator in her chain of command....

[Concernedteacher]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and then there are the facts. FACT: this "world class high school" hasn't made AYP in four years and was labeled one of the top ten "drop-out factories" in the state of Indiana" by the Indianapolis Star. Anyone can access the DOE stats on line and clearly see how this school district's demographics have changed; it has seen a steady increase in the number of students on free & reduced lunch and a steady decrease in the number of caucasion students. Clearly the leadership in this district has not been able to effectively meet the needs of their changing student body.
FACT: Mrs. Heermann's dismissal hearing was closed to the public because the board wished it to be. Administrators present at her hearing will naturally now tell those who weren't Heermann's insubordination was clearly established. One would think, as in all legal cases, a transcript of what actually was or was not established at her hearing is obtainable. Or does the board have censorship rights over that as well?
Finally, please ask school board president, Barbara Thompson, to reveal the amount of money her board has spent on legal fees to defend their actions in the numerous lawsuits filed against them as well as paying IPD officers to protect them at school board meetings. Why aren't they being held accountable for this use of the taxpayer's money which I believed could have been better invested on saving the students of this district.

[PhilBoyd]

If the school board are concerned about "Twelfth Night", they need to stay away from "Much Ado About Nothing", which features a girl pretending to be a boy called Ganymede ("Jove's own page" -- and more). Her friend is a girl pretending to be a boy pretending to be a girl pretending to seduce another guy. If the school board have read "Hamlet", they should be familiar with the phrase "caviar to the general" -- who then decide who must be protected from the dangers of caviar and anything else they don't understand.

People on both sides of the recent Supreme Court Heller decision, concerning gun bans, need books like "The Freedom Writers Diary" to have a chance of understanding what life is actually like for people subjected to poverty, drugs, and violence. People who refuse to see the world the way it is have no hope of changing it.

Richard Feynman, who won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1965, wrote about his experience on a local board recommending textbooks. He was surprised to find that he was the one person on the board who actually read the books they recommended for or against. Everyone else depended on reviews and what they were told. (Feynman found that, on average, the books had serious flaws.)

As Homer Simpson said, "Children are our future -- unless we stop them now!" Trust the schools to take care of that problem.

[PhilBoyd]

I wrote "Much Ado About Nothing", but I meant "As You Like It".

[Titonwan]

Irony or ironys is being censored on this rag. You don't have to cuss or threaten or ridicule. All you have to do is pose an argument that the author doesn't agree with and it never gets printed. I'm taking screenshots of this (have for the last 10 or so articles) so if Arianna is wondering how transparent comments are and how people REALLY think, then I'll have something meaningful to show her. It seems not only are we supposed to fall in line about Obama lying about FISA, but pretty much anything he does now. There are plenty of progressive blogs on the internet (and conservative one too!) that might find that interesting. Good post by the way. It should be important, huh, the "truth" that is.

[Richard LaGravenese - Huffpost Blogger]

Erin Gruwell is in the process of setting up a fund earmarked to help Connie. The goal is to at least get her salary...It will be through her non for profit Freedom Writers Foundation... I'll blog info as soon as I get it or you can go to the foundation website....thanks for your support...

[DougGiebel]

Richard:
Connie deserves legal and financial help, but the problem of abusive and over-reacting administra­tor-bureau­crats is far more widespread and in need of major attention in public schools and in higher education nationwide. Those with name recognition and funds would do great national service by making legal assistance and advice available to educators where First Amendment and fairness (due process) issues cost good teachers their jobs and reputations. As an example, see the case I argued before the Ninth Circuit Court (google "Giebel v. Sylvester"). Effective teaching has been inhibited not only by No Child Left Behind but also by the growth of an education industry increasingly managed by bureaucrats and lawyers. Regards, Doug. (dougcatz@­ttc-cmc.ne­t)

[lgreene]

Two suggestions:

RECALL ELECTIONS. Here in our small city, only a couple of years ago, we pulled off a recall election for some school board members for their complete inadequacy in terms of running our schools, and replaced them with competent, education-oriented members. Things changed over night.

LAWSUIT. If Ms. Heerman or a damaged party was to file a lawsuit against the board, it might encourage them to settle by rehiring her, or by their being purged from the board.

[UnclaimedMysteries]

1) Okay, everybody hate Indiana now. Ready, set, go!

2) I haven't heard that "if it feels good do it" riff since Baptist Sunday School in the 70s.

3) I claim that one problem here is the top-down hierarchy of many schools - whether public, private, or anywhere in-between. The teachers are de-professionalized and reduced to merely "delivering education product" in the classroom.

[TexasDem0]

School boards are big fish in small ponds. They love to make petty regulations in blissful ignorance of civil rights guaranteed by The Constitution. In the end, they lose in court and lose reelection. The Dover, PA school board had to learn this the hard way.

[jmpurser]

I saw the movie and it's really outstanding. And I'm probably just about the last person in the world to like that kind of movie.

I feel like we've been working for at least the last 40 years to make sure our kids will remain dumb enough not to resent us for what we've done to them. Quite the record don't you think?

[swift goat pet for truth]

The lesson taught is the most important one in America today: Obey authority without thought.

This is the lesson the US Congress, GOP or Dem, practices every day.

[galaxian]

Looks like the truth has set her free...
...for a year!
I hope that she can quit the district and keep the bennies.
Who knows, maybe this sparks a revolution in Perry, B.F.E.

[KingCranky]

Since he's reaching out to religious extremists by offering to keep in place Bush Jr's Faith-Based Initiatives BS, perhaps the Perry School Board will be the next group of disenfranchised citizens Obama will reach out to, and make peace with.

[LiberalBuzz]

Why does it seem as though the U.S., which was once considered the most forward thinking country in the world has now become a laughingstock because of idiots like the Perry School Board?

Well actually it is becoming one.

We now ban freedom of thought because of George Carlin's seven words.

STILL TODAY?

You or anyone still think NONE of those kids use any of that language?

What is wrong with this country? When did morons like these school board members suddenly become the arbiters of what kids should be allowed to read or not read?

I worry for my country more and more everyday and I remember a time when I was growing up in the 50's, 60's, 70s when I thought we were going to be the most progressive society on Earth.

Now we are working hard to become the most regressive.

By the way, any fund to help Ms. Heermann survive these idiots? Maybe other states would want to hire her?