This happened about 13 years ago when I taught at an all black Catholic School. I taught social studies and we, I had 6th graders, were discussing voting & freedom of speech. I thought of the most shocking thing to show them how important freedom of speech is. I asked them why all of us should fight for the right for the KKK to March. They looked at me in horror, but as we got to talking & they understood that they would be protected if they ever protested & marched, they UNDERSTOOD that freedom of speech means for even your worst enemy too. A day I will never forget.
Several years ago I ran into a student in that class, he was in college & waiting tables & after we hugged he told that the day he turned 18 he registered to vote. I repeated the importance of voting over & over until they were sick of hearing it ; )
I would say no way would the cultural atmosphere permit that open discussion now. I would be very afraid of being branded a racist. I hope I’m wrong.
And you are correct, it is FREEDOM!
What a great story! Thanks for being a teacher - they have such an impact on our lives. As a conservative family in a liberal area, we spent a lot of time undoing our kid’s liberal teachings. Although by Junior High they had it figured out and could hold there own.
Two are home for Thanksgiving - and they were talking about how silly some of the kids (and profs) are at their schools. They were cracking up about something they saw on Facebook a few minutes ago. Some school had set up a table for kids to right stuff down to make them feel better about the election results. Someone left a post-it note that said “Suck it up pussies”. It was turned over to police and is being investigated as a “hate crime”. (Now - whether it all really happened or not - I’m not sure where they got the information from....) But - I could see it as true.