- Portland Public Schools and Civil Rights
- Bethany Barnes, The Oregonian, 9/12/2016
- Key Points: The demonstrating/protesting from one Portland High School (Lincoln) surrounding the decision of a high stakes bond caused a nearby school (Benson) to go into "Lockout" (no one enters or leaves the school). Backlash has come towards the administration at Benson as decision for the Lockout had "silenced the voices of the Benson students" which in return infringed upon their civil rights to protest during the demonstration. While the decision to go into the Lockout appeared to be one to protect the students inside from potential unknown threats, critics have begun to focus on the socioeconomic status and discrepancies between the two schools. Discussions continue surrounding the bond and decisions made during the protest, but I am sure that this incident will set some form of precedence for future outings of similar nature.
- Relevance: With the impact and messages being sent around the Portland School Districts and outlying areas, it is clear to see that the identification of students' civil rights is beginning to become more frequent and is establishing precedence for future demonstrations. With the walkouts and protests last year (Forest Grove HS and Hillsboro schools), teachers and districts need to be more aware of potential demonstrations or items that can cause headlines or invoke strong feelings with the students. Connecting with the students and identifying what topics they are passionate about will help identify potential areas or concepts that can cause walkouts, demonstrations, protests, or gathering of concerned groups. As an educator we need to be aware of these things and try to provide arenas and forums that offer civilized and educated discussions on the topics.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteOverall great job. This is an aspect of the education politics I was unaware of. Especially lately, I have been so engulfed in my own life and the aspects of society that impact my immediate needs. I think the state of our nation is causing not only citizens but students to question and utilize their civil rights as american citizens. Ultimately as educators and administrators, safety comes before anything else. Unfortunately that also tramples students civil rights if the need is necessary. However, when does this become about using safety as a mask for silencing students expressions. I wonder where you stand on this issue. I agree that it is important to empower our students with the knowledge and capability to expresses their concerns but it is also imperative to maintain the safety of our schools and students.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post because I remember hearing about this in the news but was unaware that it infringed on student's civil rights. I wonder if the facility was aware of the students civil rights during the lock in or if this is something that is not discussed openly enough at schools. I really like your idea of getting to know students concerns and allowing an outlet in a safe environment. One thought that came to mind is if you had a forum and many students are posting yet some don't agree, bullying could begin to take place online as well as at school. How do you think schools could do this while making sure all students civil rights are protected?