This letter was not written or influenced by any member of the Oracle, nor does it necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of the Oracle or MVHS administration.
I am compelled to write this as a response to the article in the People’s Section of the Oracle: “Navarro reflects on classroom political speech and new book,” October 25. The essay was well written and factual. Yet, there are a few spots ripe for clarification and further truth telling. What I employed in my teaching during the presidential campaign of 2016 was a “teachable moment.” As one who studied at Yad Vashem, the International Center for the Study of the Holocaust, and as a Mandel Fellow, 1997/98, with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, I could not ignore Trump’s overt embracing of fascist strategy: hostile rhetoric and encouragement of violence at his political rallies, nationalism, and clear racism.
Trump even made the statement that the American press was “the enemy of the people”; A comment ripped off from Hitler’s remarks. Trump, I said, was an aspiring fascist. For some reason, the entire teaching staff at Mountain View decided silence was the best way to go. Silence is complicity in supporting the powers that be. Whether on the local level or the national level with a wanna-be authoritarian.
Caroline (and why a teacher with tenure would opt to disguise her identity speaks volumes of the political culture at Mountain View High. I must ask, if Caroline is telling the truth, why do so covertly? Why not, teacher, speak your views openly?) said the department covered the same territory and did so without “sanctions.” My position during the upheaval was not that they weren’t teaching the material, although they were doing it later in the year when it was safer. My issue within the social studies department: They refused to talk with me about the history and explore my assertions. I desired to review my commentary with them, and the entire department flatly turned me down. Talking about the history was a no-go. In one department meeting the entire department insisted that I not talk about it with them at the time. What they really meant was ever. These educators wanted nothing to do with the education.
An even greater failure was to teach the history to kids now. Scholars in the newspapers addressed the issue, but teachers wouldn’t even raise it with kids in their classes. At the very least they should have introduced the topic, and if they felt like it, they could have said that I was somehow wrong. But they wouldn’t even do that. And teaching it six months down the road deluded the fervent impact of the history.
In their silence teachers committed a failure that they weren’t even aware of, the worst kind of failure because it harkens back to the past and is a betrayal of the legacy that as Americans, we must hold close to our hearts. The story of what happened is not about one teacher who stepped out of line and enunciated an argument that at the time nobody was willing to accept. The teachers failed to live up to our Greek heritage. Greece was a small state that valued learning as a way of living. They created the concept of a common good and that good is called democracy. To demonstrate their value of participatory governing, the Greeks created theater that portrayed the elements of humanity, tragedy, and comedy. Their theater became the earliest of parliaments. And the parliament was for the common good and to participate in the common good, one had to be able to speak freely and openly.
It is not so much a matter of why I said what I said: it’s way more of a matter of why the other educators didn’t. Even the science teachers could have and should have taken a stand opposing Trump’s dangerous rhetoric on science. I did approach one science teacher about challenging the idea that climate change is a “hoax perpetrated by the Chinese,” which Trump made a public issue of: “A lesson on climate change would be a perfect way of rebutting Trump’s egregious remarks on science. Teach to the moment is the pedagogical way of approaching the issue,” I said excitedly. She looked at me as if I was speaking Martian, shook her head and walked away. One late afternoon walking along a path, I came upon a band of English teachers. In a group they stood in front of me and implied I was not neutral. Instead, one scolded: “You are just trying to get students to think your way.” Page Price repeated the question: and added “you should take a different tack about him, then she enunciated this comment: ” Afterall, he’s the president now.”
Okay, let’s sit down and I’ll show you exactly what I said. What do you say, and I’ll come to you. And you can pass judgment after we have gone over my words.
Virtually in unison they shook their heads: “We’re too busy, we have stacks of papers to grade,” with that they turned and walked away. “Okay, any time your ready, I’ll be there, I said laughing to their backs.
Those members of Trump’s administration, especially John Kelly, a four-star general, and Trump’s chief of staff, are saying today what I said eight years ago is not the point. My point and what was most disappointing: The entire school district, beginning with the principal and rolling into the history department refused to entertain statements that were steeped in history. And to further the academic hostility, the union and teachers insisted I did not have academic free speech. The head of the union was reported to be angry that I raised free speech within the circumstances of the school.
Nothing else was said, November 10, when I was put on leave for my lectures on Trump. The issue was Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. And I was told by the principal, Dave Grissom: “You are creating propaganda about Trump, and I will not have.” Then I was ordered off the campus. After vocal blow-back from students, parents, and community the administration implied there was another personal reason, some infraction I committed. When the administration asserted there was something else to putting me on leave, teachers accepted the canard, while students and parents rejected it.
Three years later a new district administration confirmed there was never an investigation, because there was nothing to investigate.
While the teachers failed as role models to emulate the participatory actions of citizens in democracy, and in doing so they failed to demonstrate what democratic government is about: it is about all of us having a voice that is heard and valued. All-in-all the educators at the two schools did teach one thing: They taught the administration what the teachers will accept and were willing to believe. Truth be damned.
If anyone is interested: Trump, Hitler, and Me. A Teacher’s Story goes into depth and detail as to what happened at Mountain View High during what became a national and international story. Additionally, I am willing to discuss the matters of the story with teachers, and it is up to them. Yet, I am not holding my breath.
Frank Navarro
