Latina English Teacher is threatened with termination for being too "Afro-centric"

[Peter Farruggio <pfarr@cal.berkeley.edu>]

> Critical thinking and culturally relevant education are not welcomed 
> at Jordan High School
>
> Latina English Teacher is threatened with termination for being too 
> "Afro-centric" in her teaching.
>
>
> As a second year teacher, Ms. Karen Salazar has had a dynamic impact 
> on the Jordan High School campus by connecting readings to the real 
> lives and struggles that students go through. Her English Class has 
> become a favorite among students on campus, where they regularly 
> read and analyze books and selected readings from people of color to 
> whom the students can relate.  Students, who typically skip some of 
> their classes, show up religiously in Salazar's English Class.
>
>
> However, much of Salazar's success has also led to constant 
> harassment by Jordan H.S. administration. Salazar has been visited 
> and "observed" by the administration over 15 times in the past year. 
> During one of the visits, an administrator criticized her for having 
> students read The Autobiography of Malcom X, a LAUSD approved text. 
> When she objected to this criticism, she was told that her teachings 
> where too "Afro-centric."  She was then told that the school would 
> not renew her teaching contract for the upcoming school year.
>
>
> What makes this case particularly interesting is that the principal, 
> Stephen Strachan, is African American and Salazar is 
> Salvadorian.  However, Strachan believes that Salazar teaches too 
> much about the Black experience, which is completely ironic.
>
> "The school knows that Ms. Salazar is a very passionate and good 
> teacher, and yet they want to fire her. It is not fair because there 
> are many other teachers who don't teach anything, and they never get 
> fired," said one of the Jordan High School Students at a youth-led 
> meeting to discuss the firing.
>
>
> At the meeting, many Jordan students expressed anger and frustration 
> over the situation. After two hours of discussion, it was agreed 
> that the students would form the Students 4 Salazar coalition and 
> demand that Ms. Salazar continue to teach at Jordan for the upcoming 
> school year. Students also decided that they had no other recourse 
> but to take direct action to save their teacher.  A protest rally 
> was planned for after school in front of Jordan H.S. on Thursday, 
> June 5th 2008 at 3:15pm.
>
>
> For a video of the meeting, please visit:
>
>  <http://www.youtube.com/v/0yxwUFPokuQ>http://www.youtube.com/v/0yxwUFPokuQ