Heritage High School prides itself on exemplifying a learning environment for its students. There have been many times where they have permitted freedom of expression, such as when a teacher dressed up as Trayvon Martin, clad in a gray hoodie with a bag of skittles in his hand for his yearbook picture. Amid the controversy, people generally revered the school for allowing its staff and faculty to express themselves freely.
Recently, the school has deviated from its stance on the freedom of expression. One teacher at Heritage, co-advisor to the Black Student Union, has posted posters in reference to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The school has told the teacher to take the posters down, fearing that they will make students uncomfortable. There are 5 posters in question: a poster that reads Black Lives Matter, a poster that reads Blue Lives Matter, one that reads about the murders of Alton Sterling and Philande Castile, an image of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. in a hoodie similar to Trayvon Martin's hoodie, and the image of Louisiana state police in riot gear taking away a black female protestor standing gracefully in the middle of a road.
The nature of the posters are not offensive. Despite the polarizing nature over what color lives matter, the issue goes further than that. These movements spark debate, and what better way to discuss such issues than in a school environment? I ask that you sign this petition to prevent the unjust censorship of academic freedom.
Updates
August 29, 2016
We have reached one hundred signatures which provides the necessary leverage to formally request a meeting with the principal. I am currently drafting a letter to the administration outlining our demand for a transparent review of the school censorship policy.
Reached 250 supporters
August 29, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
August 29, 2016
46 Comments
Mr. Rust is a US history teacher. The Black/Blue lives matter movement is apart of current US history. The conception of our glorious country was founded on "uncomfortable", "hard to swallow" ideals. So why is it that we are now afraid to make people feel uncomfortable now? All of Rust's posters tell both sides of a conflicting story; a story that starts a conversation.
"Remove your posters that do no harm and present issues that students will have to deal with both now and in the future - it may make them uncomfortable." essentially translates to "Ignorance is bliss. Keep it that way." The fact that a high school is enforcing this idea should make people more uncomfortable than any poster he has on his wall.
A school is a learning environment, there should be learning not only of general subjects but of the current events in our own country. Scilencing a teacher and students for their own beliefs and stance is unacceptable.
As a student and mock trial member guided by Mr. Rust, I can say with certainty that he only cares for the intellectual prosperity of our students. In no way do his posters demonstrate a threat to that prosperity.
Students should not be sheltered from real world issues. We are young adults, not babies.
Before you vote. ASK YOURSELF, DO I WANT A CRIMINAL FOR OUR NEXT PRESIDENT? HERE IS A MUST SEE VIDEO: Hillary Clinton: A Career Criminal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kypl1MYuKDY
This censorship promotes an environment where it's ok to push the oppression and dehumanization of millions of people to the side lines. It invalidates the work of those who participate in the BLM movement. In addition, it invalidates the experiences of so many people by telling them Heritage High School does not care enough about the mass incarceration, murder, poverty, etc of black people. Think about the type of message this is sending to students; to be complacent and tolerant of their own oppression and the oppression of others.
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Heritage High School prides itself on exemplifying a learning environment for its students. There have been many times where they have permitted freedom of expression, such as when a teacher dressed up as Trayvon Martin, clad in a gray hoodie with a bag of skittles in his hand for his yearbook picture. Amid the controversy, people generally revered the school for allowing its staff and faculty to express themselves freely.
Recently, the school has deviated from its stance on the freedom of expression. One teacher at Heritage, co-advisor to the Black Student Union, has posted posters in reference to the Black Lives Matter movement.
The school has told the teacher to take the posters down, fearing that they will make students uncomfortable. There are 5 posters in question: a poster that reads Black Lives Matter, a poster that reads Blue Lives Matter, one that reads about the murders of Alton Sterling and Philande Castile, an image of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. in a hoodie similar to Trayvon Martin's hoodie, and the image of Louisiana state police in riot gear taking away a black female protestor standing gracefully in the middle of a road.
The nature of the posters are not offensive. Despite the polarizing nature over what color lives matter, the issue goes further than that. These movements spark debate, and what better way to discuss such issues than in a school environment? I ask that you sign this petition to prevent the unjust censorship of academic freedom.
Updates
August 29, 2016
We have reached one hundred signatures which provides the necessary leverage to formally request a meeting with the principal. I am currently drafting a letter to the administration outlining our demand for a transparent review of the school censorship policy.
Reached 250 supporters
August 29, 2016
Reached 100 supporters
August 29, 2016
46 Comments
I may not be a very strong supporter of the movement itself. But it's wrong to censor what the students have to say
Mr. Rust is a US history teacher. The Black/Blue lives matter movement is apart of current US history. The conception of our glorious country was founded on "uncomfortable", "hard to swallow" ideals. So why is it that we are now afraid to make people feel uncomfortable now? All of Rust's posters tell both sides of a conflicting story; a story that starts a conversation.
"Remove your posters that do no harm and present issues that students will have to deal with both now and in the future - it may make them uncomfortable." essentially translates to "Ignorance is bliss. Keep it that way." The fact that a high school is enforcing this idea should make people more uncomfortable than any poster he has on his wall.
A school is a learning environment, there should be learning not only of general subjects but of the current events in our own country. Scilencing a teacher and students for their own beliefs and stance is unacceptable.
As a student and mock trial member guided by Mr. Rust, I can say with certainty that he only cares for the intellectual prosperity of our students. In no way do his posters demonstrate a threat to that prosperity.
Students should not be sheltered from real world issues. We are young adults, not babies.
Before you vote. ASK YOURSELF, DO I WANT A CRIMINAL FOR OUR NEXT PRESIDENT? HERE IS A MUST SEE VIDEO: Hillary Clinton: A Career Criminal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kypl1MYuKDY
This censorship promotes an environment where it's ok to push the oppression and dehumanization of millions of people to the side lines. It invalidates the work of those who participate in the BLM movement. In addition, it invalidates the experiences of so many people by telling them Heritage High School does not care enough about the mass incarceration, murder, poverty, etc of black people. Think about the type of message this is sending to students; to be complacent and tolerant of their own oppression and the oppression of others.
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I may not be a very strong supporter of the movement itself. But it's wrong to censor what the students have to say