A teacher at Rocklin High School in California has been placed on paid administrative leave after having an in-classroom debate over the national school walkout.
They key word in that sentence is ‘debate’ and may have been what led to the teacher’s suspension.
Julianne Benzel, a history instructor at the school, wasn’t content with simply toeing the line on the anti-gun walkouts that took place yesterday. Instead, she opened the floor up to a discussion.
Without indicating which side of the protest debate her own views landed, Benzel steered the discussion in a manner that questioned whether or not the school would be open to a similar protest against abortion.
Therein lies the problem. As long as you’re following the feeding frenzy of anti-gun nuts, then protesting is OK in our schools. But bring up something like abortion to protest – you know, an act that actually does kill children on a daily basis – then you need to be silenced.
And Benzel was silenced.
This deserves attention: https://t.co/1nZDmnt4Vz
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) March 15, 2018
Benzel said she never discouraged her class from taking part in the walkout, but did question whether or not the school should allow it for all different types of protest as well.
“I just kind of used the example which I know it’s really controversial, but I know it was the best example I thought of at the time—a group of students nationwide, or even locally, decided ‘I want to walk out of school for 17 minutes’ and go in the quad area and protest abortion, would that be allowed by our administration?” she said.
It’s a legitimate question. One that Rocklin High and some parents of those in the classroom didn’t want anyone to consider.
The school issued a statement confirming that Benzel was placed on leave because of the discussion.
“A Rocklin High School teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave due to several complaints from parents and students involving the teacher’s communications regarding today’s student-led civic engagement activities,” the statement reads.
And there you have it. A school that actually seeks to stifle debate, silence an opposing viewpoint, or more succinctly, sends a message to its students that thinking outside the box is frowned upon, is no place of learning at all.
Rocklin High just sent a message loud and clear to its students – think like everyone else, view the world with tunnel vision, and don’t step outside the norm.
Hell of a life lesson right there.
Should the school have placed this teacher on leave? Share your thoughts below!
