According to a Feb. 14 New York Times article, a high school math teacher at a Quaker school in Manhattan joked about Nazis. In an awkward moment demonstrating calculus angles he raised his arms in a Hitler salute. He said, “Heil Hitler.”
This is not OK.
Lindsay Trombly | Argonaut
In this instance, it wasn’t right to say these two words in a classroom full of students. Young adults need to create their own belief values on a set of principles that they seem fit. With a teacher saying such things, it makes students question these principles.
This statement may make students think saying these kinds of jokes in public is OK.
It’s offensive content that needs to be kept to themselves and not be shared with the world.
Saying words that are offensive, make students feel uncomfortable or even unwanted should be regulated. Better yet, they shouldn’t see the light of day.
This statement brought that school some backlash and they didn’t know what to do with the teacher in the first place. The teacher took responsibility for these two words and wanted to be fired.
You can’t take bad words back like that and even though offensive statements like this shouldn’t be made in schools they happen. Teachers may rarely do this, but students say cruel things to classmates on a daily. Students who use offensive language should take certain statements with a large piece of caution tape and not cross it.
Students need to feel safe in their environment, especially in schools when they are developing and learning important life skills.
No matter what environment you work or learn in, you should be made to feel safe. This question of safety grows even more concerning for minorities.
Sometimes we are forgotten. People sometimes say things in an offensive way in front of a minority group that they don’t even know is right in front of their eyes.
In high school, I heard plenty of Nazi-related jokes. I acted like it didn’t matter. But, I can’t be quiet anymore.
I know this teacher didn’t mean to spew out these words and he wanted to teach his students an angle, but saying these words just because the moment was awkward for him made it worse. I believe in free speech, but saying “Heil Hitler” in a classroom isn’t OK.
Don’t say offensive derogatory content in front of your students, or even to your peers.
Speak up for what you believe in, just don’t offend others or make them feel uncomfortable.
Lindsay Trombly can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @lindsay_trombly