Category Archives: Social Studies

CFP: Historians Against the War

HISTORIANS AGAINST THE WAR NATIONAL CONFERENCE 11-13 APRIL 2008 ATLANTA, GEORGIA WAR AND ITS DISCONTENTS: UNDERSTANDING IRAQ AND THE U.S. EMPIRE

A Conference for Historians and Activists
Co-sponsored by the Peace History Society

Historians Against the War and the Peace History Society invite proposals for papers, panels, roundtables, workshops, and posters for our upcoming national conference at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, 11-13 April 2008. We envision a conference that will attract historically minded scholars, activists from a variety of social movements, graduate students, educators, artists, and independent researchers and writers. We construe the theme of our conference broadly. We want to fashion a program that grounds the Iraq War in the histories of Iraq, the U.S., the Middle East, and the wider world; contextualizes the U.S. empire in terms of race, class, gender, culture, and citizenship as well as political economy and the state; explores the politics, identities, and society of modern Iraq; assesses current and historical antiwar, anti-intervention, and solidarity movements in the U.S.; compares political Islam, Zionism, and the U.S. Christian right; examines opposition to war and militarism in society, within the military, and among young people subject to conscription or recruitment; tracks U.S. strategies towards other zones of turbulence and targets of intervention; weighs the capacities of states and movements to resist U.S. hegemony and construct a polycentric alternative; and considers the future of the “war on terror,” the new imperial presidency, and democracy after the Bush administration. In addition to the presentation of academic papers, we encourage interactive formats that promote open dialogue and collective learning among people on the program and members of the audience. Thus we welcome proposals for roundtables and workshops that engage, for example, with activism or teaching. If there is sufficient interest, we will hold a poster session. We also welcome proposals for cultural performances and curated exhibits as well as submissions (and recommendations) for our concurrent film and video festival.

Proposals are due on 30 October 2007. Please include a title and description of your proposed contribution (including each part of a group proposal, as in a panel with three papers or a roundtable with four participants), a biosketch for each contributor or participant, and complete contact information. For group proposals, please make every effort to put together a balanced and diverse group of contributors or participants. Submit your proposal electronically to jimobrien48@gmail.com.

Please help us build this conference by spreading the word to scholars and activists!

A report on our last national conference, in Austin, Texas, is on the HAW web site at http://www.historiansagainstwar.org/hawconf/2006.

Boulder students protest “God” in Pledge

Boulder High School students who are members of the activist club, Student Worker. From left, Ashley Guesman, Emily Allen, Hannah Regan-Smith, Eric Brown, Lance Bender, Coco Breen, Emma Martens, Anastasia Ross-McKirnan, Emma Chitters, Monica Gauthier, and Cleo Masia, outside the high school with a flag on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007. (Daily Camera | Sammy Dallal)

The Denver Post: Boulder students protest “God” in Pledge

By Mike McPhee
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 09/27/2007 05:27:41 PM MDT

* Text of the Pledge and student’s revision
* Boulder High students walk out during Pledge, recite own version

About 100 students at Boulder High School walked out after their first class this morning, to recite an alternative Pledge of Allegiance, in protest.

They object to hearing the phrase “one nation, under God” during the morning Pledge recitation, led over the school’s public address system.

‘We don’t object to pledging to our country, but we do object to pledging to a religion,” said Ashley Guesman, 17, a protest organizer.

State law requires high schools to give students the opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance. In past years, Boulder High allowed students to gather either at 7:15 a.m. or at lunchtime to recite it.

This year, a more formal arrangement was made, to broadcast the Pledge over the PA system at 8:30 a.m., according to principal Bud Jenkins.

Jenkins said the old Pledge routine required an adminstrator to stop whatever he was doing at lunchtime to meet the kids. At times, administrators would be too busy, and the kids would miss out.

This year, the recitation was made more organized and formal.

Jenkins, who’s been principal for three years, graduated from Boulder High in 1971, at a time when the pledge was not recited.

He said that this morning’s protest was not disruptive, and that there would be no consequences for participants.

“If the kids want to recite the Pledge, we respect that. If they don’t want to recite the Pledge, we respect that. If they want to recite a different Pledge, I guess we need to respect that,” he said.

“This is not a cookie-cutter high school,” he said. “These kids are experiencing the democratic process, and putting their ideas out to the community. Nothing that happened today is anti-American. Good for the kids. I’m proud that they follow the democratic process of telling the community about ideas they disagree with.”

The Pledge recited by the student protesters today went as follows:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag and my constitutional rights with which it comes. And to
Boulder High School, on Sept. 27, 2007, the day students began protesting the Pledge of Allegiance’s invocation of “God.” (Mike McPhee | The Denver Post)
the diversity in which our nation stands. One nation, part of one planet, with liberty, freedom, choice and justice for all.”

Participants said they hoped the daily PA system pledge would be dropped. They said they’d wait a week to see what happens, and then consider an alternative protest or another recitation of their alternative pledge.

Today’s protest was organized by a group called Student Worker, described as an informal group committed to raising social awareness and change among their fellow students.

Alison Bodine Defense Committee appeals for support

The Alison Bodine Defense Committee is appealing to all progressive groups and organizations who advocate for social justice to support the campaign to defend Alison Bodine, a US citizen who is being targeted by the government of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for being an anti-war and social justice activist.

Originally from Broomfield, Colorado, Alison is the co-chair and spokesperson of Vancouver, Canada antiwar coalition Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO), for three years was the president of the University of British Columbia’s Coalition Against War on the People of Iraq and Internationally (CAWOPI), a long-time executive committee member of the UBC Social Justice Center, is a prominent activist in solidarity with Cuba and the Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba, and an active supporter of immigrant and refugee rights in Canada and the US.

Near midnight on Thursday September 13, 2007, Alison was arrested by the CBSA when she attempted to legally cross the border at Peace Arch border crossing, traveling from Canada into the United States. Three days prior, Alison was harassed by CBSA officials while traveling from the US into Canada. The ordeal began after border officials searched her vehicle and identified her as a political organizer after they found various anti-war and political materials and progressive newspapers in her car. Currently she is being charged with “Misrepresentation”, however the basis for this allegation is vague and the CBSA’s argument will not be fully known until her hearing on Oct 11, 2007.

To read more details on the background of the case, please visit: http://alisonbodine.blogspot.com

Alison’s unjust and illegal imprisonment was met with a strong protest and organizing drive by the rapidly-formed Alison Bodine Defence Committee. Friday afternoon, on only 5 hours notice, 80 people came together at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Offices in Vancouver, demanding the immediate release of Alison Bodine. Media was also quick to pick up this important case, which was covered locally and nationally by newspapers, TV and radio.

After being told all day that there was no way she would be released from detention before Monday, Alison’s status took a sudden turn. At 7:00pm on Friday, Alison was given notice by immigration officials that she would be released from custody until her Admissibility Hearing on Monday Sept 17th.

In the early afternoon of September 17th, Alison learned from a CBC reporter that the CBSA had cancelled her Admissibility Hearing scheduled for 2pm that day. Alison herself was never officially notified by CBSA. The CBSA postponement of Alison’s hearing was an obvious maneuver to delay given the huge media attention on the case and the weakness of their allegations against Alison.

Alison’s Admissibility hearing was rescheduled for Sept 28th. The fight in the courtroom that day was brief, but it brought important advances for the Alison Bodine Defence Campaign. After a week of battling for access to more evidence, Alison’s lawyer Gabriel Chand, was finally granted the right to get access to any existing initial notes written by the border guards that questioned Alison. In addition, he was finally given the full disclosure. This was an important step forward, as the CBSA prosecuting lawyer tried to argue with Chand’s request, but ultimately failed to prevent the right to access this evidence. Due to the introduction of new evidence, the hearing was then adjourned until October 11, 2007 at 11am.

Since the initial arrest there have been 7 defence rallies at the Vancouver immigration offices, 7 forums to discuss and strategize for the case and four press conferences. More than 1300 people have signed a petition demanding that the charges against Alison be dropped. Hundreds of support letters have poured in, including ones from MPs Libby Davies and Bill Siksay; MLA David Chudnovsky; the US-based Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization/Pastors for Peace; Federation of Post Secondary Educators, Richmond NDP; No One Is Illegal Toronto; Hospital Employees Union; Iglesia San Romero de Las Américas Church-UCC in New York City; Seattle Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER); Peggy Askin; President of the Calgary and District Labour Council; CODE PINK Women for Peace (Bowen Island Local Coordinator); President of the Ottawa Local Canadian Union of Postal Workers CUPW and many, many more.

Being without status in Canada, Alison’s situation is always uncertain, and she can still be arrested at any time. All progressive, humanity loving people must unite around this case. We must understand that this is not just an attack on Alison, this is an attack on all of us. This is an attack on the basic democratic and human rights of all people, especially social justice activists, immigrants, refugees and all non-status people and non-residents in Canada. The illegal and unjust arrest and detention of Alison Bodine means the government of Canada and its agencies want to continue and escalate the silencing of free speech and political expression and continue their terrorizing of people who oppose their policies at home and abroad and the new era of war
and occupation. They are also testing and evaluating our response to defend ourselves against their attacks against us. The degree, seriousness, effectiveness and consistency of our defence impact their decision on how to further their repressive measures.

For this reason, we are appealing to you to join us in this struggle by endorsing this emergency campaign and by writing a letter of support demanding that the CBSA drop all charges against Alison. Please send this appeal to your email lists and friends. We must show the Government of Canada and their agency, the CBSA, that they cannot get away with trying to intimidate activists. We have attached a <a href=”Download file“>template support letter, as an example. Letters of support should be sent to: defendalisonbodine@hotmail.com

The CBSA might think that by delaying the Admissibility hearing this campaign will lose steam and the pressure against them will lessen. On the contrary, this campaign is only just beginning. People all across Canada and the world know about this case of political harassment and this will only gain momentum from here. This is a political case; Alison has done nothing wrong or illegal. Alison, along with supporters in Vancouver and across the country will keep up the demand that the CBSA must drop all charges against her and restore her full rights to travel between the US and Canada.

Our fight is not over. Your support is essential to get all charges against Alison dropped!

WE WILL WIN!

———————–
Alison Bodine Defense Committee (ABDC)

*Contact by phone:
Shannon Bundock 778.891.1470
Tamara Hansen 778.882.5223
Aaron Mercredi 604.339.7103
Andrew Barry 604.780.4029

*Blog, Daily Updates & Action Info: http://alisonbodine.blogspot.com
*Email: defendalisonbodine@hotmail.com

Supreme Court denies hearing for fired ‘honk for peace’ teacher

Yet another blow against free speech in schools. NCLB has resulted in strong pressures on teachers to operate as mere clerks for the state, mere conduits for the transmission of “official knowledge” to students. Now the US Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that strips free speech and personal judgment from the act of teaching. For teachers in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, this means they now are by law imperial agents.

San Francisco Chronicle: Supreme Court denies hearing for fired ‘honk for peace’ teacher

An elementary-school teacher who was dismissed after telling her class on the eve of the Iraq war that “I honk for peace” lost a U.S. Supreme Court appeal Monday.

The justices, without comment, denied a hearing to Deborah Mayer, who had appealed lower-court decisions upholding an Indiana school district’s refusal to renew her contract in June 2003. The most-recent ruling, by a federal appeals court in Chicago, said teachers in public schools have no constitutional right to express personal opinions in the classroom.

A teacher’s speech is “the commodity she sells to an employer in exchange for her salary,” the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in January. “The Constitution does not enable teachers to present personal views to captive audiences against the instructions of elected officials.”

The appellate ruling is binding only on federal courts in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, but is one of a series of recent decisions taking a narrow view of free speech for teachers, other government employees and students.

The Supreme Court ruled in June that an Alaska principal was entitled to suspend a student who had unfurled a banner outside the school reading “Bong Hits 4 Jesus,” a message the principal said promoted drug use. Last year the court ruled that government employees are not protected by the First Amendment when speaking at work about job-related controversies, a ruling that the appeals court applied to teachers in Mayer’s case.

Mayer, who now teaches sixth grade in Florida, was distraught.

“I don’t know why anybody would want to be a teacher if you can be fired for saying four little words,” she said Monday. “I’m supposed to teach the Constitution to my students. I’m supposed to tell them that the Constitution guarantees free speech. How am I going to justify that?”

Mayer, a teacher for more than 20 years, was in her first year at a Bloomington, Ind., school district when the events occurred.

She said her class of fourth- through sixth-graders was discussing an article in the children’s edition of Time magazine, part of the school-approved curriculum, on protests against U.S. preparations for an invasion of Iraq in January 2003. When a student asked her whether she took part in demonstrations, Mayer said, she replied that she blew her horn whenever she saw a “Honk for Peace” sign, and that peaceful solutions should be sought before going to war.

After a parent complained, the principal ordered Mayer never to discuss the war or her political views in class. Her contract was not renewed at the end of the school year.

The district said she had been dismissed because of poor performance and complaints by parents. Mayer said that her previous evaluations had been good and that the district had solicited the complaints after the fact.

The appeals court that ruled on her case assumed she had been fired for her comments and said the school had the right to punish her for defying its policy, just as it could fire a creationist who refused to teach evolution. Mayer asked for a rehearing, saying no such policy had existed when she made her comments, but the court turned her down.

Similar cases have arisen in California, where federal courts have allowed schools to discipline teachers for expressing dissident views if the policies they violated were clearly explained in advance.

In one such ruling, in 2005, a federal judge in San Jose rejected a Cupertino teacher’s argument that his principal had violated his freedom of speech by prohibiting him from using outside religious materials in history lessons.

In papers filed with the Supreme Court, Mayer’s former school district described her as a “failing teacher” who had manufactured a controversy about free speech to try to keep her job.

“Public employees, including primary and secondary school teachers such as Ms. Mayer, simply do not have a constitutional right to interject their own opinions when speaking as employees,” the district’s lawyer said.

Grambling investigating pictures of noose lesson

The Associated Press

GRAMBLING, La. (AP) — The Grambling State University president is investigating a case in which adults at the university-run elementary school on campus put a noose around at least one child’s neck and the school newspaper’s publication of photographs of it.

Kindergarten and first-grade students at Alma J. Brown Elementary School were being taught why nooses are a symbol of racism, an article from the historically black university’s student newspaper said.

The article said the children also were being taught about the “Jena Six” — black high-school students who are accused of beating a white schoolmate. Court proceedings brought about 20,000 to 25,000 people to Jena, about 70 miles from Grambling, for a civil rights march in September.

The Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have said the charges were too heavy for the actions and that three white students who were suspended after hanging nooses from a tree on the school campus three months earlier should have been expelled and prosecuted.

The date of the Grambling incident was not clear and the article and the photos had been removed from the site.

University President Horace Judson said he ordered photos removed from the Web site as soon as his secretary called him Friday to describe them. At the time, he said, he was driving to Dallas for Saturday’s football game against Prairie View.

Judson told The News Star of Monroe and the Ruston Daily Leader on Friday that he was starting an investigating immediately, and would meet Monday morning with everyone involved.

It is at least the second time this year The Gramblinite has tangled with school administrators.

Provost Robert Dixon ordered the newspaper on Jan. 17 to stop publication, a move criticized as censorship by alumni, the Student Press Law Center in Arlington, Va. and Gramblinite editor Darryl Smith. He accused Dixon of trying to block editorials criticizing the school’s maintenance and suggesting the state was trying to shut down the university.

Eight days later, Dixon said the newspaper had provided a satisfactory plan to end what he said was shoddy editing and plagiarism, and the paper could resume publication the following week.

The brief Gramblinite article about the elementary schoolyard “march” said teachers “even had a replica noose and explained why it is such a symbol of racism,” but did not mention that the noose was put around anyone’s neck. That was shown in photographs, which The News Star of Monroe obtained by e-mail and e-mailed with the article to The Associated Press.

The Daily Leader, which does not have a Saturday edition, also published an article about the incident online Saturday, saying it was not using Grambling photographs because of copyright considerations and to protect the child’s privacy.

It said the student paper sent it copies of pictures and the article Friday morning, but later asked it not to use the photographs removed from the Web site.

One shows a young girl in a school uniform being held up by a woman while someone else, mostly hidden by a tree, holds a noose around her neck and up to a branch.

The article said kindergarten and first-grade students circled their playground with their teachers as a “march” to protest “the imprisonment of Mychal Bell, and the seemingly racial bias shown toward blacks in a small Louisiana town.”

Judson said Sean Warner, dean of the College of Education, has spoken with the principal of the elementary school about the incident.

“This is very serious. I will say that,” Judson told The News Star. “I’ll have a face-to-face meeting with everyone involved. We’re going to find out what the facts are. At this point I don’t know if my students were involved.

“These are minors at our school and this is a student paper that still must practice complete accountability,” he said.

Given the nature of the situation, Judson said, “it was certainly my judgment to take those pictures down.”