Guest speaker invitation at Hilo High School sparks controversy!
Aloha Joey and all,Mahalo for sharing information on the controversy your invitation for me to speak at Hilo H.S on March 6th and 8th has sparked. Frankly, I’m a bit offended at Ms Okuyama’s comments where she appears to want to act as the Library gatekeeper and censor of what I can and cannot say in my presentations on militarism at home and abroad. My presentations will be critical of the military presence in Hawaii and U.S. wars abroad and I hope to instill critical thinking and questioning in students as well, even of my own presentation. Does speaking out for peace and being critical of government policies constitute “negative viewpoints?” To me, respectful dialogue is an important part of participation in a democracy. I hope I can encourage and motivate students to become responsible, politically engaged citizens, and speak out for justice, peace, and the future of their world. I would suggest that if this is not acceptable in the Hilo H.S. library, we switch the site of my presentations. I wonder if military recruiters and ROTC instructors have similar difficulties making presentations.
Jim
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Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
On 2/15/2013 3:24 PM, Joseph_Watts/HILOH/HIDOE@notes.k12.hi.us wrote:
Aloha!
Well, I guess I needed to discuss this with you further earlier, Amy. I thought that I had told you that the guest speaker would be Jim Albertini. Sorry about that. The lesson outlined in the request for scheduling the library that I emailed you is exactly as it is on the letter just emailed. I’ll discuss this with Jim and Aaron and Todd and if necessary we can switch the site to their classrooms instead of the library if there’s room. I understand where you’re coming from and we will work this out. If after Jim reads this and he agrees to abide by your guidelines then maybe we can stick with the program as is. Otherwise we can figure something else out.
Mahalo,
JW
Amy Okuyama/HILOH/HIDOE
| Amy Okuyama/HILOH/HIDOE02/15/2013 02:29 PM |
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Thank you for this outline of your speaker’s topic and your class objectives. I welcome any speaker in the library for educational purposes. But in this case, the speaker is a “well known activist”, and (I now find out that) the topic is the military. As a ‘military mom”, I request that the speaker stick to the topic as described here, and not deviate to personal negative opinions/attacks on the military, its actions, or its presence anywhere, with instructions on how students can or should protest the military, etc. in any manner. I can’t opt out of my library and be forced out of my own work site and I won’t be subjected to anti-military speeches as had once occurred w/another speaker in here. My son was deployed at the time and it was extremely upsetting to me; Mr. Dircks said he wouldn’t permit it to happen that way again. I respect Mr. Albertini and the freedom of speech, but within the library, I want assurance that he will be objective and factual. I’m concerned that this will not be the case for the simple fact that Mr. Albertini not known for his objectivity and is very out-spoken about his views. Had an objective, factual presentation been sought, the speaker would have been one who is more “academic” such as a college lecturer or other expert. I’m skeptical of how/what this activist will say to a group of impressionable youngsters – if the speaker were not so controversial, why the “opt out” offer?
If the presentation will be strictly informational with zero negative slants, I will be fine with having the speaker. However, if it turns into a forum of Mr. Albertini’s personal negative views/examples to our students, I will be against library use for the subsequent presentations. Like Mr. Albertini, I have my own very strong views on the military. Again, I welcome him, providing he remains objective and dispassionate, just present the facts of the “history of military presence in HI. etc….” without diversion into any negative viewpoints.
Can I be assurred of this? It isn’t a personal attack on Mr. Albertini, who I respect for who he is – he has his rights, but I have my rights too, and our students are to be considered as well. Please let me know.
Thank you,
Amy
Joseph Watts/HILOH/HIDOE
| Joseph Watts/HILOH/HIDOE02/15/2013 12:15 PM |
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Aloha!
Ok, so we got the ok from the principal, the speaker, and the librarian. It’s a go for our presentation, on March 6th (2nd and 4th periods), and March 8th (3rd and 5th periods). Attached are the letter home that I will be using (Mr. Dircks confirmed that we do need to give students an opt out option), and also the presentation assignment that my students will need to complete there in the library. It’s up to you if you want to use them or change them or make your own.
I have Todd Sato down for his PID classes joining us during 2nd, 3rd, and 4th periods, and Aaron Kubo down for his PID class joining us for 5th period. So the total count for each presentation will be around 30-40 students, and participation in democracy will be the main focus of the presentations (beside the others mentioned on the letter home). Since Mr. Albertini is an expert in participating in democracy as an activist, we should learn a lot from this. I am looking forward to his insights again and hope that our students get a lot out of it.
If any of you have any questions, please let us know. Mr. Albertini’s email address is cc’d here to keep him in the loop, and you are welcome to email him with any questions.
Mahalo,
JW
(See attached file: Letter home for presentation on 3-6 & 3-8.docx)(See attached file: Presentation Assignment.docx)
