Graphic by Lucia Baring-Gould
Jacob Tomaneng
Opinions Reporter
Throughout the past year, movements and current events have been publicized through social media, and public schools are getting involved too. However, there is only so much a public school can do to keep these topics relevant through balanced discussions. The unbiased aspect of conversations is a crucial part of the Newton Public Schools community. If the dialogue is equal, then students can feel safe sharing their voices and opinions.
When a teacher brings a controversial topic into the classroom, some students or faculty take control of the whole conversation, causing some students to feel afraid or silenced. I have witnessed many of these conversations, and there have been very few teachers who can keep the classroom from getting out of control.
Bob Parlin, a teacher and leader of the Human Rights Council at Newton South, has discussed his techniques to help students feel safe. Mr. Parlin has been involved in many projects that protect students’ voices at South. Mr. Parlin reflects on his work with the SHRC, saying, “We are doing a better job than we have in the past, but we still have a long way to go.”
There are various committees and clubs at South working towards justice for minorities and oppressed groups. However, I want to emphasize the difference between equality and justice; justice works on getting a specific minority on equal ground, whereas equality takes scenarios with an end goal of level ground for all—even if that means lowering some voices.
Something I admire in teachers is their ability to let all students and faculty speak their opinions without completely silencing or emphasizing voices in the process. Nonetheless, teachers could still improve on establishing equal ground during controversial conversations.
“We just have to keep making space and time for people to have the conversations,” notes Mr. Parlin. Although teachers have set plans each day, I hope that they all make some extra room for these discussions. It may be challenging to find enough time for the controversial conversations to happen, but it is certainly necessary and worth the changes in class plans.
If Newton Public Schools creates spaces and times for the conversations to happen and allows all voices to be heard, we can move towards a safer and more partisan place.
