Discrimination in a small town school?

Question

My 16 year old son was asked to do an art project of any person. This
project consisted of making this persons face out of clay, then putting in a
kiln. My son chose Hitler. The reason he chose Hitler was because he was
learning about him in his History class, which they have pictures of Hitler
on the wall in his History class, so he thought that would be easier for him
to do. When he showed his teacher, she refused to put it in the kiln and is
failing him, giving him an E. The reason she is failing him is because she
was offended. I went to the superintendant of the school, who agreed with
the teacher. I believe this is discrimination. They teach my son about
Hitler in history class, but yet he cant make a art project out of what he
was learning? Hitler is a part of our history if we like him or not. What if
my son chose Jesus, and our teacher was offended by that and failed him?
Where does it stop?

We live in a very small town and I feel like I need to
get the word out that they are discriminating. This teacher and school
administration should put their religious feelings aside, and not fail my
son because he chose someone that went against their faith. This is America,
and we need justice.

I hope someone reads this letter and will contact me. I really want to make
this public, and stand up for what is right. My son worked hard on his
project, for her to fail him because of her religious beliefs.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=64604502&blogID=251876381&MyToken=4c7e4702-cdd3-4187-877b-3135589e50b8

Rapid River school district.
Rapid River,Michigan

Answer 1

basically they are teaching kids about hitler but doesn't want a project about him? that is so dumb! i think a teacher isn't allowed to just fail a student be cause of his project especially if she is being the one teaching him. i think you should take it up with the court. if the school district is willing to have teachers teach about things that they don't want projects to be done on then that is just messed up. its the teachers fault for teaching about hitler, he just simply chose a topic easiest for him. take it to court. that is how i would want people to know about discrimination in a small town

Answer 2

I'm not saying that it was right what this teacher did , but I think there is a misunderstanding of what was appropriate for an art clay sculpture.
Maybe Hitler should be displayed in the History Classroom and not in a public Art kiln.

Many people have strong opinions on Hitler, and you may feel is a "freedom of speech " when the figure is displayed in your Home, but School is a public setting and the correct thing to do is to ask what is it "exactly" the teacher wants him to do.

Answer 3

Since you've already gone to the superintendent, the next step is the school board. You'll need to call the administration number and ask to be on the agenda for the next meeting. That would be the best way to get the word out. If the assignment was "any person", they'll have to accept Hitler. If the teacher comes back and says she specified a non-violent person, the school board will support her.

Answer 4

If they wanted them to do an art project about any person, than Hitler would fall into that category. They should have at the very least given him a chance to do something else without failing him. Not that I agree with that but it's a better option. I think you should call the local news and tell them about it.

Answer 5

This is exactly why teachers' beliefs should stay out of the classroom. Try to reason the teacher and get her to grade the project. If that fails, take legal action against her and the school.

Answer 6

go to his history teacher, and have that teacher ask for it to be put in the kiln in hopes of having a visual for his class. Then ask if you son can do one of Jesus, have the two side by side and talk about the morals and teachings of both of them, in historical context.

Answer 7

that is awful!i am in grade 8 and my teachers would have been very proud of it. You need to ask them if there was a rule that stated he couldn't mke hitler. If not they can't legaly fail him. I think you are right and your son has every right to have made that project.

Answer 8

You can contact the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, at 1-800-872-5327. They maybe able to give you assistance in this matter.

Answer 9

They certainly would have objected to a bust of Jesus. Or of Mussolini, or Sadam Hussein, I expect. Ridiculous. that is why I am preferring Homeschooling for my kids.

Stick with it and take it to the highest level you can. Speak to a local magistrate, to the local paper and to the Mayor. they all have clout.

Go gettem.

Answer 10

I think this is ridiculous. He is learning about Hitler, so he should be allowed to make a face of Hitler.