New Mexico High School Permanently Bans the Teaching of Poetry Because It's Un-Republican

[queerbychoice]

"A school military liaison and the high school principal accused the girl of being 'un-American' because she criticized [in a poem she wrote] the war in Iraq and the Bush administration's failure to give substance to its 'No child left behind' education policy. The girl's mother, also a teacher, was ordered by the principal to destroy the child's poetry. The mother refused and may lose her job. [Poetry teacher] Bill Nevins was suspended for not censoring the poetry of his students. Remember, there is no obscenity to be found in any of the poetry. [Nevins] was later fired by the principal. . . . Posters done by art students were ordered torn down, even though none was termed obscene. Some were satirical, implicating a national policy that had led us into war. Art teachers who refused to rip down the posters on display in their classrooms were not given contracts to return to the school in this current school year. . . . Meanwhile, Nevins applied for a teaching post in another school and was offered the job but he can't go to work until Rio Rancho's principal sends the new school Nevins' credentials. The principal has refused to do so . . ."

     from "Hard Lessons for Poetry Class: Speech Is Free Unless It's Critical"

I would like to thank inkstained for pointing out this fascism to me.

Comments

[starstealingirl.livejournal.com]

Are there any articles that suggest appropriate actions in response?

[sammka.livejournal.com]

There's always letter-writing, I suppose. According to the high school website, the address is:

Rio Rancho High School
301 Loma Colorado
Rio Rancho NM, 87124

I can't figure out the name of the principal, though, and simply writing the school itself might just get you a secretary or something.

You can also possibly phone them at:

505-896-5600

Also, it might help to go over the principal's head: this site is for the school system. By clicking on "Contact" and then "quick feedback", you can email the superintendent, and there are also options for emailing the schoolboard and the district office.