Dear Editor,
As a San Jose teacher who lives in Gilroy, I was greatly
bothered by the
”
Day of Silence
”
demonstration put on last year by some Gilroy teachers. It was
not the cause behind the Day of Silence but the execution of the
day
– teachers refusing to talk in class, but taking no personal
responsibility for the negative learning consequences for
students.
Dear Editor,
As a San Jose teacher who lives in Gilroy, I was greatly bothered by the “Day of Silence” demonstration put on last year by some Gilroy teachers. It was not the cause behind the Day of Silence but the execution of the day – teachers refusing to talk in class, but taking no personal responsibility for the negative learning consequences for students.
It was bold insubordination and defiance, it was an “in your face” snap at the public, and most amazing of all, there was no clear explanation of it’s important purpose ever offered that would linger in the minds of those who witnessed or suffered from the Day of Silence. To summarize, it was a failure, and at the same time a cowardly act. That it may happen again shows that the administrative response too, falls short of what we should expect from our well-paid public leaders.
That’s why it should be called not the Day of Silence, but as teachers executed it, the Day of Dead Learning.
What were teachers thinking? Whenever a person determines to make a public statement through defiant behavior, that person needs to expect a strong reaction and punitive consequences for those actions at that point in time. A person of integrity and with a brave heart would plan for and anticipate these consequences. A person of intelligence would have a goal in mind and a way to measure whether movement towards that goal would justify the action and the reaction, once the demonstration was over. There is no evidence that any such thinking was involved in the Day of Dead Learning. It was a short, one-shot act of defiance that ultimately moved no one anywhere, except towards disrespect of teachers, and it was a day backwards for students.
Jeers to those who fumbled an opportunity to perhaps promote a worthy cause, and hopefully more than shame will fall upon them if they try the same stunt again.
It CAN be been done right! If there is to be a meaningful Day of Silence, there is a way to do it effectively.
First of all, the teachers can announce their intentions in advance, can offer to forfeit a day’s pay and can personally pay for a substitute teacher to sit next to them to execute a well-planned lesson. The teachers can stand before and after school on the public sidewalk to distribute in advance a paper to the parents and the community. This paper can explain what will happen, the purpose of the Day of Silence, and the teacher’s plans to make sure that student educational needs will be fully met on that day.
The teachers can invite the press into the school to observe, and can have before school, lunch time and after school rallies to bring about changes leading to better lives for those for which the Day of Silence is dedicated.
If it is to be done this way, teachers would be surprised at the public support and admiration for their courage at least, if not their immediate cause. Last time, many saw these teachers as sneaking cowards, stealing a day’s pay while refusing to do work, and all to the harm, not the benefit, of students. To do it right, fellow teachers, takes much time, much effort and personal sacrifice. Just sitting and playing dumb to promote a “cause” is simple cowardice and simply ridiculous.
Tony Weiler, Gilroy
*The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-written letter.
