I have just completed grading the work for the Social Injustice assignment for Photo II.  I began this assignment the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. day.  I showed the students some work by photographers working in the time of the civil rights fight in the mid-20th century.  Gordon Parks was one that they were already familiar with.  They were to shoot with medium format cameras.  Some of our cameras cannot accommodate flash and were to be shot outdoors in daylight.  For those using the Holga, they could use a flash and shoot any time of day.

The students had to hand in a brief written explanation of the reasonings for their shoot.  I had told them to shoot what they feel is a social injustice to someone of their age, in their lives.  This was because what I find to be a social injustice may hold no meaning for them.  The discussions at the date of the assignment were dull, uninspired.  Only one student really had the idea.  Now that I have graded the work, I have to wonder if they felt uncomfortable speaking about their ideas and feelings.  There is an element in one of the classes that stifles the honest feelings and expressions of the rest of the class.  However, when I vehemently reiterated the class climate rules (no racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-immigrant talk) due to the fact that there are classmates for whom that talk is threatening and upsetting, I received quite the backlash.  The guilty parties spent the rest of the day telling students, teachers, and all the staff they could find that I was forcing my political beliefs down their throats.  As a matter of fact, this issue may not be over.

Well, after looking at the work from their class, I think the only thing being forced on anyone is silence of those who do not agree with them.  As a teacher, I cannot allow this to happen.  I cannot allow my students to fear speaking freely in class.  Respect and kindness are not political.