St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch announced on Monday night that Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted for the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. At the time of Brown’s death in August, 18-year-old Brown had just graduated high school, and was only days away from starting college at a technical school. In the weeks following Brown’s death, amid sometimes violent local protests, schools in Ferguson and the surrounding area were forced to cancel days of classes. This week, some school districts in the area have once again cancelled class to ensure the safety of students and staff in the aftermath of the grand jury announcement. Some districts also prepared for the grand jury’s …
St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch announced on Monday night that Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted for the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. At the time of Brown’s death in August, 18-year-old Brown had just graduated high school, and was only days away from starting college at a technical school.
In the weeks following Brown’s death, amid sometimes violent local protests, schools in Ferguson and the surrounding area were forced to cancel days of classes. This week, some school districts in the area have once again cancelled class to ensure the safety of students and staff in the aftermath of the grand jury announcement. Some districts also prepared for the grand jury’s decision by providing parents and teachers with resources on how to talk with students about the case.
But it’s not just in the Ferguson area that teachers are trying to figure out how to explain these events to young students. On Monday night, The Huffington Post asked teachers on Twitter how they planned to talk to their students about the events happening in Ferguson. Below are some of the responses we received.
Are you a teacher who’s planning on talking with your students about what’s going on in Ferguson? Tell us what you plan to discuss by tweeting @HuffPostEdu.
@HuffPostEdu listen, be kind, facilitate, foster critical thinking, care. As future leaders, they CAN make +ve change.
— Diana Petrarca (@_DrDi) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu how timely, I’m teaching civil war and reconstruction next week & I plan on using this case to mark #little progress for Blacks
— Whitnee (@WhitneeGarrett) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu not so much the verdict as the community response throughout; has to be viewed in light of Dred Scott and Emmitt Till
— Hasani (@HasaniSinclair) November 25, 2014
Let them discuss rather than tell them about verdict. “@HuffPostEdu: …What will you tell them about the verdict? #Ferguson” #edchat
— Albert R Gonzales Jr (@agonzalesjr) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu I am going 2 give facts of King case & LA riots & facts of brown case & have them decide what should be done in MO #sschat
— Katie Smith (@misskmsmith) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu Kids can be wise. Ask what THEY want the message here to be and empower them to have their voices heard #listenfirst
— Jessie Hecht (@teacherhecht) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu it’s hard to have a discussion when students already understand they matter less.
— Eric Juli (@ericjuli) November 25, 2014
@ericjuli @HuffPostEdu #Discussions are more important now more then ever #Students are our future They will make world better #Ferguson
— Sue (@ADHD123SUE) November 25, 2014
"@Ms_LS7: @MelissaKMarrero @HuffPostEdu Every teacher teaches current affairs. This is our time to inspire & encourage them to #BeTheChange"
— Raman Job (@raysadad) November 25, 2014
@MelissaKMarrero @HuffPostEdu I teach english and tie all fiction to modern events and my last unit on "use of force" ties to this perf.
— Teresa Cole (@MsColeSPMS) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu I’m not going to tell my little ones anything but "I love each and every one of you and your life matters." #ferguson
— MNPSCounselors (@MNPScounselors) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu how not to get shot when they get harassed by police, because they will. I’ve done it before. This is an everyday thing.
— Rae (@JustRaeNicole) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu no matter thoughts on Brown case, we are educators. Should be unbiased & not let our politics determine what we teach.
— J. Moore (@MistaJRMoore) November 25, 2014
Maybe teachers should just listen. Let students talk and write. #Ferguson @HuffPostEdu @facinghistory @NYTimesLearning @ZinnEdProject
— Scott Morrison (@doctormorrison) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu We have been studying To Kill A Mockingbird and discussing #Ferguson. We will continue to talk about both
— Christine M (@Xeryfyn) November 25, 2014
@doctormorrison @HuffPostEdu @facinghistory @ZinnEdProject as a former teacher in the inner city … It should be the number 1 topic.
— Tamara Yates (@TamaraYates60) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu I would discuss how Judicial Decisions are made. Instead of blaming, I would educate. #TrustTheSystem
— Cody Rakes (@rickyrakesfarms) November 25, 2014
@MelissaKMarrero @HuffPostEdu FACILITATE a discussion between the students. Allow safe space and time then, move to the lesson of the day.
— Mel (@MPH_007) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu 2morrow will be a time 2 listen, not talk. Let them be the experts on how they feel & give them a safe space 2 dialogue w/e/o
— Ashley Ireland Dann (@TeachingInFocus) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu with honesty. That it saddens me in 2014 we still have race debates. Then I’ll let them talk…and answer them with compassion
— Cathy Click (@CathyCinNC) November 25, 2014
@THEGingerSass @HuffPostEdu Imp to emphasize th infinite value of each & every student & that verdict is not a reflection of their worth.
— Lori Polachek (@LPolachek1) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu You encourage them to become wise scholars to change this world-to make it a place of inclusion, equity, and justice.
— Clara Park (@claraepark) November 25, 2014
@blairtheblur @HuffPostEdu Just remind them they have to make the right choices and be mindful of who they are and how society views them
— Golden 2007 (@Cperry1922) November 25, 2014
Students will need to a voice tomorrow! We must truly listen with our hearts to help them stay safe and heal.@HuffPostEdu
— Latishac (@LatishaHC) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu I will let my students speak their minds and will try to help them make sense of this. It will be difficult.
— Brendan (@Brendan_Ingram) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu thinking about this, and the lives of my students, is the hardest part of this for me. How do I protect them? Inform them?
— Blair Mishleau (@blairtheblur) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu All I know is tomorrow I will be fostering an environment of love and peace in my classroom.
— CleTeach (@CleTeach) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu I have absolutely no idea what to say.
— Dulce-Marie Flecha (@DulceFlecha) November 25, 2014
@HuffPostEdu I’m going to let my students vent and direct the conversation to how we as a nation can move foward
— Golden 2007 (@Cperry1922) November 25, 2014
@ZinnEdProject @doctormorrison @HuffPostEdu @facinghistory facilitate, prompt, provide access to quality resources, open the space
— Beth Sanders (@MsSandersTHS) November 25, 2014
@caramelloaf @HuffPostEdu as a educator, my job is to always be objective, and also critical of structural inequalities.
— Whitnee (@WhitneeGarrett) November 25, 2014
@MelissaKMarrero @HuffPostEdu If you’re teaching people, you have a responsibility to speak about this.
— Saskia Fabricant (@SFabricant) November 25, 2014
. @HuffPostEdu I will continue to love my students and inject social justice in every lesson, not hiding my anger.
— Liz Harris (@harris_liz) November 25, 2014
@blairtheblur @HuffPostEdu Teach them the true definition of justice. Teach them to be responsible for their actions and to be careful.
— Vanessa Peterson (@vpeterson4) November 25, 2014
@wendilin622 @HuffPostEdu But the conversation should and could be about the here and now. How can WE/THEY promote healing, peace, & unity.
— D Spencer Kegler (@SpenceStreet936) November 25, 2014
Source article:
How Teachers Around The Country Plan To Talk To Their Students About Ferguson
