NYC Chancellor Offers Educators Guidance on Garner Case (WNYC.org - 12/03/14) EXCERPT: In an acknowledgment that the Eric Garner case would surely be on the minds of teachers and students, Chancellor Carmen Fariña sent a memo on Wednesday to principals with tips on how to handle the news in a way thats educational and respectful. She was referring to the grand jury decision not to indict a white police officer on criminal charges in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man in July. The decision in Staten Island that Officer Daniel Pantaleo will not face criminal charges threatened to add to the tensions that have simmered in the city since the July 17 death of Garner — a case that sparked outrage and drew comparisons to the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Current events often make their way into our classrooms, she stated. In light of recent events, I want to reiterate that our goal is to help students learn and grow. The memo includes suggestions to help young people find positive ways of expressing themselves during this time. These included assembly programs during lunch periods, and providing quiet rooms with counselors in case students need to talk about their feelings. Principals were encouraged to help teachers prepare lessons with rich discussions and critical analysis, allowing students to express their concerns and emotions in a respectful manner. The memo said student councils and governments could play a leadership role, too. We are working with school leaders and families to encourage our students to express themselves safely and positively, said Fariñas press secretary, Devora Kaye. We will continue to support and monitor schools, and work across city agencies to monitor the progress of outside events, to ensure that our students and school staff are safe. The memo also asks principals to be mindful of safety by asking school staff to be extra vigilant throughout the day. Megan Moskop said on Wednesday that she was already talking with three of her colleagues about how to deal with the issue in their advisory classes, or homerooms. They teach seventh grade at P.S. 324 in Washington Heights and have used resources from the group Teachers Unite. Well make space for students to share what they know and what theyre feeling, then think about constructive next steps, she said. We aim to engage our students in critical thought and fact-based discussions about justice in our city.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:33:47 +0000
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