Hip Hop Congress

Latina Teacher Fired for teaching about Malcom X [RockRap]

Critical thinking and culturally relevant education are not welcomed at
Jordan High School

Latina English Teacher is threatened with termination for being too
“Afro-centric” in her teaching.

As a second year teacher, Ms. Karen Salazar has had a dynamic impact on
the Jordan High School campus by connecting readings to the real lives
and struggles that students go through. Her English Class has become a
favorite among students on campus, where they regularly read and analyze
books and selected readings from people of color to whom the students
can relate. Students, who typically skip some of their classes, show up
religiously in Salazar’s English Class.

However, much of Salazar’s success has also led to constant
harassment by Jordan H.S. administration. Salazar has been visited and
“observed” by the administration over 15 times in the past year.
During one of the visits, an administrator criticized her for having
students read The Autobiography of Malcom X, a LAUSD approved text. When
she objected to this criticism, she was told that her teachings where
too “Afro-centric. ” She was then told that the school would not
renew her teaching contract for the upcoming school year.

What makes this case particularly interesting is that the principal,
Stephen Strachan, is African American and Salazar is Salvadorian.
However, Strachan believes that Salazar teaches too much about the Black
experience, which is completely ironic.

“The school knows that Ms. Salazar is a very passionate and good
teacher, and yet they want to fire her. It is not fair because there are
many other teachers who don’t teach anything, and they never get
fired,” said one of the Jordan High School Students at a youth-led
meeting to discuss the firing.

At the meeting, many Jordan students expressed anger and frustration
over the situation. After two hours of discussion, it was agreed that
the students would form the Students 4 Salazar coalition and demand that
Ms. Salazar continue to teach at Jordan for the upcoming school year.
Students also decided that they had no other recourse but to take direct
action to save their teacher. A protest rally was planned for after
school in front of Jordan H.S. on Thursday, June 5th 2008 at 3:15pm.

For a video of the meeting, please visit:

http://www.youtube. com/v/0yxwUFPoku Q