Dear parents of my most esteemed students,
I have been receiving complaints about an image I've shown recently in class that contains "violent" imagery. Although I understand your worries, I assure you all that the accusations that I am "traumatizing" your children are baseless and untrue. As a history teacher it is my job to make sure my students understand historically significant events on every level. This includes everything and anything about these events that may be horrible, and violent. I'm sure your teenage students have seen worse by their own volition, especially in this age driven by social media. Anything in my class however, is relevant to whatever we may be learning and also important. In an article on Time (https://time.com/3705884/why-violent-news-images-matter/) by Fred Ritchen, he quotes a photographer who asks "How can we refuse to acknowledge a mere representation-- a picture-- of a horrific event, while other people are forced to live through the horrific event itself?" I'm sure the "trauma" I may be inducing on these mature, high school students is comparable to the trauma that the victims of these horrible events have faced. The victims', whose experiences of the past are invalidated when people don't learn of them. As a teacher it is my job to teach, and I will continue to do so.
Sincerely,
Mr. Grumps
I thought it was contradictory of you (or Mr. Grumps) to say that the accusations of traumatizing the students were false and that the "trauma" of the students is comparable to the trauma of the victims, but at the same time say that suppressing the victims' trauma is invalidating- since you say the different traumas are alike in a way, would you not agree that you are invalidating your students' trauma?. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the irony I noticed while reading. Also the fact that it was formatted so formally made it really seem like I was reading someone else's letter.
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting letter. I was particularly intrigued by the point of view you decided to write in (from a teacher's point of view to his students' parents). I thought the stance Mr. Grumps took was unique and definitely puts the question of whether or not "violent imagery" should be shown in classrooms.
ReplyDeleteI found it really interesting how you took on an almost irreverent tone to discuss this topic, considering it's somewhat heavy. I also like the quote that you choose, about the refusal to acknowledge these events, it really emphasized the importance of such images. Very strong stance as well (in a good way).
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