Re: maybe silence?
Ken Goodman (kgoodman who-is-at u.arizona.edu)
Mon, 22 Mar 1999 08:41:39 -0700
There are some striking similarities between the -context- in which Elia
Kazan named names for McCarthy and the political context of repression
and intimidation of teachers and learners in California and the nation.
Arthur Miller in the current Nation quotes Dalton Trumbo as saying
everyone was a victim. But some chose jail and others collaborated to
save themselves. Those who did not live it will probably never
understand this difference. Now those who promote the attacks have
learned to be much more subtle- marginalizing their targets, imposing
their blacklists, co-opting potential opposition without providing them
the forum to express their opposition. I started my career as a teacher
when loyalty oaths were being imposed, when it was dangerous to teach
about the United Nations, when many teachers were quietly fired. At
least at that time there was visible opposition from the left and from
others who eventually brought McCarthy down. Where is that coalition now
that we need it again. Where are the unions, where are the academics who
will defend public education today?
Ken Goodman
--
Kenneth S. Goodman, Professor, Language, Reading & Culture
504 College of Education, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
fax 520 7456895 phone 520 6217868
These are mean times- and in the mean time
We need to Learn to Live Under Water