L.A. Students and Parents Protest for Science Teacher
Video by McKenna Keil
Hundreds of parents and students at Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts protested Thursday for the reinstatement of a science teacher who was suspended after two students made science fair projects administrators believed to resemble weapons.
The school, which is located on Grand Avenue and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, was the scene of parents protesting for a response from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
"It's been a complete disaster as far as from the administration," said Matthew Moran, a parent. "We tried to present our grievances to them and plead his case. He's been trying to do his due diligence, and we've been trying to give the process a chance to work, but apparently the process doesn't really exist."
Greg Schiller was suspended in late February after two of his students brought projects to the science fair that administrators said resembled weapons.
One of the students who turned in a project that was confiscated says he does not feel his project represented any threat. "It didn't warrant the action that was taken against Mr. Schiller. It wasn't a weapon and I think it was just the word gun in the title that made it targeted," said Ferguson.
In a phone interview with ATVN, Schiller said he is "astounded at the support, at the love that I'm getting from my students and I am so appreciative of the parents."
LAUSD said it could not comment because it is an ongoing invesitgation, but released the following statement:
"It is the practice of the Los Angeles Unified School District to reassign an employee to a non-classroom setting when there are allegation related to student safety. We will always err on the side of protecting students."
Many students showed their support for Schiller today by taking a stand of silence and remaining quiet during their classes while wearing signs that said "I will not talk until Mr. Schiller in reinstated."
The protest took place before classes started this morning and a small group of parents and students continued the rally after school concluded this afternoon.
Science education in both public and private schools is not presented in a manner that makes it interesting and relevant to young learners. Many students can memorize the facts, apply the concepts, and perform well on tests even when the course is presented in a dry, mundane environment, but motivating students to become passionate, life-long learners of science requires a much more inspirational approach.
And when someone attempts to engage students' imaginations and inspire them to apply science concepts to real world applications, well, this is what happens.
Zero tolerance policies are the result of administrators opting for an easy fix so that they no longer are required to use judgement and common sense and evaluate each situation on its merits. Similar absurd policies have previously resulted in students being suspended for bringing Midol or Tylenol (no drugs!) or plastic knives to cut up lunch meat (no weapons!) to school.