DISCUSSION BOARD.

PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS. PLEASE FOLLOW RULES FOR "WORDS" THAT MAY NOT BE USED IN THIS CLASS.

I KNOW, ODD, WHEN THOSE WORDS ARE TO ONES WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT.

I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF "USE" IN AN ACADEMIC CLASSROOM IN A SITUATION WHERE IT IS PART OF THE ASSIGNED READING, AND IT IS QUOTED IN CLASS.

I DECIDED TO PUT THIS UP BECAUSE SOME YEARS BACK I HAD A STUDENT REPORT ME TO THE COLLEGE BECAUSE I GAVE A LECTURE ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH PER THEN CHAPTER 4, NOW 2.

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROTECTED SPEECH AND NON-PROTECTED SPEECH. I WAS OBSCENE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT NECESSARY TO CONTRAS SPEECH THAT IS PROTECTED AGAINST NONPROTECTED SPEECH, THROUGH SPECIFIC EXAMPLES.

ANYWAY, AFTER AN INVESTIGATION, AND AFTER MY OTHER 32 STUDENTS IN THE CLASS BEING INTERVIEWED AND EXPRESSING THEIR LIKING AND APPROVING OF MY LECTURE (BUT NOT BEFORE I WAS DENIED TEACHING FOR TWO QUARTERS), I RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOM.

HOWEVER, I NEVER HAVE GIVEN THE LECTURE AGAIN. I SIMPLY DO NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION, FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL IT TOOK TO GET PAST THE COMPLAINT.

SO, WHEN I SAW THE ARTICLE ON STUDENTS COMPLAINING ABOUT A TEACHER AND ANOTHER STUDENT USING THE "N" WORD I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET YOUR VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT. FEEL FREE TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION AND EDUCATE ME SOME MORE.

THE NEWS ARTICLE INTERVIEWED TWO LAW PROFESSORS AT MAJOR LAW SCHOOLS RE THAT STUDENTS DEMANDING THAT A TEACHER AT ANOTHER SCHOOL BE FIRED OR AT LEAST SUSPENDED FOR USING THE "N" WORD IN CLASS. A STUDENT AT ANOTHER SCHOOL HAD DONE SO AS WELL IN A CLASS ZOOM DISCUSSION AND THERE WERE CAMPUS PROTESTS.

APPARENTLY, THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AT NUMEROUS OTHER LAW SCHOOLS.

NOW, THE FACTS ARE THAT ALTHOUGH THE WORDS WERE USED, THE WORDS WERE DIRECT QUOTES FROM LEGAL DECISIONS BY THE SUPREME COURT OF A PARTICULAR STATE.

IN AN ACADEMIC SITUATION WHERE WE DISCUSS LEGAL CASES IT IS OR IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO QUOTE THE MATERIAL ACCURATELY. I HAVE SEEN THE "F" WORD IN MANY OPINIONS WHEN THE COURT REFERENCE A IN-COURT STATEMENT MADE USUALLY BY A DEFENDANT.

EACH OF THE PROFESSORS, A WHITE MALE AND ANOTHER OF COLOR DEFENDED THE NEED TO LOOK AT CASES EVEN WITH OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE IN ITS TOTALITY.

I WOULD AGREE.

BUT I AM IN THE BUSINESS OF LAW AND TEACHING.

THIS DISCUSSION IS LIMITED TO THE QUESTION OF USE IN AN ACADEMIC SITUATION. NOT IN NORMAL SOCIAL DISCOURSE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HAVE WE GONE TOO FAR IN ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL WHAT PEOPLE THINK?

DO WE NEED TO BE MORE SENSITIVE TO OTHERS FEELING EVEN WHEN WE BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY FOR TEACHING OR OTHER FORMS OF EDUCATION?

HAVING GROWN UP IN A TIME AND PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE GIVEN LESS THAN COMPLIMENTARY NAMES AS A WAY TO BE IDENTIFIED I HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE WORDS.

BUT NOW I AM MORE WILLING TO CALL OUT ANY PERSON THAT USES THE "N" OR "S" WORD AND LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE IGNORANT.

SADLY, THOSE THAT DO USE THESE WORDS WILL NEVER LEARN.

DISCUSS?