[Peace] EDWeek article about a New Mexico teacher who was suspended for allowing a student to protest war in Iraq

[Peggy Patten]

April 30, 2003
Education Week

N.M. Classroom Bard Waits
For Word on Job

By John Gehring
A teacher in New Mexico remained suspended last week after one of his 
students read a poem at school that included sweeping criticism of the war 
in Iraq, the Bush administration, and treatment of immigrants.

The senior at Rio Rancho High School in Rio Rancho, N.M., faced no 
disciplinary action after reading her poem, "Revolution X," over the 
school's closed-circuit TV station in February.

But less than a month after that reading, Bill Nevins, a humanities teacher 
at Rio Rancho High and the faculty sponsor of its poetry team, was told he 
would be placed on paid leave. School officials maintain that Mr. Nevins 
failed to follow district policy when he allegedly allowed students to 
perform at public poetry readings outside of school without field-trip 
permission forms.

He was also suspended as the sponsor of the poetry team, which had been 
preparing for New Mexico's first statewide poetry competition for students 
earlier this month. The poetry team broke up after his suspension, and team 
members did not take part in that event.

Mr. Nevins disputes the claim that he did not follow school policies, and 
he suggests that the school's principal, Gary Tripp, is targeting him for 
his work with the poetry team and the type of work—like the "Revolution X" 
poem—that came out of the poetry group.

A poet, political activist, and freelance journalist, Mr. Nevins is well 
known in New Mexico poetry circles, where criticism of American foreign 
policy and the war in Iraq are common and often grist for artistic expression.

Opposing Views
The 55-year-old, whose son is a U.S. Army paratrooper currently serving in 
Afghanistan, acknowledged inviting guest speakers with anti-war views to 
address the poetry team students, but said he also invited those with 
opposing views, including a military veteran.

"I was not protesting the war in my classroom," said Mr. Nevins. "I 
presented a very balanced position. I don't believe in putting forward my 
own political prejudices in front of students. I do that in my private 
time. ...
"I can only suspect the school authorities were in some way discomforted by 
students freely and with decorum speaking their minds."

Mr. Tripp, the principal, did not respond to a request for an interview. A 
district spokeswoman said she could not comment about Mr. Nevins' case 
because it was a personnel issue. But the spokeswoman for the 
11,275-student Rio Rancho schools did say the reasons for his suspension 
were not related to freedom-of-speech issues.

Mr. Nevins, who has been on paid leave since March 19, said he hopes to 
avoid legal action, but said he would consider that as an option. He is 
most concerned, he said, about the long-term effect his suspension and the 
breakup of the poetry club will have on his students' commitment to 
speaking out on controversial topics.

"What bothers me the most is the discouraging message this sends to youth," 
he said. "I hope they reject that message. As a father of a brave son in 
his early 20s fighting for freedom in Afghanistan, I'm appalled that 
freedom is being truncated and disrespected right here in New Mexico."

'Deep and Thoughtful'
Mr. Nevins' case has become something of a cause célèbre among some 
teachers and poets.
Billy Collins, the poet laureate of the United States, sent Mr. Nevins an 
e-mail to express dismay over his treatment. Mr. Collins declined to be 
interviewed for this article because he said he was traveling and wanted to 
learn more details of the case before commenting publicly.

Sal Treppiedi, a teacher at Harrison Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., 
who started the Albuquerque Youth Poetry Council with Mr. Nevins to promote 
youth poetry events, worries about the impact the teacher's suspension will 
have on his students.

"The real tragedy is not what happened to Bill. He will teach again," Mr. 
Treppiedi said. "The real tragedy is what happened to the kids, because 
when a form of expression is being scrutinized by the administration, that 
is just abominable as far as I'm concerned."

In recent months, several New Mexico teachers have faced suspensions over 
anti- war sentiments that they or their students have posted in classrooms.

On April 18, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico filed a 
lawsuit against the Albuquerque school district on behalf of four educators 
suspended in March for posting anti-war messages in their classrooms or 
offices.
Curriculum experts, administrators, and others have generally advised that 
teachers be careful to keep their views on divisive issues as such the war 
separate from their roles in the classroom. ("War Lessons Call for Delicate 
Balance," March 26, 2003.)

Back at Rio Rancho High, at least one other teacher hopes students will 
keep speaking out through poetry. Sam Butler, a humanities teacher whose 
daughter Courtney wrote the "Revolution X" poem, says poetry has given her 
a forum for expression.

"Her poems are very deep and thoughtful," Mr. Butler said. "She is 
eloquent, and we are very proud of her. The poetry club really provided her 
with an outlet."

PHOTOS: Bill Nevins, a humanities teacher at Rio Rancho High School in New 
Mexico, seen here at a poetry reading in December 2002, was suspended 
pending an investigation into his organization of trips by the school's 
poetry team. Mr. Nevins denies he did anything wrong.
—File photo courtesy of The Observer (Rio Rancho, N.M.)

© 2001 Editorial Projects in EducationVol. 22, number 33, page 3



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