I have been in a fair amount of English classes, which the number is now up to 6 ½ since seventh grade until now, my second semester of freshman year in college. Over these six or so years, not much has changed. At the beginning of the class the teacher tells you, just speak your mind, no answer is wrong in a discussion. So time and time again, when the class is discussing a book, article, piece of art, what have you, I always say something and soon come to find my throat is being jumped down by seven of my peers and sometimes me teacher. So apparently you can’t speak your mind, and you especially cannot voice an opinion or just raise questions that may be deemed wrong. Generally, I can sneak around and say enough to get a “class participation” grade, but not to so much to be attacked. However, when people say something that I disagree with, or something I feel so inclined to argue about or ask about it suddenly becomes so wrong. Even if I am only asking a question which doesn’t reflect my opinion people assume that it is and say if the topic were racism then I must be a racist or Nazi or whatever. The only thing I guess you really can say in class discussions is what the teacher wants to hear. Forgive me for trying to ask something new and speaking my mind. I shall not do it again.
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Kate, I sincerely, honestly, and truly apologize if any way that I responded to you in class made you feel as if what you said was wrong or that what you have to say doesn't matter. It is absolutely imperative to me that what each of you says gets heard and considered, and even if we might disagree or approach it with a different point of view, that this is done with respect. I only hope that I haven't made you feel so uncomfortable that you no longer wish to speak up in class. I value deeply what you have to say and look forward to it becoming a part of our learning experience. In the future, I will try even harder to be respectful of everyone's voices and much more mindful of the way in which I respond.
If this is something you'd like to discuss, please feel free to email me or come to my office; I want to make sure that your comfort in my classroom is not compromised.
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