In Newark, several principals spoke out against closing schools. They were “indefinitely suspended.” Should they have spoken out? Should they have kept their views to themselves? Dr. King had some advice to those who feel that what was done to their community was unjust. The principals did not “break a law.” They were, in some people’s eyes, insubordinate. Is that akin to law-breaking? Most of us follow the laws and the rules. What should we not?
“I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail. 1963
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I agree.
Throughout history, those yielding power have attempted to defame, denigrate, and destroy any individual or group of people who persistently strive for meaningful equality. This is just one of the many important lessons we can learn from Dr. Martin Luther King. Perhaps this explains why the United States public school system, and those who work to preserve it, are constantly under attack.
Laws sometimes are made to be broken for the good of the people.
I found this quote from MLK on Jonathn Pelto’s Facebook page:
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
It has become my new favorite quote and my call to action.
Sadly for all too many teachers trying to survive and to support a family, their speaking out is quickly classified as “insubordination” and its implicit threat that it is an offense that can result in termination is quickly invoked.
Compliant teachers teach kids to be compliant…
what’s integrity and the wellbeing of millions of kids worth to you?
are people going to continue to justify/enable the damage they’re doing to the kids in their classrooms on the grounds that they have to feed/clothe/house their own children?
There IS life after losing a paycheck, you know….
Besides – havent you realised yet that you really don’t have any security, at all? That they (the plutocrats) can come and take it all away from you with a snap of their fingers?
Here is a strong article from the Phila Inquirer comparing the recent cowardly actions of Gov. Corbett with the magnificent courage of Dr. King.
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Thank-Gov-Corbett-for-teaching-us-the-meaning-of-MLK-Day.html
“The opposite of courage is not cowardice; it is compliance.” J. Hightower.
Stand tall you Principals of courage, stand tall! You make NJ proud.
Galton: a variation is—
“The opposite for courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.” [Jim Hightower]
As Duane Swacker might write, the principals were not GAGAers.
😎
The vast majority, something like 99.9999% of the principals most definitely are GAGAers.
Rheally, KTA, am I going to have to sic the Lollipop Licking Lawyers on you for an admittedly slip of the finger?????
Today’s irony: were it not for the civil disobedience of the MLKs of the world, and the repeal of laws that were illegal and unjust, John B. King, Jr., would not be Commissioner of the New York State Education Department.
Rules are for fools, and guidelines are for the wise….
or, as the XIV Dalai Lama says: “Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
Time to break the rules….
Every teacher, administrator, school board member, etc. . . should “closely” read and “deeply” understand what that quote from MLK signifies.
It means “Quit being a GAGAer!”