The San Diego Unified School District voted unanimously on Tuesday for teachers to discuss the George Zimmerman case with middle and high school students.
Trustees Richard Barrera and Marne Foster introduced the proposal, saying that opening a dialogue on race relations would allow students to speak honestly on how they identify with Trayvon Martin “and have feelings of fear, anger, and skepticism that they will live in a just society as they prepare for the future,” ABC 10 News reported.
According to the report, the plan, implemented by the district’s Office of Race Human Relations and Advocacy, would “allow students to talk about the world view that prompted George Zimmerman to confront Trayvon Martin; help students develop perspectives and strategies to channel their feelings about Trayvon Martin into positive work for themselves and the larger community; allow students to speak about the “stand your ground” laws; and, help students learn how to deal with being confronted by others in an authoritative manner.”
Many attended Tuesday’s meeting to show support of the plan.
“All of us are mixed,” said Lynwood Taylor Jr., according to Fox 5 San Diego. “There is no pure person in USA. There is no better race than the other. And we have to understand that.”
“The prejudices are based on ignorance,” said Hugh Muhammad. “So I think we will be able to deal with the ignorance that surrounds race to allow us to get to know each other better.”
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According to an internal poll conducted by ABC 10, 72 percent of respondents said teachers have no business discussing the case in the classroom. Members did not discuss whether the case will be taught in a civics or social studies class, or a counseling session. There is no word on when this be implemented, Fox 5 San Diego reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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