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The Freedom To Assemble, The Freedom Not To Assemble: The Day I Served Detention |
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by Doug Knick
(No verified email address) |
18 Nov 2003
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Because we do reside in America, because thousands and thousands of young men and women have given their lives, it is time that we practice our freedom and stand with those who are oppressed. It is time that we acknowledge our positions of privilege and use it for the benefit of others. It is time that we open our mouths to name the injustice in our midst. It is time that we dirty our hands in the garbage cans of our communities in order to establish a better, cleaner, community for everyone. It is time that we serve a detention, or two or three, or... |
On Thursday afternoon from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. I served my first high school detention. It only took 46 years for me to reach this milestone. If you are wondering how this is possible, you are correct in concluding that I am not a high school student. I am a high school social studies teacher, a part time college professor, and a full time student advocate. The events which led to my self imposed detention began on Tuesday, November 11, Veteranšs Day.
Minutes before the student body was to be dismissed from classes in order to assemble in the gymnasium for the traditional flag waving, chest pounding, patriotic pep rally a young man approached and asked if he had to attend the assemble. The student's request did not come as a surprise since on numerous occasions he has expressed his struggle with mandated patriotism. I informed the gentlemen that he had the freedom not to attend the program and since our school has the policy of providing a room for those who elect not to attend lyceums, he should ask the principal where to report. Having similar reservations as this young man, I elected not to attend the ceremony and therefore remained in the classroom.
With the hallway void of bustling students, it was easy to detect the sound of footsteps as they turned the corner and proceeded down the long corridor. As the sneaker clad feet reached the entrance of the classroom silence again filled the hallway. Pulling my eyes from the pages of Scott Hunt's, "The Future of Peace" I saw the young man standing in the doorway. Initially, I assumed that the principal instructed the student to return to the classroom, but his face absent of color told me otherwise. Quickly he spewed forth his conversation with the principal and how he did not have the freedom not to attend the Veteran's Day program. The administration stated that this was an educational event and attendance was mandatory. When he inquired why, he was instructed that he needed to learn about those who died for his freedom, plus, if he did not attend he would receive detention. The young man now wanted to know, could the administration do that? Could they give him detention?
During our ensuing conversation I challenged the young patriot seated before me to reframe his question. Possibly the issue was not could they, of course they could and WILL, but does that make it right? Together we pondered what freedom means, what it means to be a citizen, and finally a member of the human race. Our conversation was brief and filled with more questions than answers. Closure occurred when the young man informed me that he was going to spend his time reading some articles I had made available on the topic of white privilege.
Wednesday when the young man entered the classroom, knowing he would never complain about receiving the detention, I inquired if he indeed was being punished for not attending the program. He shared that he was and that he had been dismissed from the office when he attempted to discuss the issue. I was not surprised by the administration's behavior, this was the same administration which weeks earlier informed me that I was wasting the administrations time by having students identify injustices and develop of plan of action to address the injustice based on Thoreau's, "Civil Disobedience". At the end of the class period I informed the student that I would also be serving detention with him.
It needs to be stated clearly, my detention, unlike this student's, was self imposed. No one was punishing me for not attending the program. I elected to serve the hour of detention and I could do this because I was in a position of power. This position of power was part of the reason why I participated in the detention. I realized that I could call attention to the irony of this situation, the freedom to assemble, in a manner a student could never hope to accomplish. I served the detention because I wanted the young man to know that I supported his decision to skip the program. I wanted to stand in solidarity with him. I served the detention to challenge others to take a stand, to step out and join their brothers and sisters who suffer because they are not in positions of power and therefore are oppressed. I served the detention because I am convinced that change can come about through nonviolent means.
At exactly 3:00 p.m. I reported to the designated location in order to receive my detention duties. The students reporting to serve detention assumed that I was the detention supervisor and refused to accept the explanation of why I was present, until the young man stated, "no, he's here with me." With a degree of reluctance the supervising instructor placed me under the guidance of the custodian. Again, I was reminded of my position of power as the custodian was extremely hesitant to assign any tasks. My first task consisted of collecting and emptying the recycling boxes, which was followed by the task of emptying and re-bagging the garbage cans. Entering the classrooms of fellow staff members provided an opportunity to discuss the events of Tuesday and explain why I needed to serve this detention. Some of the teachers responded with a nervous laugh, others confessed that they too skipped the program, and some dismissed me as a lunatic as they returned to the scholarly work of searching the internet. As we drifted from classroom to classroom pushing the oversized garbage bin, I found myself wondering what the administration hoped to accomplish by having this young man serve detention. Were these sixty minutes of oppression intended to make him appreciate the opportunity, the freedom, to assemble? Were the names and memories of dead soldiers suppose to fill his thoughts? Was picking gum of the bottom of a garbage can suppose to ignite the fire of patriotism in his belly? Or was this to be a simple reminder for this young man that you do not have the freedom to question or challenge the authority of the administration even though you live in America. The administration reported, we have the freedom to assemble, SO, I am ordering you to assemble in the name of educational opportunities.
At the completion of the hour we reported to the supervisor's classroom, recorded the time and initialed all the proper squares. As the young man and I passed through the doorway the supervisor asked, "will you attend the Veterans Day program in the future?" In union we sang, "No." As I turned and strolled down the hall to the right and the young man to the left I thought to myself, they can't force me to assemble and they can't stop me from standing in solidarity with another.
Because we do reside in America, because thousands and thousands of young men and women have given their lives, it is time that we practice our freedom and stand with those who are oppressed. It is time that we acknowledge our positions of privilege and use it for the benefit of others. It is time that we open our mouths to name the injustice in our midst. It is time that we dirty our hands in the garbage cans of our communities in order to establish a better, cleaner, community for everyone. It is time that we serve a detention, or two or three, or...
Doug Knick (knick (at) gfw.k12.mn.us), in addition to teaching both in a high school and college environment, is also the founder and director of The Delta Institute. The Delta Institute consistency practices and teaches "delta" forms of leadership. |
