An Open Letter to A Student
“In case you weren’t aware, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is on Monday…”
–from a student e-mail
Dear Student:
I have received your condescending e-mail message about why it is wrong for Schoolcraft College and me to hold classes on Monday.
To argue that classes should be cancelled because you consider January 21—the federally recognized holiday which is not, in fact, Dr. King’s birthday—to be one of your religious holidays begs the question, “Whose religions should we recognize?” I know that I am expected to meet my classes on my religious holidays and I would never think of asking that the entire college close so that I can practice devotions. The same can be said by many other faculty, students, staff, and administrators. So why should we cancel classes to support your religious beliefs?
Your arguments that Livonia was the whitest city in America and that Detroit is the most segregated do not justify canceling classes. How does not attending class change this situation? While there are solid arguments that support the decision of other area colleges to cancel their classes, the ones you include in your e-mail are not compelling.
I know that you were not present during our last class period when I discussed the issue of Monday’s class. After acknowledging that informed people might disagree with me, I explained why I do not support simply canceling Monday classes. “How,” I asked, “does sleeping in or going shopping or doing some other mundane task honor Dr. King?”
Instead, it is my belief that we should hold classes. However, we should use class time to advance Dr. King’s legacy. Colleges should also be encouraged to organize events, seminars, service projects, and so forth—such as the Second Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Youth Roundtable on Diversity and Michigan’s Future which is being held Monday on our campus.
This year, the students in my classes will view and discuss Jim Crow’s Museum, a documentary about the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University. We will also visit Hateful Things, the traveling exhibit which is currently on our campus. Information learned from the documentary, exhibit, and our discussion will be integrated into future classes.
I know that some people, like you, wish to participate in community service projects. As I explained in class, such community service is a very legitimate way to honor Dr. King. Students who participate in such a project will be excused from class.
Even had I not made this announcement, I might suggest that it would have been more in keeping with Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence for you to ask to be excused from class prior to writing a sarcastic e-mail to your professor.
I do not think that there is any conflict between our class time and the event you want to attend. But if you believe that cutting class is a better way to honor Dr. King than it is to attend class so that you can participate in our discussion of the legacy of racism that is still found in American society, that is your choice and I will support your decision.
Steven L. Berg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English and History
P.S. It is also my position that if the federal government can wait until January 21 to celebrate Dr. King’s birthday, then the students in my Tuesday/Thursday classes can wait until January 22 to celebrate the federal holiday. They, too, will view and discuss Jim Crow’s Museum and visit the Hateful Things exhibit.
- –Steven L. Berg, PhD
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