HEALTH + LIFE | 11 a culver city high school teacher’s pedagogy of compassion By Cathy Arias . Health & Life Editor As you walk into Carlos Valverde’s classroom, you are welcomed by rows of colorful world flags draped beneath the high ceiling, the sometimes-provocative student artwork decorating tall walls, and stadium seats. Its bright, open atmosphere is unlike most high school classrooms, reflecting the unique lessons taught within. For the past decade, he has created and taught a high school course that challenges students’ morals and beliefs, discussing topics ranging from transsexuals to closet racism. Though Valverde originally sought a career in film and television, the organizations he got involved in at Santa Monica College transformed his career into one dedicated to leading young people into an awareness of issues they would face in the real world. “The class is teaching the students some very sophisticated issues and themes that I don’t think any other high school in the area is providing,” says Valverde. Jasmine Delgado, Vice President of the Associated Students, took Intercultural Literature and Practicum, Valverde’s course, before she arrived at SMC. “It gave me the tools to have a critical analysis of [Occupy LA], what’s happening, and why it’s happening, and it helped me a lot more because he always pushed me to question a lot of things,” says Delgado. Valverde, 39, attended SMC from 1990 to 1993. While here, he became the president of Club Latino United for Education (CLUE), and vice chair for the Inter-Club Council. He actively participated in the Latino Leadership Network, National Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, and the creation of the SMC Adelante program. It was through volunteer Cathy Arias / Corsair work for Carlos valverde, sitting in one of the desks in his culver city high school classroom. these groups “One of the things I try to do in the class is The class, which started with 27 students, that Valverde discovered the satisfaction in just to give students the ability to be able to has now expanded into an eight-section making a difference through teaching. “My recognize that they have a voice; a voice in course and is taken by most of CCHS’s idea of social justice, the idea of inequality, society that matters. I really want students seniors. The class gave Valverde a key the idea that there are groups out there to know that they have the ability to impact resource of information for his dissertation that need more attention, that’s where others. If I can give them that, then that to in social justice, specifically Educational the idea began. It started all with SMC, me is like inspiring them to say, ‘look, you Leadership for Social Justice from LMU. with all those organizations and meeting have potential to affect others. That means “The course of study was towards a people that were very like-minded.” says that this world doesn’t have to be as bad pedagogy of compassion, reflections, and Valverde. as it is, and we don’t have to dismiss it as teaching an intercultural literature class Being the most diverse district in Los it’ll never get fixed if you know that you in high school. I’m trying to open the Angeles County, some Culver City High can affect those around you,’ then that’s a door in realizing that teaching can include School teachers, including Valverde, were start,” he says. compassion; and maybe you can’t teach in the midst of making plans to incorporate Valverde says the class changes every year it, but maybe you can lead towards it by multicultural curriculum in classrooms for due to his belief that it is an ever-evolving creating the right opportunities and lessons. students. Teachers and students began class, calling for modifications in order So I think the greatest empowerment is that attending special training on diversity to adapt to new students, environments, someone’s compassion can affect others,” with the Anti-Defamation League and to stay current, or simply to teach an says Valverde. other non-profit organizations, while improved class. Valverde is involved in launching a Valverde was simultaneously studying Menelik Tafari, a senior at Soka University program called Solution for Peace, in which interculturalism and diversity at Loyola of America, is a former student who high school students are encouraged to Marymount University. His experiences, was affected by Valverde’s Intercultural create public service announcements to be plus the No Child Left Behind Act revoking Literature and Practicum course. “It can presented to their peers at a mini assembly. his privilege of teaching Spanish, led to the definitely be partially attributed to him “What’s really powerful about this conception of what was originally called that I’ll most likely be pursuing an MA in program, is that it’s no longer the teachers Multicultural Literature and Practicum. Bilingual Education. But I guess the true and the adults telling students what not to “The class is really to teach about the testament to his impact on my life is that do or be aware of certain issues, it’s the themes dealing with cultural diversity, the one day, I hope to surpass him, and become students themselves,” he says. themes and issues of race, culture, ethnicity, a Professor of Intercultural Education,” His main focus in the meantime though, prejudice, discrimination. I wanted to Tafari said, jokingly. “And for me, that’s the is being a good father, husband, and create a space where kids feel safe to discuss secret to his success: his love and passion teaching. He says, “For now, I’m truly these kinds of issues from a personal for those who share his classroom is what enjoying what I’m doing. I need to feel the perspective so that the class teaches itself guides the questions he asks and the topics same satisfaction as I’m feeling as a teacher in a sense. So I wouldn’t become the sole that are deliberated and tested. For me, if I ever move on. There’s nothing more provider for information, it would come he defines the Bodhisattva of the Earth,” satisfying than to work with young people from the kids,” says Valverde. he said, referring to the Sanskrit word for and go home every day knowing that It also empowers students and teaches enlightened. you’ve done something good." them compassion and critical thinking. o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`a2Q(ZA".22>B2N rates advertising information P%&(C>',KA'+%C$>'EO'6"'@4'7"#+$' Q,3B44 ' BBB*%/1'%++&6&"<%('7"#+' 4B-4 5**0(C>'JK,?'+%C$>'6"'@4'7"#+$' ,,B@J BBB*%/1'%++&6&"<%('7"#+' 4BAJ L"<61(C>'@4KA?'+%C$>'6"'@4'7"#+$' ?BJ4 BBB*%/1'%++&6&"<%('7"#+' 4B3J RE%#6*#(C>'J4S'+%C$>'6"'@4'7"#+$' -BTJ BBB*%/1'%++&6&"<%('7"#+' 4B@4' payment 8(*%$*'F%0*'/1*/0$')"#'!"#$%&#' !(%$$&)&*+$'O%C%D(*'6"'VU1*' W!:;'P%&(C'X#E&'L%$6*#!%#+>'P&$/"Z*#'%<+' ;F*#&/%<'[\O#*$$B';(("7'J' 7"#0&<='+%C$')"#'F%&('O%CF*<6$B address !"#$%&#'!(%$$&)&*+$ ,,-'.*#/01"))'2%(( 34-'5*$67""+'8(%9% :"$';<=*(*$>'!;'?44@A deadlines U1E#$+%C$'%6 ,@'<""< refund policy ;'/(&*<6'F%C'#*/*&Z*'%' )E(('#*)E<+'&)'%<+'"<(C'&)' 61*C'/%'<"'#*)E<+$'"#' /#*+&6$'7&(('D*'"))*#*+B';' /(&*<6'F%C'/%'DE6 '7&(('<"6'D*'*(&=&D(*')"#'%' #*)E<+'"#'/#*+&6B website How to write an effective ad ^'_6%#6'C"E#'%+'7&61' 61*'F*#/1%<+&$*' C"E'%#*'$*((&<=B'U1&$' F%0*$'&6'*%$&*#')"#' #*%+*#$'6"'`E&/0(C' $/%<'61*'%<+'%<+' ("/%6*'C"E#'&6*F$B ^';(7%C$'&' %$0'71%6'C"E'7"E(+' (&0*'6"'0<"7'%D"E6' 61*'F*#/1%<+&$*>' %<+'&'/"("#$'%<+' "61*#'$O*/&)&/' +*$/#&O6&"<$B office hours L"<+%CKM#&+%C ?N44%FKAN44OF