Book by mallory coish

The Untold Story of

Frank Navarro

By: Mallory Coish

Sydney Mozer 2

Dedication To my partner, Sydney Mozer, for accepting and accomplishing this challenging project with me.

To Mr. Navarro, the MVLA School District, my brother Peter Coish, and all of my Freestyle Academy teachers for their support, cooperation, and guidance along the way.

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Table of Contents 4

2 6 8 10 16 20 24 26 28

Dedication Preface Introduction Chapter 1: Who is Mr. Navarro?

Chapter 2: What Happened?

Chapter 3: Who Cares?

Conclusion Works Cited Biography

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Oat Field With Cypress by Van Gough

(Poster from Frank Navarro’s classroom)

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A

Preface

s a student at Freestyle Academy, I earned my rite of passage by persevering through the hardest project of the year: The Documentary Project. This was a collaborative project that connected our English, Film, and Design classes, leading to the creation of a book and

documentary film. Going into this daunting project, I was stuck. I couldn’t think of anyone

or anything that I found interesting enough to do such a huge project on. But then it hit me – the ‘famous’ administrative leave of Mr. Navarro. I was extremely excited about this topic because it was an incident that had already been in the limelight. However, my partner Sydney Mozer and I soon discovered that this was not going to be the easy task that we imagined. We quickly realized that there was more to this incident than the story told in the newspapers. There was this deeper story behind it all that we had to figure out.

We hit bumps in the road like no other, causing us to reconsider our whole project at one point. However, we were past the point of no return. We had gathered testimony from multiple interviewees that gave us differing perspectives, causing us to be conflicted. We concluded that they are definitely two sides to this story that we needed to acknowledge. Having experienced confusion, excitement, and stress, we came out of it grateful for the lessons we learned, the answers we received, and the struggles we encountered.

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Introduction

t was November 10, 2016, and Frank Navarro, history teacher at Mountain View High School, had just been put on a one-hour administrative leave. Navarro believed this was a response to his comparison of President-elect Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler in one of his classes. MVLA Superintendent Dr. Jeff Harding explained, “The administrators involved were responding to a specific parent and student complaint of a serious nature,” and later informed Navarro that he would be returning to class the next school period, which was that Monday, November 13, when administration was “confident that the environment [is]safe for students” (“History Teacher Frank Navarro to Return Monday”). In the ensuing weeks, Navarro found himself gaining publicity from this administrative leave– one that influenced people across the nation and questioned free speech on politics in the classroom.

Navarro mentioned that “ Without free speech we are truly hampered as teachers in doing our job. My limitations on free speech would be profanity and vulgarity but beyond that I think most things should be open to discussion. I think we should be doing more talking to each other, not less. And maybe we can, at the worst, we could agree to disagree and at the best we can come to a greater understanding of each other.”

As a student at Mountain View High School, I found myself trying to make sense of this controversy. However, unlike some of my peers, I had never met Mr. Navarro before, and frankly did not know anything about him either. All I had heard of him was how many students, including some of my friends, really enjoyed him as a teacher and as a person. From what I read in newspapers and heard on campus, Navarro’s stance on free speech seemed completely understandable and acceptable. However, according to The San Jose Mercury News, “Some of Navarro’s students alleged his lessons were one-sided and that Navarro said things about Trump that his supporters would find offensive” (Sanchez). This made me curious about the deeper story behind the conflict between the school district and Frank Navarro. I soon realized that I had become an investigative journalist, hoping to find answers for what truly happened in this incident.

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Frank Navarro 9

Chapter 1 Who is

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Mr. Navarro?

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T

he one word you think

Hopefully I have something to say

of changes and impacts and

of when you hear Mr.

that is interesting, worth reading.”

contributions in gender, economics,

Navarro teaching history

He has clearly written material

heritage, and culture and how the high

is: passion. Mr. Navarro

that is worth reading because he

school will reflect the surrounding

has been recognized by the World

community immediately and the

really gets into his history. With the

big smile on his face and demonstrated Holocaust Remembrance Center

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greater culture in history of the U.S.”

knowledge for history, Navarro really

and is a Mandel Fellow of the U.S.

This shows that not only has Navarro

knows what he is teaching. He is an

Holocaust Memorial Museum. He

been known for writing about history

intelligent writer, a confident political

has also written newspaper articles

related topics, but he also continues

advocate and a Holocaust scholar.

such as “A Class of the Past” and

to write about anything that he finds

“Suburban Teacher Labors to Help

influential and important to our

has many newspapers and articles all

Students Understand History,

society.

over his classroom wall written by

Strength of Human Spirit”, and

him and plaques given to him for his

even most recently wrote an article

is a staunch advocate of free speech,

involvement with certain museums.

in “Educator” magazine about his

especially in the classroom. Being a

He enjoys writing so much that when

brief administrative leave. Navarro

history teacher, especially during the

he retires he expects, “to write from

mentioned that he is “currently also

2016 Presidential election, it has been

7:30 to 11:30, Monday through

working on a history of Mountain

more impactful than any other, making

Friday and see where it takes me.

View High School, as a reflection

free speech a very sensitive, debated

Navarro loves to write. He

It follows, then, that Navarro

“If you’re going to get in trouble, say something way out there.”

-Frank Navarro

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topic. Navarro has always been an

impact it has on our society and that

Holocaust Remembrance Center.

advocate of free speech, which has

free speech is very essential to our

Frank first started looking at the

shown through his teaching style

growing society. Something I found

Holocaust in 1986 and has become

these past years. Navarro himself

particularly interesting was when

more passionate ever since. “I would

said, “I absolutely am an advocate

Navarro said, “I mean if you’re going

go to Yad Vashem the international

of free speech and I was informed

to get in trouble, say something way

study for the Holocaust in the

some time ago and we’ve had a

out there.” This stood out to me

summer of ‘89 and then I offered

great many discussions about it,

because this evidently shows us how

a course called Facing History.

apparently, according to case law,

passionate Frank is about having

The crux of it was Hitler and the

teachers don’t have free speech. And

free speech in a classroom, as well

Holocaust and how it developed.

for a History or an English teacher,

as how confident he is; even though

And from there I also started writing

even a science teacher, not to have

he knows what his limits are, he isn’t

about the impact of Holocaust

free speech, not to address the great

afraid of drawing controversy if it

education on students”(Navarro).

issues in our country, not to address

means sharing what is important for

This shows us that Navarro has been

it honestly based on knowledge is

our society to understand.

a very passionate Holocaust scholar

limiting intellectual endeavor and

for nearly 30 years.

growth”(Navarro). From this, we see

has also been seen through his

that Navarro strongly cares about

involvement with the U.S. Holocaust

free speech simply because of the

Memorial Museum and the World

Frank’s passion for history

“History may not repeat itself, but it sure rhymes”

- Mark Twain

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“Somebody who teaches with the heart, teaches to his strenghs�

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-Frank Navarro

Chapter 2

F

What Happened?

rank Navarro has been

recently however, something came

election, a very emotional time for

proudly teaching history

up that influenced Navarro’s teaching

everyone. Of course teachers and

for 40 years, and is

style: the 2016 Presidential election.

students shared their feelings about

currently teaching World

Frank mentioned that he “felt it

President-Elect Trump. “History

History and Economics. In the past,

was important to raise the issue of

may not repeat itself, but it sure

he has taught European History,

Donald Trump being similar to Adolf

rhymes,” Frank Navarro quoted

Facing History, and American

Hitler and I had a feeling that was

from Mark Twain. This quotation is

History, but mainly has focused on the going to offend people.” Did this

very important to Navarro because it

Holocaust and the universal lessons

stop Navarro? No. Being an advocate

evidently influences his teaching style

that one derives from the Holocaust.

of free speech, Frank Navarro

by encouraging him to compare our

Frank believes that a perfect teacher

decided to speak up during this very

past history with our current history,

is, “somebody who teaches with

controversial election, which seemed

because he also believes that “History

the heart, teaches to his strengths,”

to have more of an impact that he had

is very much our story and that it is a

which has been evident in Navarro’s

thought.

story that needs to be told again and

teaching style these past years. Just

again for us to remember,” which

It was the day after the

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is presumably what led Navarro to

could put me on leave for virtually

reports made based on allegations

compare Trump to Hitler.

anything. The phrase and the

surrounding this incident.

contract allows them to put a

Manager Cynthia Greaves said

teacher on leave at their whim.” But

Mountain View High School’s

that, “This is a situation where a

what Cynthia Greaves found most

own Oracle, in addition to the

teacher was called to speak with

troubling was that “The challenge

San Jose Mercury News and

their supervisor, for some reason

I have faced with this is that the

Huffington Post, along with many

he [Navarro] told his students it was

headlines don’t really speak to the

others, had started spreading this

about him drawing a comparison

truth. What was frustrating for me is

‘fire.’ Mercury News stated, “A

between then elected President

that it’s really hard to set the record

history teacher at Mountain View

Trump to Hitler and he’s a history

straight after it has become reported

High School has been placed on

teacher, that seems like it would be

in so many papers, most of which

paid leave after drawing parallels

a normal things to do, but that’s not

never bothered to call the district

between Republican President-elect

why he was called in to speak with

office to verify whether the story was

Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler

his supervisors.” With that being

true or not.” Greaves then clarified

in his lesson plan” (Sanchez) ,

said, you are probably wondering:

that Mr. Navarro’s “administrative

similarly to Huffington Post which

what was the real issue here?

leave” lasted only the one hour of

suggested that, “He was placed

the meeting with his supervisors. As

on “administrative leave” with pay

troubling as a teacher was that, “I

we all know, news can spread as fast

Thursday afternoon when a parent

had no power to defend myself.

as wild fire, which in this case it did,

sent an email to the school district

By contract, the administration

with many newspapers, articles, and

complaining about a lesson Navarro

MVLA Communication

What Navarro said he found

Newspapers such as

taught his ninth grade students”

and it is troubling to think how little

this was a pattern.” She also said

(Singer). With all these articles

power that I really have directly

that the names of the students and

coming out in a matter of less than

with the admin.” However, Greaves

parents who has expressed concern

a week after the incident occurred,

revealed that “it wasn’t just one

were not shared so there would be

any newspaper would try to get a

comment from one parent on that

no negative repercussions for the

hold of the story and write what they

day, for several weeks leading up

students and parents. Needless

could. Like Greaves mentioned

to the election the district office

to say, we can clearly see how

before, many papers never bothered

had been receiving concerns from

troublesome this incident was

to check to see if the story was true,

parents and students about some

for the school district because of

and in this case, we can see how that

of the things that were being said

uproar, with rumors and stories

caused a major problem.

in the class and the language being

from outside sources along with

Navarro said that, “Even to this day

used, so it wasn’t just a one time

the miscommunications and the

I have not been allowed to read the

circumstance where a thing was said,

emotions that were heavily involved.

email that made these allegations

a parent called, and this happened, 19

Chapter 3 Who Cares?

I

f you are a parent, student,

to teach present day politics in

people seem to believe that politics

teacher or advocate of free

the classroom? Some of you may

are a very fundamental part of

speech, you are most likely

think that politics should never be

learning, with a few exceptions.

influenced by this incident

discussed in the classroom, similarly

Krish Gujral, one of Mr. Navarro’s

because it brings into question free

to the 1996 Education Act which

students, voiced that “they

speech in the classroom and raises

states that “sections 406 and 407

[teachers] should be able to teach

the question: To what extent should

prohibit the promotion of partisan

politics but rather than enforcing

teachers be allowed to teach present

political views in schools” (Jones).

their opinion, it’s okay if they say

day politics in the classroom?

However, some of you, like Navarro

what their opinion is, but they

This has been a hotly debated and

and Greaves, would believe that

should let the students know that

emotional topic for all, will continue

teaching politics is essential in a

they have their own opinion and

to be challenged and examined, and

classroom. But where do you draw

they need to be able to back up

has yet to be resolved.

the line between teaching politics

their opinion with facts.” Coming

and promoting opinion?

from a student’s perspective,

we can see that Gujral believes

So ask yourself: to what

extent should teachers be allowed 20

In this day and age, many

teachers must be able to link facts

(Drummond). This is similar to

a man who has called Mexicans

with opinions if they are going to

Krish’s opinion in a sense that if a

criminals and bad hombres, who

go about teaching politics in the

teacher has an opinion, they should

jokes about attacking women, who

classroom, which is a completely

be aware and be understanding of

was sued for discriminating against

understandable viewpoint. Similar to

the other opinions that are out there.

African Americans in his hotels

Krish’s point, in a book called The

some time ago. A man who has in

Political Classroom: Evidence and

for 40 years now, and faced this

fact, declared bankruptcy four times

Ethics in Democratic Education,

issue of free speech in the classroom

and is becoming President. And so

one of the authors, Paula McAvoy,

just recently. Considering the whole

I would argue that the issue is here

points out, “What’s most important

administrative leave in general,

with me being put on leave and the

is that teachers create a culture

Navarro passionately shared that

publicity I received are bigger than

of fairness in the classroom. That

he was “gratified and okay with the

me. They are large issues that affect

means being fair and reasonable

publicity because we need to be

all of us. And it’s why I raised them

to all the competing views that

discussing these issues. We do need

with my classes. I want the young

are in the classroom and that are

to talk about the actions of a man

ladies in my class to know that it is

being represented in the public”

who is called for registry of Muslims,

not alright what he did and what he

Navarro has been teaching

FREEDOM OF SPEECH 21

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was charged with. I want my Hispanic kids

that she “feel(s) kind of sad about my dad

to understand that I stand with them and I

retiring just because I feel like besides

stand with the girls in my class.”

being my dad, history and teaching history

is his life, I feel like he loves waking up

From this, we can clearly see the

emotion and power in Navarro’s voice

and being a history teacher and after it’s

when he talks about his administrative

all gone, I don’t know, I feel like it will be

leave, because after the whole incident,

sad, I’m sure he will find other things to

Navarro still believes that what is taught

do, but his main passion will kind of be

to the young students in his classroom is

gone after he retires.”

far more important than what happened.

Navarro is retiring after this year and

show passion in other activities, such as

mentioned that, “The action of the admin

biking and exercising. “I love biking. I

gave me a push to the door. Though I

shoot for between 80 and 100 miles a

could have said ‘No, I am going to stay one

week so I get home, I try to leave about

more year,’ but it is something to consider

3, and I bike into the Coyote Hills and

that they had so little regard for me that

down to the Alameda Trail and out to

they put me on leave for the flimsiest

Niles Canyon which is roughly 14 miles.

of reasons.” As Navarro leaves, he will

And I have a coffee shop in the town of

take with him his passion and confidence

Niles that I pull out a book and pull out

in himself, free speech, and history.

my writing and I’ll take a half an hour

Navarro’s daughter, Sadie Navarro, said

break” (Navarro). Frank is noticeably

With that being said, Navarro does

as passionate about history as he is for

she “feels like he has influenced me a

biking and writing. Frank also mentioned

lot to keep motivated even when things

that in 2013 he had open heart surgery.

are hard.” It is evident that not only is

“I was in the hospital in total for 28 days.

Navarro motivated to strengthen himself,

In a couple of weeks when I got home, I

but influences others around him to do

had started walking, and they asked me

the same, and with that being said, will

to wait for about a month and I started

retire having influenced many students,

biking again. I was limited to 15 minutes,

teachers, and our whole community

three times a day. Within a couple of

through his passion of teaching and

months I had bumped it up to 30 minutes

helping others.

or 45 minutes. And the cardiologist told me that my conditioning and exercise had saved my life so I keep it up, I enjoy it.

It gives me a break it gives me a time to think. It saved me” (Navarro). Navarro’s passion for exercising, as well as his persistence to get better and strengthen himself, even when he is faced with challenging obstacles, is shown not only through his teaching, but his everyday life. Sadie Navarro also mentioned that 23

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Conclusion

ltimately, Navarro is an unquestionably passionate teacher who wasn’t afraid of drawing controversy. While he drew attention to the importance of free speech in this polarized political climate, the school district’s voice was not fully heard – neither was it given enough fair attention in the media. The district has a larger duty to ensure students’ safety, which they were able to secure with a one-hour administrative leave; this

fact was underreported in the media, which led people to believe that it was much longer.

From this, the school district and Mr. Navarro engaged in a tense, yet ultimately a very valuable dialogue. Some of

this discussion happened face to face while some of it happened through the media. Even though they agreed to disagree on this incident, they both believe that free speech is essential in the classroom.

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Works Cited Drummond, Steve. “Politics In The Classroom: How Much Is Too Much?” NPR, NPR, 6 Aug. 2015, www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/08/06/415498760/the-role-of-politics-in-the-classroom.

Accessed 20 Mar. 2017.

Greaves, Cynthia. Personal Interview. 4 April 2017.

Gujral, Krish. Personal Interview. 21 March 2017.

“History Teacher Frank Navarro to Return Monday after Environment Deemed Safe for

Students.” Oracle Online, MVHS, 13 Nov. 2016, mvhsoracle.com/news/history-teacher-frank-navarro-to-

return-monday-after-allegations-proved-false. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017.

Jones, Andrew. “From Brexit to Trump: Should Teachers Talk Politics in the Classroom?” The

Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 11 Jan. 2017,

https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2017/jan/11/brexit-trump-teaching-politics-classroom.

Accessed 19 Apr. 2017.

Navarro, Frank. Personal Interview. 9 March 2017.

---. Personal Interview. 29 March 2017.

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Navarro, Sadie. Personal Interview. 27 March 2017.

Sanchez, Tatiana. “Mountain View High History Teacher on Leave after Comparing Trump to Hitler.”

The Mercury News, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2016, www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/11/mountain-view-

high-history-teacher-on-leave-for-comparing-trump-to-hitler/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2017.

Singer, Alan. “Frank Navarro Is Back In Class.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 17 Nov. 2016,

www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-singer/frank-navarro-is-back-in_b_13039598.html. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017.

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Biography

allory Coish is a junior at Mountain View High School and Freestyle Academy. In addition to producing films at freestyle, she loves to play music and be with her friends. She also really enjoys traveling, experiencing many different cultures. Mallory is a positive, adventurous, and kind person that always tries to make the most out of things. She has a fun time hanging out with her parents and

brother, trying to make jokes majority of the time. She really appreciates Freestyle because it has brought out her creative side and has built many of her friendships, so she is very excited to be attending next year!

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“Without free speech we are truly hampered as teachers in doing our job. My limitations on free speech would be profanity and vulgarity but beyond that I think most things should be open to discussion. I think we should be doing more talking to each other not less. And maybe we can, at the worst, we could agree to disagree and at the best we can come to a greater understanding of each other.�

-Frank Navarro