CENSORSHIP

THE BACKSTORY TO THE WORK

• Early in the school year I had a one-on-one conversation with my teacher about my hopes and expectations for the course. I expected discussions and debates on meaningful topics. I said that JBP has some good ideas and asked if he knew about JBP. His response was, “Oh yeah that guy, lets avoid that guy he’s offensive and controversial, but maybe…”
• My teacher would show the class things he was interested in, and some students felt it clear that he had an obvious bias. In a class debate, where he was supposed to be the mediator, he clearly favoured one side and said so even before the debate began.
• Later, I recommended this JBP video and it was rejected because, “we already discussed the problems with this individual.” Note that he did not even use JBP’s name. The video in question was chosen because “Free Speech & the Right to Offend” was a prime topic in the debate. I spoke to a few students, and they seemed to agree with my assessment of him. They weren’t offended (by JBP) and they believe that the teacher is not in touch with his students.
• These class experiences caused me to believe that JBP was being censored in my class as a person, not only the topics or ideas he expresses.