Dear Editor,
Gigi Jasper is an AP English teacher, at Rock Springs High School. Having worked in that school as a substitute teacher, I have covered for her at least twice. The walls of the room are covered in all kinds of stimulating pictures and posters, yet it doesn’t seem cluttered or overbearing. It’s the kind of place that anyone would like to spend some cogitative time.
Her students spoke of her with affection and respect. She is one of a small group of courageous teachers who are willing to stick their necks out and speak truth. She is effective at teaching students how to think, not what to think. She questions many things, and her students emulate this. Wyoming is isolated, and some people here are a bit narrow minded, so a teacher like Jasper can be good for naturally inquisitive students.
In the Oct. 18 2017, Green River Star, Sue Levitt wrote a letter to the editor accusing Jasper of pushing fake news. No, Levitt, you’re wrong. It is a verifiable fact that there is an epidemic of white police officers killing black people. If you don’t agree with this, show some numbers and prove otherwise.
The reasons for these murders need to be unmasked for what they are: bigotry, racism, and a nation awash in guns and fear.
It is utterly amazing that Trump recently encouraged police brutality, telling officers to smash heads against car doors; “Don’t be too nice,” he said. Trump gets all the respect he deserves, which is none at all.
Incidentally, Dr. Jasper is of African American heritage. Levitt is trying to racially “purify” the high school. In her letter to the editor, she complains that “racial equality” is a problem. She calls it an “awful thing.”
A high school is an appropriate place to talk about real world problems. Using statistics, as Jasper does, is as appropriate as it gets. It’s not just climate change denialism, and how the earth is 6,000 years old, that needs to be discussed.
Many of the smart kids leave Wyoming. The leftover, Confederate flag wavers stick around. We have got to change this, and speaking truth is a good first step.
Here in the Equality State, Levitt would do well to think about her bigotry.
Tom Gagnon
Rock Springs
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