Speak2004

Melinda Sordino:
[voiceover] We're studying American history for the ninth time in nine years. Every year they say we're gonna get right up to the present but we always get stuck in the industrial revolution.

Mr. Neck:
My family has been in this country for over 200 years. We built this place. We fought in every war, from the first one to the last one, paid our taxes and voted. So tell me *why* my son can't get a job?

[a number of students raise their hand but he ignores them]

Mr. Neck:
Reverse discrimination. He wanted to be a firefighter. Went up for the job but he didn't get it. What I'm suggesting here is maybe if we had closed our boarders in 1900 then real americans would get the jobs they deserved.

[the Native American student raises his hand but the teacher points to Heather]

Mr. Neck:
Young lady.

Heather:
Um, I think that we're all foreigners and should just give the country back to the native americans.

Mr. Neck:
Now we have a debate, don't we? "Native Americans"?

black student:
Maybe your son didn't get the job because he wasn't good enough. Or maybe he's lazy. Or maybe the other guy was just better than him.

Mr. Neck:
Watch your mouth, mister. That's my son you're talking about. You know what? That's enough debate. Everybody take out your book.

[Dave stands up to speak]

Mr. Neck:
Mr. Petrakis, please take your seat.

David Petrakis:
If the class is debating then each student has the right to say what's on his mind.

Mr. Neck:
I decide who talks in here, Mr. Petrakis.

David Petrakis:
You opened a debate, you can't close it just because it's not going your way.

Mr. Neck:
Watch me! Take your seat, Mr. Petrakis!

David Petrakis:
The constitution does not recognize different levels of citizenship based upon the time spent in the country. As a citizen and a student I'm protesting the tone of this lesson as racist, intolerant, and zenophobic.

Mr. Neck:
Sit your butt in that chair, Mr Petrakis, and watch your mouth! I try to get this debate going and you people turn it into a "race" thing. Sit down, Mr. Petrakis, or you're gonna go down to the principal's office.

[Dave walks out of the room]

Melinda Sordino:
[voiceover] Dave Petrakis is my new hero.