April 17, 2007
It's 10PM- Do You Know Your Kids Are In Cuba Illegally?
The controversial class trip to Cuba that public school students took with a teacher has a twist. NY Lieutenant Governor David Paterson actually called the Department of Education on behalf of the Beacon School to allow the DOE to authorize this year's class trip. Still, the DOE said no, and now the school, as well as officials, is left to explain how the trip still went forward.
Since the DOE didn't approve the trip, the school didn't officially okay excursion, but the Post reported that information about the trip was still distributed on the school's website. Paterson's stepdaughter attended Beacon and went on the Cuba class trip in 2005. Now it turns out the DOE didn't know about past trips to Cuba, and Paterson tells the NY Times that Beacon approved his stepdaughter's trip, but "I was a little concerned that a group of schoolchildren went to Cuba and the Department of Education didn’t know about it." However, Paterson did write a letter for history teacher Nathan Turner, who organized the trip, to use in case he and the students ran into trouble. Paterson's aide says he wrote it thinking Turner had the proper paperwork to travel and lead a group of kids, not realizing that it's illegal for high school students to travel there.
The Sun reports that Turner is still teaching at Beacon, at least partly because principal Ruth Lacey is worried about a backlash since Turner is very popular. Of course he's popular - he's taking kids to Cuba! Parents tell the Sun that it was clear the school did not sponsor the trip and defended Turner. The Sun also has a column by Andrew Wolf wondering about the intersection of "radical politics and education," when specialized schools are being started by "left-wing groups such as Acorn and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition."
Two amusing things from this story: 1) Mayor Bloomberg's told reporters, "There is a problem when the federal government has regulations that you can't travel to some place...I think we should be a law-abiding society. If you don't like the regulations, get the government to change them." Which is funny because it's easy for him to say. And 2), the Post's cover from yesterday, calling it a "Fidel Trip." The kids did not meet the sometimes-tracksuit-wearing dictator but "a 15-year-old prostitute" and "a homeless man in Havana," as well as visiting ""La Zorra y El Cuervo — the Fox and the Crow — an Afro-Cuban jazz club in the Vedado section of Havana" according to the Times.
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Give me a break. The school knew the trip was illegal but tacitly gave approval. The kids knew it was illegal and so should have the parents. It was an open secret at the school. That is why the school revoked their "official" approval but didn't insist the trip be cancelled. So now we have a politician writing letters, trying to influence Federal officials. And all these people claiming they didn't know it was illegal. What a great example this is setting for the students on how certain laws simply don't apply to some people. Bloomberg was right: if you don't like the law (and it is a dump law that does nothing -- but it is the law), work to get it changed. But if you break the law, expect the consequences.
No, give me a break. I go to the beacon school and personally know Nate Turner. The news is making him sounds like this complete outrageous zany communist, which in his defense, he is not. I am not only saying this because I personally know him, but because it all comes down to one question-why is it still illegal to go to Cuba? Oh, that’s right, it’s because of those ass kissers we call a government. All the students came back from the trip amazed and filled with so much more knowledge; it was a very successful trip. They shared many great stories with us, explaining the big differences between the two countries from a first hand view. And responding to the comment above me, the students do not think certain laws apply to some people, we are in high school, not first grade, and we comprehend what laws are. But we attend a very opinionated school where everyone stands for what they believe in. The students will go to some extreme measures for the beneficial results. Just a few days ago before this story was on the news, a republican and democtatic congressman wrote about the current situation between the United States and Cuba, and how things need to change. So stop and listen to the real story, and stop blaming Nate Turner.
A few points:
1) I, too, am against this embargo.
2) Having said that, poster # 1 does have a point in that, for better or worse, this trip was against federal law.
3) You kids could have gone anywhere in the world: there aren't many countries which the federal government (again, rightly or wrongly) prohibits American citizens from visiting. You would have gotten no less culturally-speaking from a trip to Argentina, Kyrgyzstan, or Jordan. It just seems like your school went out of its way to flout the law. Why, I don't know. Maybe you can tell us why Cuba in particular. I have a hard time believing this wasn't some kind of political statement by Mr. Turner given that nearly the entire globe was at your disposal.
It is refreshing to read the comments of those directly involved. That the NY Post should write a slanted attack piece to bloody the waters for the politicians to dive in should not be a surprise. Even in NYC, pols can afford to be seen as siding with Cuba in anything. Perhaps that in and of itself explains why it is more than a worthwhile educational trip for high schoolers. A place just 90 miles from Florida, but it could not be more than 180% the opposite. I almost totally believe the axiom that Cuba does everything we do good, badly and everything we do badly, good. Going there you realize homelessness is not natural, nor is racial segregation. You also realize our overstuffed malls and supermarkets are a marvel.
"even in NYC, pols CAN'T afford"
Seems like the school thought is was a simple act of civil disobedience, and to go ahead with the trip even after the DOE rejected the request is simply arrogant.
I agree with #3 = they could have gone anywhere in the world. The destination was chosen to be provocative.
Can you imagine the outcry if something bad happened to these kids while they were there, simply because they are Americans? Everyone would be asking "Who even gives permission for their kid to go to Cuba on a school trip?" and others would be saying "don't blame the victims".
In my opinion, you immediately eligible for crappy parent of the year award for signing this permission slip.
Civil disobedience is defined as "refusal to obey civil laws in an effort to induce change in governmental policy or legislation, characaterized by the use of passive resistance or other nonviolent means". If the Beacon trip was civil disobedience, it is time for the next shoe to drop. Those protesting (lack of) civil rights knew they could be hauled away to jail for breaking the law. Their actions helped change the laws. What is the difference here? Does the law not apply to NYC teenagers or their parents (who are responsible and who should have had the judgement to figure this out) or the teachers or the administration (who knew the trip was happening with Beacon students and Beacon teachers...oh, I remember, it wasn't school approved though. Yeah.). It will be the outcry from the Fed's punitive actions that will be a catalyt for a change the laws. The students and teachers involved, if they really believe in the issue, should welcome the consequences, not pretend they shouldn't apply to them.
It was NOT civil disobedience, since there was no effort to publicize the trip or publicly defy the authorities, then or now. I don't see anyone standing up to challenge the arcane law - that restricts the freedom of all Americans. It was simply an educational trip to a place that is a giant laboratory.
6) You show your ignorance by worrying about something happening to the kids because they are American. There is not that danger in Cuba. Given that the Lt Governor has nothing but effusive words for the experience his daughter had on her Cuba trip (as well as my own and many others I know), I think the parents should be commended for giving their kids such an eye opening experience.
So it wasn't civil disobedience. And it seems hard to believe that everyone thought it was perfectly legal (although is ignorance ever a good excuse?). Did they simply play the odds hoping they wouldn't be caught and then claim the law was bad once they were caught? Kind of like not putting money in the parking meter, then getting a ticket and claiming the meter was running fast? I think I like the civil disobedience reasoning better. At least with that there is a chance for sympathy -- otherwise it is just a teacher and a school and parents allowing kids to knowingly do something illegal and, frankly, stupid. Other Beacon trips have gone to Russia, South Africa, and Venezuela. They have amazing travel programs that are the envy of most schools, public and private. Their passion for education is amazing -- but this went over the line. As parents, we are told to set limits for our kids. Doesn't that include obeying the law?
What i dont understand is why this is now such a big deal. Many many Americans go to Cuba illegally every year, but just because it was a group of students it seems as if the world has ended. It wasn't a school funded trip, it was just a group of students with teachers, no big deal. Yes it is illegal, but whyy? The United Staes and Cuba agreements need to be lifted. It started as an educational trip and is now a statement to the government.
Rock on Turner.
Its a big deal becasue they were caught. Parents, teachers, students, and (at least tacitly) school administrators consprired to do something illegal. Big deal or no, it shouldn't have happened and now there are consequences -- legal ones that could ruin lives. They should have considered it a bit more seriously before they went. But when you think you're above the law, I guess that is what happens.
I think the restrictions on travel to Cuba should be lifted a long time ago because we are the ones looking like the real communist country by having them but that is besides the point. Every students parent signed the permission slip and knew exactly where they kids were going on the field trip and if they want to allow their kids to go on a field trip to Cuba they should be able to do so. I though we where a true democracy which is a joke. For all we know and what is going on in our country ex. Virginia maybe Cuba was a safer place to go after all.
The school did authorize the trip. Information was published on school letterhead, on the website, and only because the students blatant violations the school now is recanting. Many people, indeed travel to Cuba illegally. However, they to face the fine and penalties. Read the inside of your passport. It tells you that it belongs to the US Government. If you don't like the US Law recind your citizenship and leave our great nation.
I'm proud of these kids for exercising their right to travel! This was an educational trip, not a trip to indoctrinate. Sounds like they learned a lot. Now....if the teacher really wants to make socialists out of them, he can legally take them to our friends and allies in the Americas. They can go to Mexico to see children begging in the street, to Haiti to see children carving a living in garbage dumps, Guatemala to see children dying of curable diseases, to Argentina to see schools without teacher due to IMF-imposed austerity measures, to Brazil to see endless horizons of shanty towns w/ no running water or electricity. Is this the kind of "freedom" we want to see imposed on Cuba?