Navarro
Sydney Mozer
Dedication I would like to dedicate this book to the Mountain View and Los Altos High School district’s staff, administrators, and students. This project helped me become more understanding and aware of how much time, dedication and thought they put into their work. Frank Navarro, Cynthia Greaves, Jeff Harding, Krish Gujral, Sadie Navarro, Madeline Miraglia, and Sami Katwan all contributed crucial information and perspectives regarding this documentary topic. Most importantly, I would like to dedicate this to my partner Mallory Coish. This whole project would not have been possible without her constructive criticism, creative mind, and positive attitude.
3
Table of Contents Pages 2-3: Dedication Pages 4-5: Table of Contents Pages 6-7: Preface Pages 8-9: Introduction Pages 10-13: Teaching and Acting with the Heart Pages 14-15: Holocaust Education Pages 16-18: A Controversial Comparison Pages 19: Conclusion Pages 20-21: Works Cited Pages 22-23: About the Author 5
6
I
Preface
headed into the Documentary project unaware of how much work and outside-of-school hours were necessary to complete a film and write and design a book that I could be proud of. After seven interviews, multiple meetings, photoshoots, film sessions, and editing critiques, I finally produced and finished the project. I chose to partner up with Mallory Coish for our film project and we focused on profiling Mr. Navarro, a Mountain View High School history teacher and Holocaust scholar, with a specific focus on his most recent administrative leave and the comparison he made between Donald Trump and Hitler. We went into this project excited, thinking we knew basically all there was to know from all of the headlines, news articles and Facebook posts regarding his comparison; however, we soon came to the realization that, as always, there are multiple sides to every story. Mallory and I met with two administrators from the Mountain View Los Altos District Office who provided a completely different perspective and story from what we had previously heard, making Mallory and I question whether or not we could even continue with this project. We were confused about how to proceed, and given the sensitive issue, afraid to say or ask the wrong things. We blindly pushed through, unsure of what was ahead of us and continued with our original plan. The most difficult part was conducting a film and book that explained both new and insightful information to our readers and viewers without revealing anything too harmful or one-sided that could potentially put Navarro, the Administration, or even ourselves at some risk. Given everything that I had learned, it was difficult to pick and choose between parts, making sure to provide enough background information for those who had never even heard the most publicized side of the story before. Overall, this project was an incredible learning experience for me. I was able to put myself out there and engage in serious conversations about controversial topics with multiple Mountain View teachers and administrators while learning crucial English, Design, and Film elements throughout. 7
Introduction F
rank Navarro is a man of contrast. Although he is 65 years old and has reached the end of his 40-year teaching career, his energy, genuine spirit, and passion for history remain strong. He is a kindhearted, adorable man, with a massive heart, a breadth of knowledge, and a powerful passion for history. He has twinkling, friendly eyes and a contagious smile. While speaking about the simplest topics, he unconsciously launches into a history lecture expressing and later revealing his true expertise. Navarro has a vast understanding of the Holocaust and Hitler because he is a member of the Holocaust Remembrance Center. He applies this interest with connections from the Holocaust, specifically Hitler, to present-day politics, including the latest election of President Trump. So how does Navarro’s great deal of passion, advocacy for freedom of speech, and extensive comprehension in history all tie together? A controversial yet strongly supported comparison between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler during one of his classes, caused him to be put on administrative leave, or so the community believes that is the sole reason. Communications Manager Cynthia Greaves as well as Superintendent Jeff Harding contain a different understanding of the situation from what is publicized throughout the media.
9
Pictures in Navarro’s classroom
Teaching and Acting With the Heart
F
10
Ann Byers tells multiple stories rank Naand perspecvarro began tives of chilhis teaching dren suffering career 40 years through the Hoago at Awalt locaust and the High. He was devoted heroes hired to teach who changed an off-campus the lives of many program, at of these chilwhat Navarro dren and their refers to as a families. In her previously abanbook, Byers doned grammar wrote that many school, to spechildren were cial education kicked out of Navarro and former student students who their schools behad dropped cause they were out of school. pressed that his main goal while teachMany of these students had learning or ing is to “reach (his) students through Jewish. One ten-year-old girl, Lore, “had to leave her school and go to a mental disabilities causing them to be their hearts, and then to their brain school for Jews only. Her Uncle Paul treated and looked upon differently by rather than the other way around.” both peers and teachers. Navarro exSaving Children from the Holocaust by had been expelled from the University of Vienna because Jews were no lon-
begin teaching subjects, even sports, which he had never before taught. Navarro recalls, “The reason I started doing PE Krish Gujral with them is that the PE ger permitted there.” After Navarro department virtually refused to have began developing a more personal and them in their classes. The principal honest relationship with his students, told me ‘you have to he quickly learned that the majority of do PE with them were kicked out of Awalt High them’ so without a choice, which caused him to we would immediately begin fighting to get them go out on back into their school. Soon after they the field and returned to their school, despite many do softball of them not even wanting to go back, or throw a teachers began asking why Mr. Navar- football but we ro had brought them back and saying did that three that they do not belong here. Many times a week.” teachers refused to teach the students, This courage and causing Navarro to step forward and love he had for
his students at the very beginning of his teaching career still remains in his heart 40 years later. A current Mountain View High School freshman in Mr. Navarro’s 5th period history class, Krish Gujral, proudly states, “[Mr. Navarro] has definitely had a positive impact because he’s been very passionate about history and that passion has rubbed off on me, and now I’m more passionate about history, and I like it more than I did before.” Mr. Navarro’s great deal of passion and inspirational knowledge is not only viewed
throughout the classroom. It is a very common
11
trait people notice after meeting him, and is also implemented in his personal life as well, specifically at home with his family. His daughter Sadie Navarro smiles as she reflects, “My dad, whenever there is a chance to say anything, give a history lesson, if it’s standing in line at the grocery store or teaching me how to drive, he’s always talking about history, and now since this is so relevant, yes it’s the main conversation at any point that he can get it in there.” This passion and perseverance manifests in his free time outside of school. Whenever possible, Navarro will jump on his bike, or even go on a run on the MV track during his lunch break. Navarro had open heart surgery in January of 2013 and his conditioning and exercise saved his life. Navarro gleams, “I love biking. I shoot for between 80 and 100 miles a week so I get home, I try to leave about 3, and I bike into the Coyote Hills and down to the Alameda Trail and out to Niles Canyon which is roughly 14 miles. And I have a coffee shop in the town of Niles that I pull out a book and pull out my writing and I’ll take a half an hour break.” This great deal of energy and dedication to his exercise is like the vigor and enthusiasm that goes on in his mind while teaching.
12
Holocaust Education F
14
main focuses was to provide visitors a feel for what it must have been like rank Navarro was not born a histo be a child during the Holocaust. torical expert. His passion developed Despite the Holocaust being a touchy over time as he started looking at the subject, Navarro truly believes that it is Holocaust in greater depth in 1986. one to be thoroughly talked and taught After taking a course at Berkeley called Facing History, Navarro became about. From everything he learned at intrigued by how much more complex Yad Vashem and the multiple musethe subject extended from his current ums he visited, Navarro began sharing his new knowledge and enthusiasm understanding. In the summer of by writing numerous articles with the 1989, Navarro visited Yad Vashem, goal of educating his students. Naalso known as the World Holocaust varro explains, Remembrance Center, which “is the ultimate source for Holocaust education, documentation and research” “What sparks my passion is (“About Yad Vashem”). Later, Navar- hopefully the ability to bring ro became a Mandel Fellow with the it to my students. I consider U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in that an honor and a privilege 1997. At this center he spoke publicly, engaged in multiple conferences, and the feedback that one and was able to meet and hear lectures gets from that.” from some of the greatest Holocaust scholars. He also visited a children’s Later on, Navarro began teachHolocaust Museum where one of the ing a highly requested Facing History
class, one very similar to the class he took in college. The Facing History course focused on studying the development of Hitler and the Holocaust and later looked at the Armenian Genocide. Navarro no longer teaches that class, as it was replaced by an AP course, however he currently teaches World History and ties in his great knowledge of Hitler and the Holocaust whenever possible. Navarro is a strong advocate of the slogan”Do Something [or] Do Nothing” with the focus on freedom of speech and expression through one’s
Poster in Navarro’s classroom
actions. It is a slogan he truly believes in and he shows that by hanging a poster of it up in his classroom. Navarro’s personal interpretation of “Do Something [or] Do Nothing” is that “It’s one of the universal lessons of the Holocaust. In the the Holocaust or in genocide you have the perpetrator, you have the victim, but you also have the bystander who can save lives. They can’t always save lives but they do have a choice to make.” Navarro specifically tied this to the people who stood up for themselves during the Holocaust, despite the dire conse-
X XI XII I IX 3 4 5 2 6 II VI 1 7 II 12 8 III VI 11 10 9 I VI V IIII
quences. They were making a choice, to risk their own lives to hide a child from the Nazis or even just to speak up against the majority. Again, this connects to Saving Children from the Holocaust. One
extremely notable historical figure named Gertrud Wijsmuller-Meijer confronted the head of Jewish Emigration, Adolf Eichmann. Despite Eichmann’s sexist and rude attitude towards her, WijsmullerMeijer apologized for not bringing her husband and “boldly asked for written permission to take six hundred Jewish children out of Austria.” Baffled by her boldness, Eichmann agreed with strict requirements. Her confident and gutsy manner is what made her special. Someone who did something, rather than watching and doing nothing. Navarro’s strong-willed mind and passionate belief for taking action
and the freedom of speech and expression is similar to Wijsmuller-Meijer’s dedication and great persistence. But to what extent is this passion and expressive attitude appropriate for a history teacher?
15
A Controversial Comparison
D
believed that this “leave” or meeting, was strictly due to Navarro’s comuring Mr. Navarro’s 5th period parison between Trump and Hitler. class, a freshman history class, he began giving a lecture pointing out the Navarro’s main comparison between the two was their “consistent ability similarities between Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump. Navarro strictly stated to lie at the drop of the hat.” Navarro has no regrets and would not change that it was solely based upon facts, anything from the past if he could. a statement that is easily believable In fact, he may have said something due to his historical background and understanding of both of these people. even stronger, more inflammatory had he known it would soon be spread to However, some students, parents, the world. Confidently and seriously, and members of the administration Navarro voiced, thought otherwise. Navarro was put on administrative leave, a one-hour absence from class during which he “I think it is imperative for met with the administration to discuss a history teacher, a Mandel a few issues with his supervisors. The Fellow, to be able to address general Mountain View population this directly with my stuand soon many across the nation
dents. Otherwise, in a very real sense, if I didn’t, I would be lying to them. And this I will not do.” The MVLA district’s Communications Manager Cynthia Greaves explains that there may have been more to it than a fairly reasonable comparison between Trump and
Hitler. Greaves even agreed that Navarro’s comparison, as a well educated history teacher, was quite logical and “seems like it would be a normal thing to do, but that’s not why he was called in to speak with his supervisors.” A specific parent and student complaint was brought forward in a private email to the administration. Dr. Harding explains, “It is our duty to investigate 17
18
such a complaint to ensure the emotional safety of all of our students.” Greaves adds, “It wasn’t just a onetime circumstance where a thing was said, a parent called and this happened. This was a pattern.” Nevertheless, Navarro was quickly reinstated after administration became confident that his classroom was a safe environment for all. However, the brief leave immediately spread through
Facebook, emails, news articles, and rumors at school. Reporters began emailing Mr. Navarro and he benefitted the best he could from this opportunity and started advocating freedom of speech to a broader audience, making it apparent that the sole reason for his leave was due to the comparison he made. Navarro passionately explains, “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.” Navarro consistently reached out to the community hoping that whoever had sent the email(s) would open up and address their issues to him; however, the response was complete silence.
Conclusion A
lthough Navarro is a unique individual, with a huge heart, a great deal
of passion, and a strong belief in the freedom of speech, his outspoken reaction to the election fueled the already polarized political climate. Even though this may not necessarily have harmed Mr. Navarro in the long run, the school however did suffer from the inaccuracy portrayed through the media. Mainly, the media led people to believe that the leave lasted much longer than it actually was – only an hour, and was solely due to his comparison. But in reality, there was more to it. On the other hand, the larger, publicized story was able to promote and headline the necessity of freedom of speech throughout the nation. With the balance of enduring the safety for students, but also encouraging students to speak out for themselves and others, the administration and Mr. Navarro were both in agreement that this freedom should be expressed with little limitation.
19
Works Cited Greaves, Cynthia. Personal Interview. 4 April 2017. Miraglia, Madeline. Personal Interview. 29 March 2017. Navarro, Frank. Personal Interview. 29 March 2017. Navarro, Sadie. Personal Interview. 27 March 2017. Navarro, Frank. Personal Interview. 9 March 2017. Gujral, Krish. Personal Interview. 20 March 2017. Byers, Ann. Saving Children from the Holocaust: The Kindertransport. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2012. Print. Xia, Karen. “History Teacher Frank Navarro Put on Paid Administrative Leave for Comments on Trump, Navarro Said.” Oracle Online. N.p., 10 Nov. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2017. Sanchez, Tatiana. “Mountain View High History Teacher on Leave after Comparing Trump to Hitler.” The Mercury News. The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2017. Branson-Potts, Hailey. “Bay Area Teacher Put on Leave after Comparing Trump to Hitler.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2017. 21
22
About the Author
Sydney Mozer is 17 years old and a Junior at MVHS and Freestyle Academy studying film. In her free time she enjoys playing soccer, taking pictures, listening to music, and napping. Sydney lives in Los Altos Hills with her parents, three siblings, and two cats. She has no idea what she would like to pursue in her future but is excited to find her passion. 23