FARMINGTON – University of Maine at Farmington will host a presentation by educator, author and activist William Ayers titled: “Lesson One: I Would Sing. (Re)Framing Education for Democracy and Liberation” 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, in UMF Roberts Learning Center’s Lincoln Auditorium. The event is open to the public.
Ayers is a proponent of social justice, democracy and education, and the political and cultural aspects of schooling. In his presentation, he’ll talk about creating schools where democracy is lived and not merely talked about, practiced rather than ritualized. He will discuss creating schools and classrooms that assist in the formation of public citizens; where students and teachers alike can find socially meaningful work to do; and where children can read critically, speak openly, think freely and where everyone can find ways to make a difference.
Ayers is an educator, author and activist and is currently the vice president of the curriculum division of the American Educational Research Association. He is formerly a distinguished professor of education and senior university scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago and founder of both the Small Schools Workshop and the Center for Youth and Society.
An award-winning author, Ayers has written extensively about social justice; democracy and education; the cultural contexts of schooling; and teaching as an essentially intellectual, ethical, and political enterprise. With close to 20 books to his credit, he has also written articles that have appeared in many journals including the Harvard Educational Review, the Journal of Teacher Education, Teachers College Record, Rethinking Schools, the Nation, Educational Leadership, the New York Times and the Cambridge Journal of Education.
Ayers is a graduate of the University of Michigan; the Bank Street College of Education; Bennington College; and Teachers College, Columbia University. He received his Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction at Columbia University.
This event is sponsored by two UMF student organizations: UMF’s Student Education Association of Maine (SEAM) and Peace Activists in Training (PAinT).
Will someone have the courage to ask him about his comments that he wrote Obama’s books for him?
and from wikipedia
Ayers became involved in the New Left and the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).[10] He rose to national prominence as an SDS leader in 1968 and 1969. As head of an SDS regional group, the “Jesse James Gang,” Ayers made decisive contributions to the Weatherman orientation toward militancy.[8] The group Ayers headed in Detroit, Michigan became one of the earliest gatherings of what became the Weatherman. Before the June 1969 SDS convention, Ayers became a prominent leader of the group, which arose as a result of a schism in SDS.[8] “During that time his infatuation with street fighting grew and he developed a language of confrontational militancy that became more and more pronounced over the year [1969]”, disaffected former Weatherman member Cathy Wilkerson wrote in 2001. Ayers had previously been a roommate of Terry Robbins, a fellow militant who was killed in 1970 along with Ayers’ girlfriend Oughton and one other member in the Greenwich Village townhouse explosion, while constructing anti-personnel bombs intended for a non-commissioned officer dance at Fort Dix, New Jersey.[11] Ayers was living in Michigan at that time.
In June 1969, the Weatherman took control of the SDS at its national convention, where Ayers was elected Education Secretary.[8] Later in 1969, Ayers participated in planting a bomb at a statue dedicated to police casualties in the 1886 Haymarket affair confrontation between labor supporters and the Chicago police.[12] The blast broke almost 100 windows and blew pieces of the statue onto the nearby Kennedy Expressway.[13] (The statue was rebuilt and unveiled on May 4, 1970, and blown up again by other Weathermen on October 6, 1970.[13][14] Rebuilding it yet again, the city posted a 24-hour police guard to prevent another blast, and in January 1972 it was moved to Chicago police headquarters.[15])
Ayers participated in the Days of Rage riot in Chicago in October 1969, and in December was at the “War Council” meeting in Flint, Michigan. Two major decisions came out of the “War Council.” The first was to immediately begin a violent, armed struggle (e.g., bombings and armed robberies) against the state without attempting to organize or mobilize a broad swath of the public. The second was to create underground collectives in major cities throughout the country.[16] Larry Grathwohl, a Federal Bureau of Investigation informant in the Weatherman group from the fall of 1969 to the spring of 1970, stated that “Ayers, along with Bernardine Dohrn, probably had the most authority within the Weatherman”.[17]
Why don’t you mention that he was an unapoligetic terrorist and bombed the Pentagon? It is odd you left this out.
Get informed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers
I have an idea, why not have some local farmers come in and talk about how to be sustainable in our area? Show how we are trying to survive in the economic climate, what we do to make things work? Show the college how we locals live? I know of some farmers who even write some interesting poetry and have great blogs Nope, have to have terrorist on your resume’. The only thing I do terrifying is laundry…..
“The thing the most bone chilling thing Bill Ayers said to me was that after the revolution succeeded and the government was overthrown, they believed they would have to eliminate 25 million Americans who would not conform to the new order.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers
Notice the SEAM envolvement? Wonder how many local teachers will attend. Now that we know UMF students will be learning from Ayers, we should rethink their need to be in the local economy. Ayers does not
teach peace. Makes you wonder why Ayers is coming to such a small college. Could the MEA be planning something?
Are the students planning something?
Ayers does not come with nothing on his mind. He comes with a purpose. So look out Farmington.
When Ayers is done with his hate mongering, will UMF students be advocating the overthrow of the Federal Government?
Read Ayers’ books on education, then come back and re-read the comments you left above about his “radical agenda.” Me thinks you’ll blush.
a must read with video of Ayers last week!
http://www.cashill.com/intellect_fraud/what_new_ayers.htm
Amazing how someone can hate this wonderful country that gives him the Freedom to go anywhere and teach what he wants to see how many people he can influence to hate the same way. His visit here brings consequences. It must be big, he was basically in hiding for many months during Obama’s campaign. Fits right in with the agenda of the leadership at UMF. Us locals tend to bury our heads in the sand and ignore how this effects our lives here. The goal is to take our freedoms away, one by one but as fast as possible! With complacency, we will turn our heads and ignore this “visit” and then wonder why when the results show in our young people and those who he influences. Shame on UMF for allowing this-let alone hosting it!
It shows one how far left our education systems have moved. I an surprise UMF would invite such a left wing terrorist to speak at the college. I am sure they could find a better person then Myers to represent what American stands for. Shame on you UMF.
yet we bash our Gov 24 hours a day for some of the nit wit things he says yet this man, a known bomber we say nothing about? Seriously? I have a very open mind but me says one who blows things up for no matter what the cause it not a good guy. Im all for protests, but blowing things up?? “But his thoughts on education are really something” seriously? That makes it okay?
Ayers had previously been a roommate of Terry Robbins, a fellow militant who was killed in 1970 along with Ayers’ girlfriend Diana Oughton and one other member in the Greenwich Village townhouse explosion, while constructing anti-personnel bombs intended for a non-commissioned officer dance at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Had they succeded they would have killed hundreds of young soldiers and thier civilian female escorts.
Will there be a demonstration held against Bill Ayers in Farmington on Wednesday? If one is being planned…please let me know. I will be there. This is disgusting.
I don’t know why so many are surprised that UMF has invited this terrorist to speak. It IS UMF after all. Not surprising at all. Unfortunately.
A reminder to all taxpayers. YOU are paying for his visit. Each year UMF student orgs get free money to spend on this stuff. It comes from taxpayers money. No questions asked. So Maine taxpayers, how do you feel now? I find it hard to believe Ayers would speak for free. Let’s see….taxpayer money wasted again, to teach students to protest against taxpayers. Yet Maine people still support the U Maine System. Ayers will rile
up all the Franklin Cty radicals and at taxpayer expense. I say Augusta should stop wasting this money on the U Maine System.
Who thought up bringing this guy here? Is Ayers being paid? and by whom? Is the organizer going to bring any well spoken person of a contrary view to speak at UMF, like, for example, Ann Coulter? If I see someone like that invited and brought in, then I would be more inclined to believe the almost certain excuse “free speech” and we have to hear all sides.
Perhaps Ayers will hold a bomb making workshop too! (after all, he’ll be right here)
Remember the flags on the floor of the UMF Student Center episode a couple of years ago? That and this Ayers thing gets you thinking about what is going on at tax supported UMF.
I have heard that this speaker, Bill “unrepentant terrorist” Ayers, is coming at the invitation of a teachers group and a group to learn how to protest. Isn’t that like having Rambo as the leader of the local Boy Scout Troop? Does the administration stand by this the same way they did placing flags on the floor to be walked on? Maybe there are some police officers in Chicago that would like to talk about this clowns way of teaching.
This paper is so leftist it is disgusting. Look to London and Greece, if these people have they’re way, we’re heading there next.
We need to look back at what made this country great and remember those values.
A) To assume that UMF students will be so easily swayed by Ayers is assinine. These are not lemmings he’s talking to. They are young adults who are capable of making up their own minds about Ayers theories on education. Shame on anyone who thinks that UMF will instantly become militantly anti government/leftist-socialist because one yahoo speaks on campus. Seems to me that everyone in our country is anti government if it’s not the kind of government that “we” want (tea party, dems, libertarians, etc).
B) Wikipedia is NOT a source of information that is going to convince any reasonable person of the truth on ANY subject. When I can get on there and edit any page with irrelevant and incorrect information, it loses it’s value as a source of reliable info. Try reading the source links at the bottom, as they contain the actual articles the wiki page got it’s information from. You may find that the sources Wikipedia draws from may not be reliable either…
C) The lecture Ayers is giving is about his book on education. Seems like people ought to read his book and find out what exactly it is that he is campaigning for concerning education before we dismiss it out-right. Clearly, his book is causing a stir in education circles, so wouldn’t it make sense that the best teachers college in the northeast at least discuss it? Maybe the students and faculty already disagree with Ayers position on education and are inviting him in to justify his position in a public forum. Who knows?
D) And to basically go against everything I just said, I think it’s a bad idea to invite this guy to campus. Clearly he’s a wingnut and has been associated with some bad people (in addition to doing some bad things). For UMF & SEAM to think that inviting Ayers in would either go unnoticed or not cause the traditionally conservative Farmington area to go into a “end of the world” tizzy shows lack of judgment. Again, I AGREE with everyone who says Ayers is a bad dude and a poor choice to have as a speaker. Just wish that everyone would THINK a little before they TYPE about as speech that will probably impact a few people, and those few it does impact most likely will not overthrow anything except the recycling bin with an empty beer can.
Great names from our history, each more intelligent than all of us here put together, have told us our commitment to democracy is only as deep as our willingness to let those with whom we disagree speak freely. What could possibly be more patriotic than a commitment to democracy, or more subversive than attempts to subvert it this week in Farmington?
Why is it everytime I use the president of umf’s name it get censored.
As a graduate of this university I will never give money to this school because of this event.
I am so pleased to see that so many people in this area have done their homework about the true colors of Bill Ayers. I cannot believe the story had not mentioned what this man had done in the past. We should all be accustomed to much of the liberal college curriculum though, but I had hope that Farmington still had a bit of grit, and would not be so influenced by those who hate this Country. Bill Ayers is not for peace. I am in hope he will be questioned greatly. His ties with the weather underground, and so much more are just disappearing on the internet anyway; maybe we aught ask Google what’s up with that? This is a man that has no respect for Law enforcement, and had stood on the American flag with no shame.
The fact that Augusta gives the University System monies each year is enough evidence to show that BOTH parties in office, agree with the radical agenda.
Why does our State government provide our tax dollars to a school system that hides under academic freedoms in order to promote their own radical, un-American doctrine?
Time to vote out the bleeding hearts in State government. They say “oh, we can’t do anything”…I say STOP the funding. State government is using our hard earned money for only one side of the arguement.
Until I see the State spend money on my side of the fence, they should STOP funding the otherside.
What is academic about spending money and time on a known terrorist? How will that educate?
How will it promote good citizenship?
State government could stop the funding, but have no courage to do so. What would the press say? What would the ponytails and sandle wearers say? Oh my gosh…State government is afraid of them.
If not afraid then why doesn’t the State government STOP such funding?
Local people in Maine have NO voice in Augusta.
Freedom of speech has its real meaning only when you hear something you don’t like. Looks like a good opportunity to test the real attachmeent of people to freedom of speech. The real test will be to see the students – will they challenge him, hold his own past statement against him, make him justify his past (or present) positions and actions, or will they sheepishy listen in awe and prove that they are just a brainwashed bunch with no critical thinking. The depressing part is not him showing up, but the quite predictable free pass or veneration he’ll get from the audience.
A college my children or myself will NOT support in any way in the future. A disgrace
There is a difference between letting Ayers say what he wants to say, and PAYING him to COME to you and say it. Very questionable judgment. (Does this meet your standards, Bulldog?)
“Read Ayers’ books on education, then come back and re-read the comments you left above about his “radical agenda.” Me thinks you’ll blush.”
Mr. Morse you aren’t actually suggesting that some catchy sentences written in a “loving and nurturing” manner absolves Mr. Ayers of his past actions are you? This man is proud of his background and has never apologized for it and only tried to justify it! Ayers writes about creating a citizen who believes in fairness and social justice! All very “progressive” and for the most part arbitrary beliefs! Most of his writing is about influencing others to his beliefs, what about creating individuals who are capable of logic and independent thought?
When the University of Wyoming caved in to pressure to cancel an appearance by Ayers last year, a court ruling in Denver stated they had no basis whatsoever for doing so. Ayers did not bring the suit himself. He was not arguing for his “right to speak.” The suit was brought on behalf of those who wished to HEAR him, and the court ruled the university had no grounds to deny his audience that right.
I, for one, welcome the opportunity to hear a nationally renowned educator speak in my own back yard, and I respectfully invite those of you who object to watch the newspapers for a speech you might enjoy more… which I might in turn avoid. The university invites all sorts. I guess that’s what makes it a public institution that serves ALL of us, not simply a private club for whichever political stripe yells the loudest.
Thanks Hutch! You’ve convinced me to go to hear Ayers. It sounds like he’d be an interesting guy to hear from, with a background unlike most of us have around these parts.
You have to admit that if we all shared the same views, it would be a much more boring world. And, as Former Beaver said, you’d be short selling any college student to think that their core values would be altered by a 2 hour event of any kind. I thought the point of education was to hear, consider, and evaluate differing viewpoints, then decide for yourself.
One of the basic value of our country is to allow for the free expression of differing viewpoints, and to tolerate that expression while disagreeing. I don’t think anyone attending Ayers’ talk will be permanently corrupted.
The best form of protest against this type of person (and agenda) is to stay away, and just pretend he doesn’t exist. Otherwise, the second best protest is to attend, and sit in grim, stoic, silence. I myself have more important things to do.
I knew I’d hear the usual “we have to hear all sides,” freedom of speech etc. etc. line. But here is the rub, you won’t here all sides. The man is a marxist/socialist with a record of terrorist action. When do you suppose another speaker with an anti-marxist/socialist point of view will be paid to come to campus and give a speech? Don’t hold your breath. It isn’t going to happen. Do you suppose this Ayers guy is coming to only tell us about educational theory? If he does it will be dull and probably be a marxist/socialist slant on pedagogy. There are lots of others who could be brought in to do that.
Keep asking yourselves, those of you from the “let us hear all sides” camp, which speakers is going to be brought in to present other views? Ann Coulter, MIchelle Bachman, Rush Limbaugh—-who? Remember where you are, at UMF.
Yes! Let’s give Ann Coulter equal time (any pay if that is a part of it).
First the flags on the floor, then this. The ultra-lib President has been a bad influence on diversity of opinion. If that weren’t true, UMF would also be hosting Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, Coulter or even Howie Carr. They are not interested in critical thought by the students. Indoctrination is goal #1. Ms. Kalikow, please prove me wrong.
How do we get Governor LePage to step in?
The rest of us will not be there to protest. We are all raising our families, working, volunteering for our local youth sports, teaching our kids how to be responsible and respectful, teaching our children to love, live and how to have a positive attitude. Like Peter said I have better and more positive things to do then protest a protester. Mr Morse Ill read one of his books because Im all for hearing both sides however I do not endorse his practices.
We can stop this abuse of taxpayer money, by stopping any State funding to the University system. It can be done, but not with this group of spineless reps we have in Augusta.
At this point, a silent protest is no protest at all. As Beck says, “If you see something, say something”, and “Silence in the face of evil is evil” (Dietrich VonHopper). Ayers is targeting our young people with a hidden socialist agenda in the name of education. A cleaned-up terrorist is still a terrorist, with the goal of destroying our country as we know it. I have a renewed appreciation for our “freedom of speech” and the resource of the billboard at Thought Bridge. Check it out!
A Vet and UMF Grad
Mr Ayers aim as a terrorist is to over through the U.S. Government by force and fear, and once in power eliminate the freedom of speach. If he is invited to speak under the disguise of freedom of speach the individual whom invited him have been living under a rock the past several years. This is not only a black eye to the Vets, but also to the UMF professors of the 1950s, who were WWII Vets.
I would like to point out that it is not UMF inviting Ayers, but two of their student groups over which the university exercises little control. If any student group were interested in inviting Ann Coulter or Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, they would have the same right to do so. Or if community members were to invite any of them and use UMF’s facilities, they could do so as well.
And I agree with Cindy, if you are against this event, please do come out and protest it. Silent protest in the walls of your home will not change anything.
Exactly, Gnatty. I remember the College Republicans with their “Islamofascism Awareness Day” from four years ago, and I highly doubt that the administration was thrilled with that, but free speech, no matter what we think of it, is absolutely crucial to academic freedom (and freedom in general). I, for one, will be there, and I expect that I’ll listen carefully and critically.
The administration is asked before any big things happen at UMF. Prior to the “flag art project” the administration was asked and granted permission for the event to occur because of free speach issues. In all the years I have lived in the area I have only seen 1, Micheal Heath, conservative voice come to campus. When he came to UMF he was shouted down and not allowed to speak over the protesters while adminstration stood there and did nothing. The President of UMF is very one-sided when it comes to anything political. I have seen administrators make derogitory statements about College Republicans while with their same minded profs and wives; make no mistake they have a lot of control.
Yeah! Let’s all grab our pitchforks and burn the place down!
Then we can put the administration on trial for witchcraft!
I did two tours in the jungle to protect everyones right to free speech, not just for the people I agree with.
It is not free speech, when one advocates the overthrow of the Govt and has the resources to do so. He has the full support of the current administration in Washington.
You will wish you were back in the jungle when the brown uniforms of obama’s private army knocks at your door. What does the fact that there are now 6,000 new irs agents mean to anyone?
Interesting how quickly this left the front page of the website and the event hasn’t even happened yet. ….things that make you put your finger to your cheek and go hmmmmmmm…..
As a LEFTIST, I find it alarming he is given this platform here. This article is titled, “Activist William Ayers to speak at UMF Wednesday.” It should be noted in bold print that that activism involved bombing public buildings. UMF should encourage peaceful activism.
It has finally happened to me.
While chatting with a good friend, she made a bold and correct statement.
Since the dems and liberals are now the establishment, due to weak Republicans. The dems and liberals can no longer be anti-establishment.
I am NOW anti-establishment! Go figure!
Well two minutes to Billy speaking at UMF oh look it’s time for Wapner!!! Oops I’m staying home!
As a UMF alumnus, taxpayer in the town of Farmington, and attendee at Dr Ayers’ speech this evening, I am thoroughly appalled at the outright ignorance of the majority of commenters on this article. There you are, sitting behind your glowing computer screen, scowling at the thought of the UMF administration scheming up those crazy plans to indoctrinate their paying students (and, gasp, the WILLING public) to push forward some radical leftist political agenda. You people are pathetic.
First, go ahead, pull funding to the UMaine system. See how many bright young Mainers stay in this state. Secondly, the vast majority of funding to the system comes from private donations and tuition dollars, not state funding. Thirdly, you might as well go on unemployment (and live off the state), because you will be out of work. No students, faculty, or staff to buy your products, utilize your services, or otherwise subsidize your relatively cushy existence in Maine’s poorest county.
You think that liberalism is alive and well ONLY at UMF? If you think that is true, you are delusional. Honestly.
Dr Ayers came to UMF to give an enlightening speech surrounding his educational philosophy, which was really quite good. But his ideas are nothing new. Well-educated and compassionate people who are concerned with democracy and equality have been thinking these things for decades, maybe even centuries. I do not agree with his past actions. But he has paid his dues for his crimes.
If I were you, almighty philosophers and politicians of the computer screen, I would put on a pair of decent shoes, navigate to the UMF campus, and take in some conversation about a topic of which you are painfully ignorant. Hear what it’s like to live a different life than you do. Think about the fact that everyone is not like you (and they do not want to be like you).
The real ignorance, is in bombing things you do not agree with.
Typical university training camp for marxismn / socialism. Democratic sponsoreship of waisted Maine tax dollars.
Maybe he can teach our youngsters how to blow up a federal building or become activists for the left wing, proggressive, democratic, socialist agenda. The Democrats needs to indoctrinate more foot soldiers as the some older ones finaly come to their senses. Influence free thinking my asss their purpose is to influence young minds into activism for socialism, marxism and democratic causes. I’m sure Chellie P. will be in the audience.