This year, sophomore English students at Grant have picked up Persepolis, a book that focuses on Iran and Iranian history. Grant math teacher Pardis Navi brings the book to a personal level for the students, giving them a person they see in their halls to connect Iran to their lives. In 11 of the 14 sophomore English classes at Grant, students dedicate a portion of their year to the book Persepolis. Persepolis is a coming of age graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi. This autobiographical novel focuses on Satrapi's childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Persepolis speaks to the oppression women and of ideas.

Math teacher Pardis Navi, a native of Iran, helps freshman Kaleb Taylor with his work. Photo by Sam Weiss.

English teacher Howard Wilf, new to Grant this year, said that students have generally positive reactions to the book, and their reactions come in a wave. He said students are often confused because "the politics are a bit confusing and mystifying." The students display a sense of bewilderment when first presented with this culture where "basic freedoms that you and I just accept" are not available to the people.

Although the politics and way of life in Iran catch the students off guard at the beginning, they recover and the story's meaning evolves. Wilf says that the story "becomes a human story." It ends up not being about the politics, but about the main character, Marji. Wilf explains that Marji is "a very likable character╔ [she is] a very sympathetic character [who is] critical of Islamic government." He also explains that although Marji is critical of Iran, she is sympathetic to the people.

This sympathy presented in the book makes it something the students can understand and connect to. Wilf said, "Since the class is diverse, many have experienced repression."

Students' experiences with this curriculum are enhanced even further by Navi's presentation and discussion of her experiences with Iranian culture. Navi is originally from Iran and provides a valuable perspective to students, complimenting their study of Persian and Middle Eastern culture.

Navi lived in Tehran, Iran's capital city, into her teenage years. She moved to the Portland area in 1978, just before the Islamic Revolution broke out in Iran. Navi's childhood experience has especially impacted her views on education. Navi points out that "religion is a bigger part of life in Iran" than it is here, probably because people do not have the option to choose different faiths to follow. This homogeny makes the inclusion of religion in social and everyday life easier.

She has come out of this experience a strong believer in the separation of church and state and thinks this concept is especially important in the school setting. She maintains, "You can practice your religion without the government doing it for you," a view she takes after experiencing a setting in which the government has taken an active role regarding religion.

Navi no longer practices a specific religion, although during the winter holidays she observes the celebratory aspects of Christmas, such as the lights, cookies, and music.

Her ambition to become a teacher began in Iran in her math classes. She remembers usually helping her friends with the work,."They always said I was better at explaining it than the teacher," she says.

When Navi comes into the English classes, she starts by writing students' names in Farsi, the language spoken in Iran. She tells the class about growing up where people call themselves "Persians," but then switches from talking about herself to talking about the current politics of Iran and the war in Iraq. She clarifies rumors or misconceptions and tells how people who have left Iran, like her, can keep in touch with their home through radio, which has recently proven to be difficult.

By the end, she winds back to religion and culture in Iran. She even has props to help her, like a tea set commonly found in Iran or a rug that Muslums pray on five times a day. Finally, she takes questions. Students are eager to hear about how women are treated and if she wants to go back. Navi said that every time she goes to visit family she has to wear the veil women must wear there, and every time she leaves says she rips it off and throws it in the trash. As a result, Navi explains, she has no veil as a prop to show to the class.

Students have positive reactions to Navi's presentation, engaged and listening with curiosity throughout. Mason Olin, a student in a sophomore English class in which she presented, commented that "Navi is gangster." Another student in the class, Booker Wells, said that "she was real."

As for Persepolis, the students also had a positive reaction. Though Olin only thought the book was "okay," he did find it intriguing and said, "I'm glad America isn't like Iran." Another student, Cheyenne Campbell, said, "It's useful. Now we really know [about Iran]."

Having Navi come into the class to complement the unit on Persepolis exposed truths and myths about Iran, and it is an experience unique to Grant.