Bruce Wasser Helped Students Stand Up For Principle. Do We Want More Teachers Like That? (Ep. 43)
In this episode, host Ken Futernick sits down with Bruce Wasser, a former history teacher whose life story is as inspiring as his teaching career. Bruce shares his poignant journey from being a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War to becoming a beloved educator who had a profound impact on his students. Listen as Bruce recounts the pivotal moments that shaped his life, including the influence of his high school basketball coach and the challenges he faced in standing up for his beliefs. The episode also features Julia Damer, a former student of Bruce's, who shares her experiences in his classroom and the lasting impact he had on her life. The conversation highlights the reciprocal influence between teachers and students, as well as the enduring power of education to inspire change.
The conversation also raises an important question about the kind of influence one would want teachers to have on their students. Bruce says, “I am in the business [of teaching] so I can help young men and women become proud, strong citizens, loving their country when it's right and earnestly trying to change it when it's wrong.” Might such an approach to teaching lead to indoctrination? Do we want history teachers taking on such a role, or should they stick to historical facts? “If that's indoctrination,” Bruce says, “I'll plead guilty to it, but I don't think you can teach any subject blandly or without any kind of conviction.” Later, Bruce explains that he wants his students to find their voice, to stand up for principle, whether or not it aligns with their teachers’ or classmates’ perspectives. “I would always try to find my way to stand next to the minority opinion, always stand close to that man or woman who's standing up and arguing for principle, and I would tell 'em you might be one person facing a hurricane, but you've got to have strong roots. You have to have the courage of your convictions. These are your friends. Don't worry about being in the minority.”
Discover how Bruce's experiences as a young man shaped his teaching philosophy and the lasting legacy he left in the classroom. This episode is a testament to the power of education and the importance of nurturing young minds to challenge the status quo and strive for a better world.
Featured Guests:
Bruce Wasser, author of 90: A Conscientious Objector’s Journey of Quiet Resistance, graduated with high honors from Princeton University in 1971. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, Wasser performed alternative service as a laboratory glassware washer in the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital. In 1973, Wasser began a thirty-three-year career as a junior and high school American history and English teacher in Newark, California. He received numerous honors during his tenure, including “Teacher of the Year” and California’s prestigious “Golden Bell” Award for helping create “Programs of Conscience,” a curriculum that brought students face-to-face with past and current injustices. Now retired, he lives with his wife, author Fern Schumer Chapman, in northern Illinois, where he officiates four sports.
Julia Damir, a former student of Bruce Wasser’s, currently resides in San Francisco and works in the wine industry.
90: A Conscientious Objector’s Journey of Quiet Resistance is a gripping memoir of moral courage and quiet defiance. Told through Bruce's deeply personal lens, this coming-of-age story explores themes of identity, integrity, and the high cost of staying true to one’s values.
This memoir transports readers to a turbulent time in American history, offering a rare inside view of the conscientious objector process and the quiet heroism of those who refused to pick up arms. It is a moving reminder that resistance doesn’t always roar—it can whisper, persist, and prevail.
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