Grownups "No" Best
***Cross-posted at Sticks of Fire***
Many area high schools have clubs encouraging alliances between different types of students, whether Jewish and Christian or gay and straight. Parents determined to do away with such tolerance and cooperation showed up at last week’s Hillsborough County School Board meeting with a wagon of petitions and a busload of moral indignation.
Their chief complaint centers around the idea that clubs “sexual in nature” are inappropriate for school campuses. A friend of mine sponsors a Gay-Straight Alliance and to suggest the club is sexually-themed is a myth probably started by someone who never attended a meeting. These kids discuss intolerance and bullying that occurs in classrooms, hallways, and cafeterias almost on a daily basis. They find solace and support each other through what can sometimes be a harrowing teenage experience. The upside? Many incidents of discrimination disappear once these clubs are formed because there is strength in numbers.
Since “Gay-Straight” anything seems to scare simpleminded grownups, a suggestion has surfaced to change club names to incorporate tolerance or something equally inclusive. Why continue giving in to conservative pressure? I’m tired of accommodating people who don’t even bother getting informed before getting involved. Some high schools even require parental permission to join these clubs while other activities require no such consent- and even that isn’t good enough.
The School Board, in typical fashion, will look at all clubs now to determine which should stay or go. I hope members learned something from the holiday debacle and decide against removing all interest clubs not academically-themed. Students deserve a safe haven from harassment. It’s too bad these clubs can’t protect them from bigoted adults as well.
posted by kate @ 7:30 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
I wonder if Rhonda Storms had anything to do with this one?
No, it was not Rhonda. It was someone that does not change ___'s
words. It is a sin as recorded.
Who gave the holyroller my website address?
There are clubs in schools that purport to follow your way of thinking. No one is threatening Fellowship of Christian Students or Fellowship of Christian Athletes. (Side Note: Those clubs were notorious when I was in school - nowhere could cheaper drugs or sex be found than at a FCS party.)
At any rate, there are a variety of students in a public high school - not everyone is evangelical. Therefore, the clubs should be diverse as well. If you're looking for just your point of view to be represented, then keep your kids in a private Christian school, continue to keep your head in the sand, and stay as far away from public education as possible.
Don't pray in our schools and we won't think in your church. Deal?
Great comment, kid. Too bad, the recipient won't get the meaning of your sardonic comment.
By the way, I have read this and all the previous epistles from the last week.
Great pic!
Don't pray in our schools and we won't think in your church. Deal?
...I smell a bumper sticker
I wonder why Ms. Fellowship of Everything Christian is spending her godly time reading blogs contradictory to her beliefs.
"Don't pray in our schools and we won't think in your church. Deal? "
I love it... Classic!!!
Opps...Did I hit a nerve? Well the Fellow of Christian Athetes can only meet after school hours. Maybe the Gay clubs could also find their own rides?
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