There has been recent movement in the West Bend School District to allow the Gay/Straight Alliance school club status. (current clubs and school policy are listed below)
Since schools are part of our community, and citizens are compelled to fund them for educating the children of the community, I thought I’d do some research to find out more about the group that wants to be a school sanctioned club. Their website (found by doing a Google.com search) was the most logical place to begin. I was looking for compelling evidence that this group fits in with the educational goals of the local schools.
If the GSA is granted club status, they will have daily access to all children attending the schools. In the meeting on Monday May 9th they said they were a “support group” and that they did not support bullying in the schools.
Let’s take a look at what I found.
WEBSITE FACTS:
They call themselves an “activist group”. They want to “transform schools”.
http://www.gsanetwork.org/what-we-do/transforming-schools
This is from Wikipedia and explains what contemporary activism is:
Activism consists of intentional action to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies, street marches, strikes, both sit-ins and hunger strikes.Some activists try to persuade people to change their behavior directly, rather than persuade governments to change laws. The cooperative movement seeks to build new institutions which conform to cooperative principles, and generally does not lobby or protest politically.
In what ways do they intend to “change your school, transform your school?”
Listed are: activities, books, more about their “activist group”.
http://www.gsanetwork.org/resources/posters-movies-and-more/recommended-books
(some of the listed books are the highly controversial books recently opposed locally)
Several books are recommended on the GSA website. This is just one example of the offerings this school club recommends to kids.
From the report, The Legal Liability Associated with Homosexuality Education in Public Schools: http://www.ccv.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Legal_Liability_of_Homosexuality_Education1.pdf
the novel Rainbow Boys, three 17-year-old boys explore their homosexual attractions. Frequent themes include obtaining pornographic magazines18 and movies19, as well as graphic descriptions of masturbation20. The book features a scene where one of the teen boys has anal intercourse without a condom with a 29-year-old man he has just met via the Internet.
One event listed on their website is the annual “Pride March”.
http://www.gsanetwork.org/pride
A quick Google search will bring up some pictures. They beg some questions:
“Where is the educational value of this school sponsored group?”
“Why does this group claim it is not at all about sex?”
“Why would a school sponsor a club that lists the parade as an event?”
“What about age appropriateness of school sponsored activities?”
Pictures of the Gay Pride parade:
What about health and liability issues related to a school sponsored group?
Also from the “legal liability” report with details in the report:
"Exposure to and experimentation with homosexual behavior carries serious risks that school officials should be aware of in order to protect students. There is concern that by allowing access by homosexual activist organizations, and by establishing policies that have the effect of normalizing homosexual behavior, schools may have become responsible for physical and emotional harm to the students entrusted to their care. In addition, because homosexual behavior has been proven to contribute to many harmful consequences for those who engage in it, school officials should be aware that it is possible that a legal liability exists for the tort of negligence if it is proven that homosexual activist organizations were granted access to students under the school’s responsibility and that students subsequently suffered physical or mental harm."
This, from page 7 of the report tells of mental health problems of homosexuals in countries openly accepting of homosexuality, debunking the notion that a support group is necessary:
"Again, most homosexual activists argue that such mental health problems are the result of societal nonacceptance and/or stigmatization of homosexual behavior. Such conclusions, however, are unlikely and still unproven in scientific circles, and schools should avoid basing policies on unestablished assumptions. In any case, studies like the referenced one conducted in the Netherlands was done in a culture that is very open and accepting of homosexuality. As if anticipating homosexual activists’ typical claim, the study notes that “the Dutch social climate toward homosexuality has long been and remains considerably more tolerant” 12 than in other countries. Yet the same mental health problems were found in homosexuals in that country as in homosexuals in the United States."
In my opinion, school is not the place to bring this debate. I feel this way for a couple of reasons, one of which is that people’s children attend schools, and families do not want their values undermined in their child’s school.
Waring Finke (the attorney representing the GSA) stated at the meeting the GSA desires to have all school assemblies, and they want the administration to shut down anyone who would speak against the homosexual lifestyle.
Is he asking that his group use the school district to re-educate our children? Could the GSA cause school districts to have legal action taken against them for neglecting to keep agenda based groups off school property and away from the children who are there for their education?
Should schools be sanctioning clubs that endorse illegal behavior and promote a lifestyle that holds such grave health risks? What is the liability of a school district that allows school sponsored sex clubs like the GSA? Some of the GSA’s activities are listed on the website and are clear examples of what they endorse.
This is said to be all about stopping bullying in the schools. The schools already have policies that do not allow bullying for any student. Ted Neitzke told the group at the meeting that there have been no complaints of bullying in either high school.
In my opinion it is the GSA group and their attorneys who are the bullies. They use schools to promote their agenda and gain momentum for their cause using our children. They are neither neutral, nor all inclusive. Anyone who speaks out in opposition to them or exposes the fact that many have left this lifestyle is quickly shot down by name calling.
Some parents may believe the Bible and Jesus’ statement about marriage between one man and one woman. Some states, i.e. Wisconsin, may disagree on the definition of marriage. How tolerant is the GSA to these points of view. What about them?
The GSA wants to “transform schools”. It appears they want to alter the values you may be teaching your child. Is this really just about a support group that wants to use the PA system in the West Bend high schools? Is there something more? When I saw what was offered on the GSA website and heard the attorney tell of the activities the group hoped to do in the school, I really began to wonder.
In my opinion, the school district did the right thing by not allowing them school sponsored status and keeping them as an after school, student-led club. It keeps the liability issue away from the district and it protects our kids from what appears to be an agenda based group at their school. Bravo, West Bend School Board. Stick to the curriculum. That is what we pay taxes for.
The school board appears to be the ones who care about kids and education.
Current clubs as found on the school district website:
- A.C.E.
- Aikido
- Channel-Student Gov't
- Debate E/W
- DECA-Distributive Education Clubs of America
- D.I.V.A.-Digital Imaging, Video & Audio
- Dolphins Swim Club
- Drama
- FBLA-Future Business Leaders of America
- Forensics
- Interact-WBHS
- Key Club-WBHS
- Math League Club
- Model United Nations
- National Honor Society-East
- SAC/REC
- s.e.e.d.-Enivornment & Outdoor Club
- The Current-School Newspaper
- Video Yearbook-East/West
- World Language Clubs
Co-Curricular board policy:
INSTRUCTION 370
OUTSIDE OF CLASS ACTIVITIES
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The School Board endorses a quality athletic and co-curricular program to serve the interests of all students. The District shall not discriminate in student participation in athletic programs or activities or facilities usage on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. Discrimination complaints shall be processed in accordance with established procedures as described in Board Policy 411.
Co-Curricular: Non-Athletic Activities
Co-curricular activities are an integral part of the educational program and shall fit both the aims of the school and the needs and interests of students. Co-curricular activities shall be appropriate to the age group and in keeping with the general community standards. A co-curricular must have a written statement of purpose which identifies the activity as educational oriented and enhancing with school objectives. All school sponsored activities must be open to all students regardless of color, creed, sex, handicap, or national origin.
Students engaged in co-curricular activities must engage in such activities either on school premises or off, as long as proper safeguards are taken for the safely and educational relevance. The student activities may perform for outside organizations where admission fees are charged only if proceeds are used for charitable, educational, or civic purposes. Student activities earning team awards shall return those awards to the school. All school rules are applicable to all student participants.
The following show more activist ties:
http://candlelightcollective.wordpress.com/
Some examples of bullying by this group(which they say they oppose) include:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Safe-Space-for-Washington-County-Group/358103983550
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