Nothing! I like it. Let's extend it. Silence is the best statement for homosexual "rights". Alway has been; always will be. 
Posted on 03/29/2002 5:01:04 AM PST by stocksthatgoup
Area high schools weigh whether to make protesters participate in class April 10 By of the Journal Sentinel staff Last Updated: March 28, 2002 Students planning to demonstrate for gay rights by observing a day of silence are forcing school administrators to decide where to draw the line between academics and politics.
Silent Protest
The text of a card that some protesters will be handing out April 10: "Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?"
Source: Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
Quotable
It's a trade-off. It's one educational experience for another for one day.
- Rick Monroe, Shorewood High School principal
You cannot spend your school day dealing with everybody's causes.
- Linda Cole, parent from Nicolet High School
Students at a half-dozen Milwaukee-area schools say they will join the April 10 demonstration - in some cases refusing to participate in class - to dramatize the silence that they feel society imposes on gays and lesbians.
Some schools intent on honoring the protest have instructed teachers not to call on those students, but others have warned protesters that their political statement must not interfere with the educational process.
Although it is the seventh year that national gay-rights proponents have conducted the Day of Silence Project, many area schools are experiencing it for the first time.
And for some principals, it is challenging their ability to balance political action with educational pursuits.
"We think it's to be commended - the kids are taking a stand," said Elliott Moeser, superintendent of Nicolet High School in Glendale.
"But we will have a normal school day."
In addition to Nicolet, protests are planned at Wauwatosa East, Shorewood, Waukesha North, Milwaukee Pius XI and Hamilton in Lisbon. At some schools, dozens of students are expected to remain silent during the demonstration.
Shorewood Principal Rick Monroe said he would send teachers a list of students observing the day of silence, with instructions to accommodate the protest by working around those students at class time.
Any lost instruction time would be offset by the awareness raised on an important social issue, Monroe said.
"This, in itself, is a learning experience," he said. "It's a trade-off. It's one educational experience for another for one day."
Concerns raised But the protest has some parents questioning the decision to relegate chemistry, algebra and history classes to political platforms for select groups.
Nicolet parent Linda Cole said that while she appreciates the school promoting freedom of speech and social awareness, she cringes at the thought of allowing students to opt out of their education - even for one day.
"You cannot spend your school day dealing with everybody's causes," she said. "The purpose of the school day is learning."
Nationally, protests are planned April 10 at more than 900 high school and college campuses. About 20 schools throughout Wisconsin are listed as participants on a Web site posted by organizers.
Oconomowoc High School is among those listed, although the principal there said he was unaware of any protest plans.
The day of silence was started in 1996 by a single student at the University of Virginia. This year, the movement has the financial backing of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, a New York-based group that advocates tolerance for young people of diverse sexual orientations.
Jim Anderson, spokesman for the network, said his group has found through surveys that 80% of gay students nationally have been harassed by classmates because of their sexual orientation. More than 30% have reported skipping at least one day of school out of fear for their safety.
Making a point On many campuses locally, protests are being organized by gay-lesbian student organizations. Some plan to embellish their demonstrations by distributing information about gay rights and by wearing certain colors or armbands as a show of solidarity.
Waukesha North senior Alex Means has no plans to join the protest. But he said, "If they can do it without causing a scene, I guess it's OK."
Nicolet senior Marc Korobkin, who is helping organize the event there, said he hopes the demonstration opens eyes on the Glendale campus.
"No one should feel unsafe at school," he said. "It's a really positive message, I think."
For some schools, the mere presence of an organized gay-lesbian student group on campus is a new phenomenon.
Wauwatosa East Principal William Stroud said he plans an in-service day for teachers and other staff members to instruct them on handling student questions and other issues related to sexual orientation.
"This is kind of a learning situation for all of us," he said.
Some schools expect only a handful of students to protest April 10, but Nicolet organizers have rallied 100 to 150, and those at Milwaukee Pius XI already have about 75 signed up.
Organizers say that many of the students who will participate are not gay but support gay rights.
Administrators at some schools, including Nicolet and Waukesha County's Hamilton, are emphasizing that students still must participate in their classes, even if it means breaking their vow of silence.
"It could affect their grades," said Hamilton spokeswoman Denise Dorn Lindberg.
But others are giving protesters more leeway.
Pius XI spokesman Chris Schulteis said officials at the private Catholic school have encouraged protesters to talk with their teachers in advance and work out some ground rules for the demonstration.
Schulteis said he does not expect any students to face disciplinary action.
"I can think of a lot more disruptive ways that they could make their point," he said. "And, frankly, I think a little silence in the school for one day might not be such a bad thing."
Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on March 29, 2002.
Source: Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network But by God, Don't let them pray in school!!
Wonder why Milwaukee school system has the second worst failure rate (right after Cleveland) in the USA.
... "The purpose of the school day is learning" ...One would suppose.
I suspect this is just a sneaky way to hide the oral herpes outbreak at their school.
What if 100 groups with causes want their own "silent" day - will they all be accomodated, or are only liberal causes allowed? If all are allowed, then we can forget education! If they are NOT all allowed, then we have political indoctrination of our kids. But we already knew that, didn't we.....
Tell all of the outside groups to go away from the schoolhouse, schools are for our kids, not their causes.
Make the POP TEST count about 25% of the total grade and see if anyone "speaks up".
Schools can’t ‘force’ students to pledge the flag.
Schools can’t ‘force' students to learn.
Schools can’t ‘force’ students to speak.
Looks like a pattern, a pattern of failure. One which will cause the decline of this country.
Absolutely nothing. Nothing wrong with a little peace and quiet, especially if the radical homos promise to stay that way.
Nothing! I like it. Let's extend it. Silence is the best statement for homosexual "rights". Alway has been; always will be.
Great idea! The remainder of the school year should would do nicely . . .
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