...and $10,000,000,000 for "pain and suffering!"
Posted on 05/13/2002 3:10:36 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - A St. Louis, Mo. mom is suing the public high school that blocked her from observing a school-sponsored assembly conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
Debra Loveless had told school officials she considered the event inappropriate, but was trying to view it herself on Oct. 24, 2001 when she was escorted out of the assembly, according to Loveless' attorneys, who have filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Loveless' daughter attends Metro High School.
GLSEN bills itself as the country's largest network of parents, students and educators aimed at preventing "discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender/identity expression in K-12 schools," according to its website.
GLSEN did not return phone calls to CNSNews.com.
The group conducted two assemblies at Metro High School, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 of last year, both of which Loveless' daughter was exempted from attending because of the family's religious beliefs, according to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the public interest law firm representing Loveless.
However, when, at the urging of a school board member, Loveless attempted to attend the Oct. 24 event, she was ejected by an armed security guard, the ACLJ stated.
Francis J. Manion, senior counsel for the ACLJ, said parents should be able to participate in activities at a public school to see if it is appropriate for their children.
"This case is about protecting the rights of parents to participate fully in the education of their children," he said. "Parents do not abandon their rights as parents once their children go to school. Parents have a right to know what a school is teaching their children, and should not be punished for exercising their parental responsibilities. That's exactly what happened in this case."
The ACLJ lawsuit contends that school officials deprived Loveless of her parental right to be fully informed of the content of her daughter's education. The suit also claims Loveless' constitutional rights of free speech and equal protection was infringed.
Manion believes there were ulterior motives to blocking Loveless from attending the assembly.
"The real reason we believe our client was not permitted to observe the school assembly is because the school did not like her religious objections to the assembly," said Manion. "The only thing our client wanted was an apology and a change in the school policy governing the rights of parents to observe school assemblies.
"After Mrs. Loveless was ejected from the assembly, she had no choice but to file suit - to ensure that no other parent in St. Louis is treated in the same manner," he added.
The lawsuit names as defendants the superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools and the principal of Metro High School.
CNSNews.com attempted to contact Metro High School Principal Dr. Pamela Randall, but she was away from the campus and unavailable for comment. The Metro High School Instructional Coordinator refused comment Friday, saying she was unaware of any lawsuit.
E-mail a news tip to Matt Pyeatt.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
We are with you all the way.
That's true. It's about the elimination of the parent as the authority figure and destroying the concept of 'consience' in the child's psyche. No 'right and wrong' = no God. You don't have to steal the body to kidnap a child.
To paraphrase, 'We wrestle not against principalities and powers, but against spiritual wickedness in the schools.'
Positions evolve to adapt to new information. For example, I had forgotten about visitors we had when I was in school who had stopped by the principal's office first.
It has yet to be established that the school was wrong.
If that was the issue then the school should have politely directed her to the office where she could sign in.
We're back to the kindergartener with the pointed-finger gun, except that a strange adult wandering around a school is a little different than an obviously harmless child pretending.
But then again, we don't exactly have a balanced version of events. To-MAY-to, to-MAH-to, the school politely asking, her being forcibly ejected.
She should sue.
In some circles that might be considered a compliment. Around here it only means that your mind works according to the same warped values and obscure-the-truth tactics as Bill Clinton's.
Because your stealth goal is to corrupt the nation's children by propagating pro-gay crap in the public schools, it makes sense for you to quible and parse like Bill Clinton. It's a fitting tactic for an ill-fitting mind.
Good question, since the NEA is a labor union and not a professional educators association.
It's time to bust the NEA. See the information posted in reply #14 in the thread Let's Help Nail the Teachers Unions -- It is National FReep Time
Those nasty parents.. How dare they wish to find out what the teachers could be teaching to their children.
...and $10,000,000,000 for "pain and suffering!"
Agreed! Here's what a public school teacher has to say about it:
Are Parents Boycotting Public Schools?
To: Boonie Rat
Are Parents Boycotting Public Schools?
I am a public school teacher, and to all those concerned parents who are considering abandoning their current schools, I would ask, even BEG, that you PLEASE do so as soon as is humanly possible. Many of us teachers, administrators, and school board members have been trying our best to stop the insane bureaucracy that has plagued the public system for decades, but it is plain to see that our efforts will never succeed without the support of the authoritarians in the unions and in government... and they aren't interested in hearing the opinions, ideas, complaints, statistics, or pleas of students, faculties, parents, or citizens. The ONLY way they MIGHT wake up enough to grasp the consequences of the tragedy that they have carefully manufactured would be if their money, power and influence were diminished. This is the only thing the understand, fear, and respect. So PLEASE, take a second job, work out of the home, do without some of the luxuries, or whatever it takes to help the wondrous homeschooling/private schooling trend that has been gracing our landscape. When they invariably try to exert their control over these alternatives to public education, make sure you get VERY vocal in stopping them. This is the only hope left for those who are stuck in the public school system. Many of us are doing what we can from the inside. I pray you'll help us on the outside.
63 posted on 5/9/02 6:39 AM Pacific by Teacher317
You should have removed him from the government "school" system years ago.
What more warning do you need?!!
DO IT NOW!
While you still have a son.
She wasn't a "strange" adult wondering the halls. She was recognized by the principal.
"WE RECRUIT"
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