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.
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She felt she had a right to be there because her kid is going to that school. I feel I have a right to visit my kids school whenever I want, even it's a day she is out sick. My kid is MINE, not some commie/homo school administrators. Schools serve parents in educating OUR children. There is absolutely NO WAY they should be excluding parents from all-school assemblies. Most schools WANT parent participation in all sorts of things .. Art, Library, Field Trip volunteers.
Don't be dense. It's obvious what's going on here. The school wants the right to secretly indocrtinate OUR children in weird pagan beliefs. They KNOW that if this assembly is recorded the truth will win out, and (as others explained) the ENTIRE SCHOOL BOARD may lose their jobs. As they should.
Good for this mom! Awesome that she's Black too. I hope she wins a nice victory
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