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.
I spoke with the person who was organizing the event and she refused to tell me what would be discussed behind closed and locked doors. Once she figured out I wasn't exactly on her side of the issue, she started talking about how students with religious beliefs are the real threat and how the spreading of religion/religious principles resulted in dead homosexuals. They have plenty to hide. They are a hate group every bit as hateful as the KKK, Hamas or the Neo-Nazis and they are targeting our children behind our backs.
Gee, that certainly sounds safe and appropriate. < /sarcasm>
Look what the Homosexuals have done for the Catholic Church which has survived for 2000 years,'Til the Homosexuals took over.
Any taxpayer who chooses to monitor an assembly in a public school has the right to do so.
Taxpayers pay for the schools.
Thanks for the welcome. And you're right, most revolutionaries go after kids to support them. Palestinian religious leaders look for kids to be their suicide bombers, rebels in West Africa look for kids to be their soldiers, communist revolutionaries in South America went for the kids first (and were often led by older kids from universities). Part of the problem, I think, is that kids are easily swayed by ideology, given their strong (and generally good) want to fix the problems of the world. It is only when they are older and wiser that they realize that most of the problems of the world are complex and multi-faceted and difficult to resolve. I've talked to a number of teenagers who are for promoting any kind of sex a person wants (including with animals). This is part of their compassion. But little do they think of the longer term consequences for those who engage in such deeds, and the longer term consequences for society as a whole. Part of the problem there is that kids are not taught to think much. And finally, very few kids today believe in right and wrong. Their parents do not inclucate that kind of thinking, and the churches have lost them.
That pretty much sums it up. Stay safe.
Maybe to find out how her tax dollars are being spent?
Yeah she is real, saw an interview with her on the news other night, very well dressed, african american mom who made several eloquent statements about her beliefs and what she went through to try and get the school to let her attend.
They also talked to the school board member who INVITED her to attend the assembly and she was livid!
I would almost bet that the school restricts visitations for all taxpayers. In fact, I'd even go so far as to bet that most, if not all, public-schools place restrictions on visitations by "taxpayers".
So... try again.
Her daughter was not in the assembly and was suffering no consequences for not attending.
So why did she feel any special right to be there? Were other taxpayers allowed to attend? Were other student-less parents there?
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My guess is that GLSEN was afraid to be exposed.
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