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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They have the power of propaganda from the Biased Left Wing Media! Dan Rather and his ilk have done more harm to decent Americans than any other terrorist organization.
As two fairly average parents today, we have had to confront the following in the past few years: 1) a homosexual rapist as the previous pastor of our son's Catholic school church, 2) a refusal of our Board of Education to prohibit the introduction of homosexual sex into the curriculum (You know, anal sex and all that.), as well as widespread drug sales in our suburban schools, 3) absolute trash and filth during all hours on our TV, 4) out-of-the-universe extreme pornography being sent to our computers in E-mails, 5) pornography being downloaded (and left around) at our town library, 6) attacks on our Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop for not having homosexual scoutmasters, 7) alcohol parties being HOSTED by parents in our neighborhood for the benefit of their kids, 8) oral sex becoming commonplace in our MIDDLE SCHOOL, 9) the Catholic Church homosexual molestation issue in general, 10) a friend whose little girl was molested by a school teacher, 11) a boy who was brutally sodomized and murdered at the carnival in the next town. We feel besieged. We just want our kids to grow up with their innocence intact beyond the age of 7, to be comfortable with our religious convictions (we don't force them on anyone else), and for them to be safe. We are losing on all three counts, despite our sincere effots.
Perhaps the whole point of this article is to point out that government schools have a policy of closed doors to taxpayers and to parents. READ THE ARTICLE. I am sad that our country has even produced someone like you who does not have a problem with this.
I do not think our founding fathers meant that the strong and brave have to fight for the rights of the sheep.
Perhaps they did, because without people like us to understand the political agenda of the socialists and to fight against it in arena like this, people like you would sell all of your rights to the highest bidder. Then again.. I don't uderstand why you deserve any.
You win by speaking out! All is not lost. Let people know how you feel.
Maybe she wanted to see if the assembly was appriopriate enough for her daughter to attend? Or maybe she was concerned for other children? Why those homosexual activists can be given access to other children than their own but this woman cannot even observe it?
Examples of GLSEN endorsed filth here
Homosexual Agenda Bump
I'd agree with that, though I suspect we'll disagree over acceptable "reasons". And, of course, this is also ignoring that her complaint is not about her rights as a taxpayer.
If student attendance was mandatory or if there was any consequences for the student NOT attending, I would agree that she, as a parent, had the reason and right to check out what was being presented.
It was not. She did not give permission for her daughter to attend, and her daughter did not attend. She therefore had no more reason or right to attend than any other person.
Schools should not have to accomodate every John or Jane Doe who walks in off the street with "I'm a taxpayer; show me what I've bought." It's not safe. Public schools can't even protect students from a kindergartener with a pointed-finger gun, and you want them to allow just anyone in on the basis of a tax return?
"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..."
Wanna bet? Government schools don't want parents' input, they want parents' money and children.
I do not care a fig about the privacy of the students. I could not care less about the chilling effect of parental observation. If little Suzie cannot open up about her sexuality because her mother is sitting in the back of the room, I say "Bully for Mom!". If schools cannot find a way to do everything they want under these strictures, then that is probably a good thing because they want to do things they shouldn't be doing in the first place.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Her complaint has nothing to do with her being a taxpayer. Nothing in the article mentions anything about being a taxpayer. The word "taxpayer" isn't even brought into this discussion until post #9.
Now, unless you can show that she was treated any differently than any other taxpayer who may or may not have tried to attend, it's pretty much a moot point.
"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."
"Parents have the original, primary, and inalienable right to educate their children, and it is the place of schools to assist them. But rights not asserted are rights lost by default. Parental rights are not self-enforcing; they have to be exercised by vigilant and concerned parents."
- Arthur J. Delaney, The Grotesque World of Todays Sex Education, New Oxford Review, p. 16, May 1996.
You're right.
But they're not.
Very few, if any, assemblies or school functions are open to the public. T'is the season -- try attending your local Prom or any other function at your local school. Just walk in off the street...
And remember to yell "But I'm a taxpayer..." as they're escorting you out.
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