Today is Earth Day. Friday is the Day of Silence. Both are celebrated, acknowledged, taught – what is the right verb? – in Virginia public schools. What are the public policy issues for politics in schools? Set aside support or opposition to Environmentalism as theology or the Homosexual political agenda.
Consider who decides what – and who should decide and how – for the Day of Silence in Virginia on April 25th.
The Concerned Women of America report “The “Day of Silence” (DOS) is organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), one of the most militant and well-funded of the powerful homosexual pressure groups. DOS purports to confront the alleged systematic harassment and bullying of children who self-identify as homosexual, bisexual or “transgender.”
During DOS, children and teachers are encouraged to disrupt the school day by refusing to speak, in a show of support to self-described “gay,” “lesbian,” “bisexual” and “transgender” students. Kids are additionally taught that Biblical truth, which holds that human sexuality is a gift from God shared between husband (male) and wife (female) within the bonds of marriage, is “homophobic,” “hateful” and “discriminatory.””
Who approves the Day of Silence in Virginia’s Public Schools? The school board, superintendent, principal, or any teacher?
What is the recourse for any student or parent who objects to the DOS?
How do they decide – which political groups for what events – are recognized in public schools?
Who is in and who is out of access to public schools?
Interesting to see the list of high schools which will recognize DOS. I see in my area that only JCC/Williamsburg is supporting DOS officially. I wonder who is doing what – unofficially?
APPOMATTOX REGIONAL GOV SCHOOL
BROAD RUN HIGH SCHOOL
CENTREVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
CLOVER HILL HIGH SCHOOL
EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
FAIRFAX HIGH SCHOOL
FALLS CHURCH HIGH
FLINT HILL SCHOOL
GALILEO MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
HAMPTON ROADS ACADEMY
HAYFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL
HERNDON HIGH SCHOOL
JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
JAMESTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
JOHN HANDLEY HIGH SCHOOL
LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL
LAKE BRADDOCK SECONDARY
LANGLEY HIGH SCHOOL
MADISON HIGH SCHOOL
MAGGIE L. WALKER GOV SCHOOL
MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL
MCLEAN HIGH SCHOOL
MEADOWBROOK HIGH SCHOOL
MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL
OAKTON HIGH SCHOOL
POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL
ROBINSON SECONDARY
ROBIOUS MIDDLE SCHOOL
SCIENCE & TECH CENTER
ST CATHERINES SCHOOL
ST STEPHEN’S & ST AGNES SCHOOL
STUART HIGH SCHOOL
T. C. WILLIAMS HIGH SCHOOL
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL
WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
WASHINGTON LEE HIGH SCHOOL
WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL
WEST SPRINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
WESTERN ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
WOODBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
YORKTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Update: Here’s another interesting case study. The Virginia Gazette reports:
An evangelical Christian group is challenging [Williamsburg-James City County] Schools in federal court to get equal access for religious-themed Good News clubs. …
Child Evangelism Fellowship, a non-profit founded in 1937, sponsors Good News clubs after school in public school buildings. … Tom Boor, the local coordinator for the Christian clubs, began applying to use school facilities in 2006 but was ignored for more than a year, according to Staver. Liberty Counsel sent a letter to the division in March 2007 expressing concern over the lack of response and the possibility that they were being denied for discriminatory reasons.
He said WJC Schools responded in August by saying that the clubs could use school facilities, but at a cost ranging $12.50-$25 per hour, while other groups like the Boy Scouts were allowed to use the facilities for free.
