I'm an advisor of a GSA that has been doing the Day of Silence at our high school for the past 6 years. This year our principal told us that he would not support the school's participation in the event unless it focused on the harassment of all not specifically the harassement and silencing of LGBTQ students in particular. I discussed this with the GSA and they decided not to host the DOS this year because it felt to them like we were being silenced. Has anyone else experienced this? What are ways to deal with it? As the advisor I felt my job would be in jeopardy if I went against the principal's directive.
"Thanks!
(New Hampshire)
I'm sure that others will advise you about options for legal support. One point we do need to be clear about is that *schools* don't participate in DOS, GSA's do -- it's a student-led club activity, not a faculty-led classroom activity. Reassuring administrators and parents about this can go a long way, I think, toward mitigating opposition to DOS. Individual teachers who don't wish to participate in or support the activity are within their rights and their decision about that should be respected. Active support from administration, while it would be nice, isn't really necessary.
There's no rule at any school prohibiting, say, rainbow armbands, or prohibiting students from offering cards requesting that they not be asked to speak in class (assuming that they would, then, speak if a teacher still required them to). In the absence of any violation of school rules, what administrative involvement is really needed?
(Of course, pursuing this point wouldn't protect you much if an admin chose to hassle you about it. You might want to talk with your union rep about what your rights are.)
Barb C.
(Alaska)
GSA's who are experiencing opposition or similar attempts to change the focus of the Day of Silence might want to review Lambda Legal's article:
This PDF file also contains an email address and phone number for Lambda's Day of Silence Help Desk.
3 comments:
Hi I'm a student who has been active in my school's GSA organization for all four years and we have experienced much turbulence from our principal, other students, and their parents about not only the Day of Silence but every other step our club has taken to help reduce and eliminate harassment to the gay community. We have been
told that we are not to put up posters relating to harassment of the gay community, not even talk about the Day of Silence or promote anything we do at all. It is very difficult and frustrating to deal with such a close minded principal and community. I live in Pennsylvania in the very small town Perkasie. However, I actually find that overcoming the principal's and community's close mindedness and standing up against them is very empowering... I just wish there was no resistance to ending this harassment...
My school won't let us participate on the national DOS, or this year, the statewide DOS since we're on vacation on the 25th. It has to be on a day we organize it, and we aren't really supposed to put up posters - because they'll get torn down or people will write rude comments on them. Even on normal school things, if someone dislikes someone on a certain sports team and their name is listed, they'll write anti-gay remarks on it. Our principal is fairly supportive but the rest of the school really needs to get its act together. We're doing DOS on May 5th with activities on May 6th. I'm trying to get the school to invite a local queer youth group to come to the school for a speaker's panel. I'm part of that panel and would participate in it for sure.
does anyone know what the end time (time to break the silence) is on April 17? this year will be my first year participating in the day of silence and i want to be well informed. thank you!
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