- Jen -

from the Washington times..

TokyoNiGHTS

I really don't see how anyone could have a problem with this. I'd think conservatives would like it because their kids would no longer have to go to school with gay kids. That seems to be what they want anyway. I wonder if those people that have a problem with this idea are also seeking to shutdown those private schools that are based around religion?

LittleMilkJug

As someone who fights for the right of gay people to be thought and threated as equals to anybody else, I actually think this is a bad idea. Yet again it seperates them from everybody else

TokyoNiGHTS

It's bad in that sense, but if schools aren't going to have the right to actually teach some sort of tolerance toward gays, the best thing is to have a school set up for gays so they don't have to worry about being picked on and beat up. It's sad that it really has to come to this though, I agree.

mh67511

When are the schools for fat kids opening up? Or how about a special shool for the Mexican kids who don't speak English? And for the record, I am a Conservative and not having to go to school with gays, is not "what [I] seem to want. Just thought I'd let you know.

Private schools that are based on religion are just that, PRIVATE. If a bunch of gay kids want to set up a private school, that's FINE. The issue is that this is a PUBLIC school.

TokyoNiGHTS

They're arguing that is crazy to spend tax payer money on this. But private religious schools and private schools in general also recieve that same money. I don't see them whining over that though. That's because that's not their real problem, their problem is that allowing gays to have a school of their own, whether private or public, is somehow justifying their way of living. And they just can't have that.

mh67511

What? Many private schools are closing down because they can't afford to stay open. At least I know many of the Catholic schools in Chicago are. I don't know of any cases of private schools getting government funding. I thought that is why the parents pay thousands of dollars to send their kids there.

I'm not talking about the issue they have. I am saying if we open a school for gays, why not for fat kids, or the myriad number of other kids who may get teased in school? This country outlawed segregation, so we shouldn't be segregating schools.

TokyoNiGHTS

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/LAW/06/28/scotus.helms/

We should when we've got a legion of people teaching their kids that they should look at certian group of people differently because of who they are. Like I said, it would be great if things didn't have to come down to this. But it's going to have to if people aren't going to allow schools to teach tolerance. This wouldn't happen if that were allowed. It's not, and now that people are trying to open a tolerant school they're being told they can't do that either. I'd personally like the idea of teaching tolerance in schools rather than having to resort to opening up a certain type of school. I don't think this will be the last school for gays that opens up. And that's the sad thing, not that there is one, but that there even has to be one.

mh67511

In the 50's and 60's many white parents taught they children that blacks were inferior and schools were segregated because of it. Does that mean we should have kept the schools segregated, and kept white and black children apart?

If people are telling their kids to look at gays differently, and I don't think many are, by setting up a special school for gays you are essentially saying that gays ARE different, so you are re-affirming what these parents taught their kids. And I see nothing that is preventing schools from teaching kids to respect others.

As far as the funding goines I don't agree with that ruling, but I doubt it comes close to spending in public schools. My public high school cost $50,000,000 to build.

The article raised some valid points:

"What are the criteria for being a teacher or a principal? Do they have to be gay? Will straight students be allowed to enroll if they live across the street?" he asked. "Do they go on to all-gay colleges and work environments because they are harassed?"

TokyoNiGHTS

Definetly not. But we're getting to the height of homophobia in the US, and nothings really being done about it. We've got a president that helps drive that point anytime he says anything about it, and basically no one with any real power actually willing to stand up against it. That's one of the big difference. There were lots of people in power willing to stand up and put their careers on the line to get blacks equal rights, there still aren't many willing to do that for gays.

As I said, I don't want the schools to be seperated, but what else are you going to do? Continue to let kids get picked up, beat up ect. because of their sexual orientation because people aren't willing to allow tolerance to be taught in those schools? I know if I had a kid that were gay, i'd feel like crap having to send him/her to school everyday knowing how they're being treated.

Look at that Spongebob thread. They had to remove comments in that booklet that came with it that referenced gays and treating them with respect because of the outcry from family organizations.

As for the articles points. I don't know what the rules are (i'm not sure if they've been released). But I really don't think there will be any criteria for being a teacher or principal other than having an open mind toward gays. And straight kids should be able to go there too as long as they follow the rules, which I assume is you treat everyone with respect. If they're caught disrespecting someone because of the sexuality (or race ect) they should be thrown out.

I'll say again though. I'd prefer these schools to not even have to exist. I would much rather them teach tolerance in schools as that'd do alot more to help things out. But they get attacked for trying to do things like that.

Clash181

If the school allows strait students in then I really see no problem. It's like the private catholic school I go to, you can be an atheist, jewish, protestant, whatever and go as long as you respect the church when we go to mass and eachother.

WalkingOnSunshine

I cannot even imagine the outcry if a heterosexual only school was even proposed much less built. The fact is a divide and conquer theory is not going to help anything. Personally, I think this school will be counter productive from every aspect.

mh67511

The other thing that bothers me is that they are essentially saying that bullying homosexuals is worse than any other kind of bullying. I don't agree. Bullying is bullying, period. Someone who is bullied because they are fat or ugly isn't necessarily going to feel any better than a kid who is bullied for being gay. I remember seeing a show on 20/20 about bullying and none of it was because of homosexuality; most of the time there really was no reason for it. It just happened.

This doesn't do anything to address the issue. So you remove some of the bullies victims, they wont magically stop bullying other students. What is more likely is that they will find other victims. And it's not like you can just keep creating new schools. Addressing the effect of bullying is important, but I don't think this is the right way to go about doing it, but you also have to look at the cause. It seems to me like they are ignoring the cause of bullying. How does not being around gay people make someone respect them?

I just feel they are making a statement that it is not ok to bully gays, but what about everyone else?

TokyoNiGHTS

It helps these kids go to school without having to worry about these bullies, so I don't see the big deal. Like i've said, if schools were actually allowed to address these problems without having religious groups come out and scream at them for trying to get people to respect gays, then alot of this would be solved. But they won't let that happen.

I feel that schools should crack down on bullying period. No more of this "Stop doing picking on "insert name". This does nothing to help anyone. You should get punished, first detention and then suspension if you keep it up. Yes its strict, but if kids are learning that if they do this that they'll get kicked out i'm sure that their parents will make sure they atleast keep their bigot views (this once again goes for everyone being bullied not just gays) to themself atleast when they're in school. I think that's where schools are a big problem.

sick little jag

Yeah, but how many kids who are bullied for being fat or ugly don't recieve the same kind of malice that people who are harrased for being homosexual or percieved as homosexual. People aren't beat to death (or nearly to death) for being fat or ugly. At least not normally.

You know what, I'm a liberal and I don't really agree with having a public "homosexual only" school...but at the same time I think it would be a good environment for students who are tolerant and accepting and members of the GSAs who aren't LGBT. If it were more of an attitude of "We're opening this school with a clean slate and any kind of homophobic or intolerant behavior will NOT be accepted, period", then I might be open to it...but whatever.