By Ron Marsh
Oh, wait. Sorry, my bad. Not “glisten.” GLSEN.
The “Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network” is promoting a “Day of Silence” for middle schools, high schools and colleges on Friday, April 19. Students (and even teachers) are encouraged to show “solidarity” with lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgendered (LGBT) individuals by not speaking.
Not just by not speaking about issues of “sexual orientation,” but by not speaking, period – about anything, to anyone, all day. Not just at non-academic times such as recess, lunch periods and between-class breaks, but even when called upon by teachers during class time.
The fine folks at GLSEN and the equally fine folks at the ACLU (a.k.a., the American Communist Lawyers’ Union) have already contacted both students and school administrators across the country, advising them of their “rights and responsibilities” related to the Day of Silence. Unfortunately, neither advocacy group has done much to contact parents and explain their agenda for the children. But, hey, “It takes a village,” don’t ya know?
Straight from the horses’ mouths (figuratively speaking, of course):
GLSEN FAQs:
http://www.dayofsilence.org/faqs/
(See #8: “You do NOT have the right to remain silent in class…”)
GLSEN Q&A:
http://www.dayofsilence.org/downloads/QA_student_legal_rights.pdf
ACLU Web page about Day of Silence:
http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/day-silence-student-rights
ACLU letter to school admins about Day of Silence:
http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/day_of_silence_2013_letter.pdf
The Illinois Family Institute’s site can also provide you with some pertinent information and helpful suggestions (even if you don’t live in Illinois):
Illinois Family Institute’s Higgins response to angry critic:
http://illinoisfamily.org/education/higgins-responds-to-angry-day-of-silence-email/
If the Day of Silence is allowed at your child’s school, and if your child chooses not to participate for whatever reason, and especially if your child chooses to express his/her own deeply-held religious or moral beliefs, your child could be considered “hostile” (ACLU letter, above), even labeled “homophobic.” Just for starters.
Contact your child’s school district’s administration and your child’s teachers. Sometimes the administration will leave such issues and actions up to the teachers’ discretion. In such cases, or in instances where the administration is totally silent, many teachers will implement their own plans or agendas at their own initiative.
Some suggested topics and/or questions. You probably will come up with more:
Will students be allowed to remain silent during instructional class hours when their participation would
normally be required?
Will students be allowed to wear clothing with “Day of Silence” messages (especially important if the
school normally prohibits clothing with artwork and/or messages.
Will promotional posters or notices be allowed on campus and/or in classrooms?
Knowledge is power. You owe it to your child(ren) to find out what plans your school district is making, or is not making (worse?), in preparation for this nationwide event. Once informed, you will be able to make intelligent plans for your own Day of Silence – even, as many are suggesting, to keeping your child at home as your own silent statement of protest against the intrusion of “the village” into matters into which it has no legitimate “educational” authority to intrude.
“Your children; your choice.” Well, not really: “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord…” (Psalms 127:3, AV) It’s a solemn responsibility, training – and protecting – God’s precious heritage!
Contact me here or add your comment to this post.
Comments are posted after they are reviewed. All comments that are relevant to this post will be posted. Spam, and other posts we deem inappropriate will NOT be posted.