Principal Quitting over Gay-Straight Alliance Club
Here's the link.
posted by Mr. Carlisle at 9:57 AM
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
About Me
- Name: Mr. Carlisle
- Location: Portland, Oregon, United States
I'm a native South Carolinian and I attained my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina. I taught fourth grade for two years in the Mississippi Delta and two years at an alternative high school in Western North Carolina. I have been at Tigard High School since the fall of 2003, where I teach U.S. History and Psychology.
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25 Comments:
"with members of the same sex, opposite sex, or members of both sexes"
Aside from that, I think it's more "unprofessional" of him to resign because he's against the formation of the club.
3:33 PM
This is ridiculous. The formation of this club in no way should change his personal beliefs and is not hurting him in any way so I don't see how it "convicts" him.
3:56 PM
I think more shocking than the actual story is the poll at the top!
66% of voters think schools should not allow these clubs. That's horrible!!!
I guess this is his form of peaceful protest. Heh
5:13 PM
"Everyone has equal rights. We shouldn't discriminate from what they need to do," says Ashlei Tate.
Now I bet a lot people aren't respecting Mr. Walker for his decision (like in Ashlei Tate's quote)- That's what is the most common reaction to these kinds of events... But isn't that hypocritical? If everyone has equal rights, (everyone, in this case, being the people involved with the Gay-Straight Alliance at Irmo Highschool)than shouldn't Mr.Walker be respected for his decision? If we are all equal and deserve the same rights, than this principal should have the right to make his own decisions without anyone persecuting him about them.
I don't believe this was an 'unprofessional' thing for him to do, because this is a personal matter having to do with his 'professional beliefs and religious convictions.' He's not hurting anyone by making this decision to resign, so I don't see the problem- As long as he treats the people involved with this group with as much respect as anyone else in the school- There is nothing for opposed people to be upset about.
I don't think that '66% poll' is so horrible- Why are so many people in favor of these clubs?
5:25 PM
i think that people are in favor of clubs like these because sometimes when you are in a minority group that is constantly being victimized it MIGHT be a LITTLE easier to deal with these things knowing you have a support group behind you. MAYBE, i don't know, i'm just saying...
6:18 PM
Uhh...34% is not "so many people." It allows kids a safe haven, somewhere they can go and not be victimized by others. It's important to have these groups so kids can have other students to identify with. Keeping homosexuality a secret can lead to serious mental problems (even though being open about it and being teased can be just as detrimental...) It's important for kids to feel like they BELONG and that other kids are experiencing the same thing or are there to help.
I think what some people don't understand is that not allowing GSAs to be formed doesn't prevent homosexuality... Homosexuality is going to be around no matter what, so why not support these clubs?
6:57 PM
I went and checked out the poll question responses in depth. Some of the things that the people had to say are incredibly ignorant. take this one for example...
"Our schools are told to teach abstinence in their sex education classes. Allowing this club totally goes against that teaching."
ummmmm, seriously?! People actually believe that a Gay/Straight Alliance promotes sexual activity? I read quite a few comments that agreed with this one, believe it or not. People need to stop making inaccurate correlations between these two completely unrelated things. I'm actually having an incredibly difficult time trying to comprehend what these people are thinking.
8:29 PM
I think the fact that the official reason for not allowing this club was because it went against their "abstinence based" curriculum is ridiculous and just sad. They're using their own personal fears as a tool to prevent others from being treated equally.
A Gay-Straight alliance is not centered around sexual acts, the entire point is for there to be support for a group that is discriminated against. The group is there as a haven. Assuming that a club like this would go against their "abstinence-based curriculum" is like assuming that a robotics club will build only torture devices. Bad analogy. You know what I mean. I'm getting upset.
10:51 PM
"Now I bet a lot people aren't respecting Mr. Walker for his decision (like in Ashlei Tate's quote)- That's what is the most common reaction to these kinds of events... But isn't that hypocritical? If everyone has equal rights, than shouldn't Mr.Walker be respected for his decision?"
The way I see it, the reason why people aren't respecting him for his decision is that HE was the one initially discriminating. For this reason, I DO NOT believe that he is free from criticism.
10:53 PM
"The way I see it, the reason why people aren't respecting him for his decision is that HE was the one initially discriminating. For this reason, I DO NOT believe that he is free from criticism."
How was he discriminating them if the reason why he resigned was because of 'professional beliefs and religious convictions'???
There is NO proof that he was directly discriminating against this group of people. No matter what his decision was, I beleive he still should be respected as a person.
"I think what some people don't understand is that not allowing GSAs to be formed doesn't prevent homosexuality... Homosexuality is going to be around no matter what, so why not support these clubs?"
I beleive that a person's sexual orientation is a personal matter- I don't beleive it is something that should be placed in a learning envoirnment, because it has NOTHING to do with what we learn in school.
"It's important to have these groups so kids can have other students to identify with. Keeping homosexuality a secret can lead to serious mental problems"
A person's sexual orientation does not need to be kept a secret-- Even if a person feels this way, this is not so. They have to right to free speech- But there is no way of stopping another person's response to it...They have just as much right to state thier opinions, even if they are bullies (unfortunaltely).
10:11 AM
OH- About them having a place to go to: I'm fine with that, I just think they should do it out of school, on their own time, out of school.
"I think what some people don't understand is that not allowing GSAs to be formed doesn't prevent homosexuality... Homosexuality is going to be around no matter what, so why not support these clubs?"
I don't think Mr. Walker was trying to prevent homosexuality- There is no proof that he is trying to do so. Again, it is just his personal decision based on his beliefs.
10:38 AM
"I beleive that a person's sexual orientation is a personal matter- I don't beleive it is something that should be placed in a learning envoirnment, because it has NOTHING to do with what we learn in school."
But this type of thing is in places like schools. Take the simple little posters that say: "Sexist, Racist and Homophobic remarks will not be tolerated".
And like Carlisle would say, "let's make this relevent". We're learning about civil rights at this moment and Homosexual's came up. So, we do learn about this type of thing in school.
1:14 PM
We do too learn about homosexuality in school. Like Devin said, we just talked about homosexual rights a few days ago. And we also talk about them briefly when we learn about all the groups Nazis discriminated against.
"I beleive he still should be respected as a person."
How were this man's actions respectable at all? I'm not saying they are something that we should look down upon, because it was his decision. But why should we respect him for resigning over a GSA? He most certainly does not have my respect.
3:40 PM
"Again, it is just his personal decision based on his beliefs."
I understand the argument you're trying to make here, but I was thinking this over.
Suppose it wasn't a GSA this man resigned over, suppose it was an "Urban Club" or "Asian Club" (this is S.C. after all;) sorry Carlisle.)
Suddenly his personal beliefs make him a racist.
I think people need to learn that "homophobic" is a word like "sexist" and "racist". It's discrimination.
We talk about race a lot in school, and sex (look at women in WWII history). We do this because THS moto is: "inspiring a culture of service and learning". It's there to teach us not only for the system of the real world, but for the issues. This is why we have sexual education classes, and the social sciences, and Theory of Knowledge.
To teach tolerance.
Which is never a bad thing.
Ever.
5:42 PM
if he wants to resign he can
he can state his personal beliefs if he wants, he didn't offend anyone
why are people making this an issue?
the students will get their club and probably a pricipal who supports it - i mean he resigned after all - he's gone, it doesn't matter
6:13 PM
This guy is a religious bigot and i think the school will be a better off place without him. I mean if this guy gets upset over a club being formed in his school, do we really want him as the head of a school?
Even though i think this guy left for a really stupid reason, i think he did it in a respectful way. He didnt personally offend anyone even though i think he is wrong about how he says a GSA club would somehow promote sexual activity. we have one at tigard and im pretty sure thats not happening.
I believe that lady who was interviewed is an idiot also. what does she mean "lower the values of our school"? she seems to think that if she doesnt accept gay people as equals then they are just going to go away or something. but i digress. i could go on and on about how much i hate these right wing religious bigots. racists in the south were and are to black people in the 60s as gays are to these religious nutjobs today.
6:36 PM
This guy is a religious bigot and i think the school will be a better off place without him. I mean if this guy gets upset over a club being formed in his school, should he even be the head of a school?
Even though i think this guy left for a really stupid reason, i think he did it in a respectful way. He didnt personally offend anyone even though i think he is wrong about how he says a GSA club would somehow promote sexual activity. we have one at tigard and im pretty sure thats not happening.
I believe that lady who was interviewed is an idiot also. what does she mean "lower the values of our school"? she seems to think that if she doesnt accept gay people as equals then they are just going to go away or something. but i digress. i could go on and on about how much i hate these right wing religious bigots. racists in the south were and are to black people as gays are to these religious nut jobs except just to a lesser extent.
6:38 PM
sorry for the double post
6:39 PM
"why are people making this an issue?" -michelle
It's an issue, as max so forwardly says, because of the argument around the subject. That's why it's an issue.
Same reasons abortion/pro life is an issue. And stem cell and all that other crazy things that will never be solved.
Blame politics. lol
Besides, Carlisle never let's us debate in class. lol
11:14 PM
Suddenly his personal beliefs make him a racist.
I think people need to learn that "homophobic" is a word like "sexist" and "racist". It's discrimination.
A person's personal beleifs do not hurt any one or show discrimination IF they do not effect anyone directly- Again, there is NO PROOF that Mr. Walker outwardly showed rascist beleifs or discriminatory actions towards people of the GSA. His personal beleifs should not stop anyone from doing what they want to do...
Like Michelle said,
"the students will get their club and probably a pricipal who supports it - i mean he resigned after all - he's gone, it doesn't matter"... Enough said.
"i think he is wrong about how he says a GSA club would somehow promote sexual activity. we have one at tigard and im pretty sure thats not happening (having the principal leave b/c of the GSA)."
Well, what if it DID happen here at Tigard high? Obviously, many people would be upset and possibly stage a mini-protest, but what would be the reason for their anger if they are not being directly affected?
So, why IS Mr. Walker's resignation such a big issue?
Why do people feel so offended by people opposing their beleifs if they can carry on doing what they want no matter what principal comes or goes?
6:17 AM
It's the principle behind the matter. Imagine how horrible the kids who formed and joined the club feel. Try telling them that he isn't discriminating. I bet they feel pretty discriminated against. They probably feel like they are being singled out (which they ARE).
6:29 AM
"Again, there is NO PROOF that Mr. Walker outwardly showed rascist beliefs or discriminatory actions towards people of the GSA."
I never said he was a racist, I was merely trying to prove a point, that if it was a racial club, the same issue would exist. People would still get upset over it, BECAUSE, it would be racist. Just like people are getting upset over it BECAUSE it's discrimination.
Suddenly because there's a large population against an idea, it's not discrimination, but personal belief.
Wasn't it the south's PERSONAL BELIEF and CULTURE that kept Slavery and Civil Rights locked down and away in America for so long?
I hate comparing the homosexuals to the African-Americans, so understand, that's not what I'm trying to do. I'm merely pointing out, that if it was a different minority that this happened to, wouldn't your opinion change of this guy? Is it only personal Belief BECAUSE it's the Homosexuals?
Because that's how I feel. I feel if it was an Asian Club or an Urban Club, and a principal did that, his political career would be tarnished. But in this day and age, it's okay to single out the homosexuals, which is exactly what this did.
Going to Young Life and telling them: "I'm resigning because my personal beliefs don't agree with this club. After-all, I'm an atheist."
...That hurts.
Granted, Young Life, I think, holds their club events off campus, but I think school meetings are important to the GSA because unlike Young Life members, GSA members are discriminated against for their club and need a safe and friendly environment in the school they can go to. Which is what school promised to be, A SAFE AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.
8:12 AM
Thus I find that justification enough for a club to hold on-campus meetings.
8:15 AM
That's totally fine that you beleive that- It is completely respectable that people have and voice thier own opinions, and I see how people including yourself come to make these conclusions. However, I still think that no matter what club imaginable Mr. Walker could have quit on account of, it is his personal decision, and no one has the right to persecute him for it.
If the members of the GSA have the legal right to voice their personal dicisions, then so should Mr. Walker.
I do think that homosexuals are being singled out sometimes, but only because the full 'coming out' idea in society has not been accepted yet. Granted, the concept has been around for a LONG time, but that doesn't mean that people can or will get used to seeing and experiencing it in their world anytime soon.
4:09 PM
"If the members of the GSA have the legal right to voice their personal dicisions, then so should Mr. Walker."
umm....take out that 'legal'- Don't know where that came from.
4:11 PM
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