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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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OK....
First the scenierio.....
High school homecoming dance, you, a boy and your date, a boy... as happens, kiss....
A teacher promptly interjects himself, calling you unnatural, insists you separate to corners of the hall.
This happened last night to one of our own..... He needs our support.....
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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What I would do....Id bring a law sute against the teacher and the school. This has been taken to court befor and the schools have lost. The teacher needs to come into the 21st century. I would make a believer out of the teacher. first I wouldnt have complied with the request. the teacher did not have that authority. The teacher was not the morality police.
If you stand for Freedom, but you wont stand for war, then you dont stand for anything worth fighting for.
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I think more info is needed.
- Were straight couples being alloud to kiss or were they being separated as well. in other words, does the school have a policy against PDAs and is the policy uniformily inforced?
- what were the exact words from the teacher?
- was this teacher acting on their own, or were they backed up by others?
The teacher's actions may not have been inappropriate, but the words were.
If the young man wants this could be nation wide by the end of the day. There would be a lot of negatives involved with putting the story out, he needs to decide if it is worth it.
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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A) Str8 couples were unfettered in their PDA's
B) I have no idea of the exact words.
C) The teacher was acting on his own.
The ACLU has been notified.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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They are brave boys, but they need lots and lots of emotional support. Thank goodness there are those sorts of people here.
Youth crisis hot-line 866-488-7386, 24 hr (U.S.A.)
There are people who want to help you cope with being you.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Hmm. I think it was an unwise and courageous cat. But the support is the thing.
By "one of our own" you mean a young gentleman here?
I like the idea of a law suit, if and only if brave enough to cope with the pressure of either winning or losing.
I salute the pair. I have no idea what to suggest except that act of support
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Marc wrote:
> The ACLU has been notified.
Hopeful, they will do what is right. I think a lawsuit is overkill, though the teacher should have to make a formal, public apology. Then the school should fire him (probably will not happen).
(\\__/) And if you don't believe The sun will rise
(='.'=) Stand alone and greet The coming night
(")_(") In the last remaining light. (C. Cornell)
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ChowanFarmBoy
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Toe is in the water |
Registered: January 1970
Messages: 93
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A law suit is not overkill. We'd have a lawyer so fast the teachers little pin head would spin. We'd sue him, the principle, the school board both jointly and severally, and we wouldn't settle out of court. We would demand the school call a mandatory assembly, the teacher would publically apologize for a public insult, and the principle would create and read publically a statement of responsibility and a statement against homophobic acts. We're not on the ground there, so we don't know all the details. But we don't think we can continue to let the christians and homophobes keep getting away with this kind of thing.
We also have to say that we don't have the courage to be out here, and go to senior prom with each other as dates. our hearts are with the two dudes you mentioned and we wish we had balls like they do.
Jon and Donny
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Eldon wrote:
>A law suit is not overkill. We'd have a lawyer so fast the teachers little pin head would spin.<
And we wonder why it is so difficult to get quality candidates to join the teaching profession.
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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While I sympathise with that, the teacher was gravely in error. As I understand it, in the USA this is a matter of constitutional law, and, it seems, this ought to be well known.
I suspect you would be the first to agree that teachers should leave their prejudices at home, and that one who does not or can not ought to be reviewed very seriously.
If hetero couples are all over each other like a rash at these events, gay couples can not be discriminated against. For me it is either a "no kissing" rule for all or for none.
[Updated on: Mon, 15 October 2007 09:11]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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He is fully entitled to the cost of the tickets.
It is not about the money, it's about the principal of the situation.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I have re-read your post of the facts. "Separate to the corners of the hall" definitely means ticket costs and transport and any clothing hire costs are to be refunded.
I think I would be seriously tempted to separate the teacher concerned from parts of their anatomy. Dismissal is tempting, but, if the teacher can be re-educated they would make a more valuable staff member than before they made this serious error of judgment
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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A quality teacher wouldn't have any problems. They wouldn't have made those kinds of comments.
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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Geez, kind of the opposite end of the spectrum.
I went to my end-of-year dance with my bf of the time and we won free tickets to a concert for being the best dancers. It was a load of affirmative action crap and I would have preferred not to have got the attention- especially for something unjustified like that (he sucked at dancing).
As for the teacher in this case. I have no respect, no pity and would have no guilt about ruining his career. I'd take it as far as it needs to be taken. First the principal, then the school board, then court if need be.
I'd be expecting a statement in the school newsletter from the principal stating a neutral stance by the school and personally I'd expect a resignation from the teacher in question.
Imagine if it had been a straight interracial couple. Apply the same logic and you have your answer.
There's no excuses. Especially not from a teacher.
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Saben wrote
> Imagine if it had been a straight interracial couple. Apply the same logic and you have your answer.
One of the things we found in the UK whenever we have brought in anti-discrimination legislation is that it takes a while before people understand it sufficiently to comply. It was true with our racial discrimination laws and it's true with our age discrimination laws.
The question is, and I am unsure of the answer, is "How black and white should one be in the early stages?" and there was no pun intended.
Is it better to educate and retain the services or to dismiss? Do we need better teachers because they are better educated, or frightened teachers because they fear complaints? Is dismissal the example required, or a proper apology and an demonstrable change in attitude? Which sends a better overall message?
[Updated on: Mon, 15 October 2007 17:13]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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If the teacher is repentant and kept as staff I think that sends a better message.
But an unapologetic teacher should be dismissed.
Australia, particularly in the education sector, is quite progressive. So I was a little shocked when I first responded.
I think dismissal of an apologetic teacher would polarise the issue more and not in a good way. Compromise and conciliation is always, in my mind, a better solution. But one must be willing to stay the course if a difference cannot be reconciled. In this situation I think you have to be prepared to set a nation-wide example, yet hopefully it shouldn't come to that. Nation-wide media attention of an apologetic teacher would be ideal, in my opinion.
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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