This Video promoting homosexuality was shown by Craig High School in Janesville, Wisconsin
The Janesville School
District superintendent issued a public apology Tuesday for the showing
of a video that she describes as pro-gay marriage and in violation of
district policies requiring the presentation of all sides of
“controversial” or “political” topics.
In April, Craig High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance problem 1 showed “Kids React to Gay "Marriage",” a 16-minute video of children leading to problem 2 reacting to "marriage" proposals between same-sex couples and sharing their thoughts on issues like gay" marriage" bans or whether they would stay friends with someone who told them they were gay.
Bits of text flashed during the video offering viewers information about the history and status of gay "marriage" in the United States or about discrimination and hate crimes, among other things.
Superintendent Karen Schulte said in a statement that the GSA’s advisers and principal Alison Bjoin approved students viewing the video during classes. forget the 3 R's (Reading, wRiting, and aRithmitic, ow it's the 3 S's Sex, Sodomy, and Social Engineering) But Schulte said a later review of the video prompted her apology.
“The appropriate thing would be to present both sides of an issue or all sides of an issue, so that’s why I sent the apology, because I felt we did not follow board policy,” Schulte said in an interview.
Schulte said the video was “very biased” and violated the school district’s policies on controversial and political issues because it did not offer a similar look at views in support of keeping marriage between men and women.
The policy requires classroom discussions to include all sides of a political matter.
She said she felt “that the concept of gay marriage would fall under political action and/or legislation” because cases are being argued for and against it in courts across the country.
Schulte — who said she was directed by the Janesville School Board to issue the public apology this week — also said in the statement Tuesday that the district includes elimination of "bullying" and "harassment" toward all students as part of its Day of Silence activities and the video was not aligned with that purpose.
Jill Marcellus, spokeswoman for the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, said the focus should be on the fact that students were trying to raise awareness about issues facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, rather than on the video.
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth face so many barriers in school, from harassment by their peers to unfair policies that punish youth because of who they are,” she said. “School staff should encourage, not condemn, the "brave" efforts of youth in Gay-Straight Alliance clubs to make their schools safer for all students.” What about religious students
Video creators Benny and Rafi Fine said in an email that they do not consider the video to be biased, and consider “raw opinions of children to be incredibly "valuable" insight on our current society.”
They also said they were surprised to see any need for a public apology over the video.
“We feel it is a great resource to discuss both sides of the issue by seeing not just how these particular children answered the questions, but to answer and discuss the questions and information we presented as a starting off point to discuss what each individual viewer of the episode’s opinions are on the subject themselves,” they said.
After receiving complaints, Bjoin told students in the Gay-Straight Alliance that some students may have been offended and talked about guidelines for the future, Schulte said.
A grandparent contacted the School Board because she felt a public apology for what happened in April was warranted also, board member Bill Sodemann said.
“I found the video to be inappropriate and propaganda laden in addition to the left-wing political view,” grandparent Jo Yungerman wrote to the principal in a letter dated April 17 provided to the State Journal.
Bjoin declined to comment. Teacher Diana Mishleau-Daluge, who is listed on the high school’s website as the GSA’s adviser, did not return phone calls.
and if the parents would have complained about the gay straights alliances, and gay day in general without the extra insults, they might have prevented this instead of getting an apology for that which already happened.
In 2008, GSA students in both Janesville high schools hung "informational" posters leading up to the Day of Silence, which drew ire from some community members — including Sodemann, who was a board member at the time, according to Janesville Gazette archives.
“If you’re going to deal with those (controversial issues), then you’re going to deal with them in an even-handed and balanced way and this was neither,” he said Tuesday.
Sodemann also said he considered the video to be bullying people who did not support same-sex "marriage" on a day highlighting the wrongs of bullying.
He said he also would object to showing a video about keeping marriage between men and women — or about any issue — that didn’t offer a balanced presentation.
(host.madison.com) highlights my additions
In April, Craig High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance problem 1 showed “Kids React to Gay "Marriage",” a 16-minute video of children leading to problem 2 reacting to "marriage" proposals between same-sex couples and sharing their thoughts on issues like gay" marriage" bans or whether they would stay friends with someone who told them they were gay.
Bits of text flashed during the video offering viewers information about the history and status of gay "marriage" in the United States or about discrimination and hate crimes, among other things.
Superintendent Karen Schulte said in a statement that the GSA’s advisers and principal Alison Bjoin approved students viewing the video during classes. forget the 3 R's (Reading, wRiting, and aRithmitic, ow it's the 3 S's Sex, Sodomy, and Social Engineering) But Schulte said a later review of the video prompted her apology.
“The appropriate thing would be to present both sides of an issue or all sides of an issue, so that’s why I sent the apology, because I felt we did not follow board policy,” Schulte said in an interview.
Schulte said the video was “very biased” and violated the school district’s policies on controversial and political issues because it did not offer a similar look at views in support of keeping marriage between men and women.
The policy requires classroom discussions to include all sides of a political matter.
She said she felt “that the concept of gay marriage would fall under political action and/or legislation” because cases are being argued for and against it in courts across the country.
Day of Silence
The video was played on April 11 to recognize the Day of Silence some more stories from gay day and gay week, a national event to bring “attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, "bullying" and harassment in schools and homosexuality promotion,” according to the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network.Schulte — who said she was directed by the Janesville School Board to issue the public apology this week — also said in the statement Tuesday that the district includes elimination of "bullying" and "harassment" toward all students as part of its Day of Silence activities and the video was not aligned with that purpose.
Jill Marcellus, spokeswoman for the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, said the focus should be on the fact that students were trying to raise awareness about issues facing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, rather than on the video.
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth face so many barriers in school, from harassment by their peers to unfair policies that punish youth because of who they are,” she said. “School staff should encourage, not condemn, the "brave" efforts of youth in Gay-Straight Alliance clubs to make their schools safer for all students.” What about religious students
Video creators Benny and Rafi Fine said in an email that they do not consider the video to be biased, and consider “raw opinions of children to be incredibly "valuable" insight on our current society.”
They also said they were surprised to see any need for a public apology over the video.
“We feel it is a great resource to discuss both sides of the issue by seeing not just how these particular children answered the questions, but to answer and discuss the questions and information we presented as a starting off point to discuss what each individual viewer of the episode’s opinions are on the subject themselves,” they said.
Parents complained
Schulte’s apology came after a School Board member contacted the district office about two parents and a grandparent who had contacted the principal upset about the video.After receiving complaints, Bjoin told students in the Gay-Straight Alliance that some students may have been offended and talked about guidelines for the future, Schulte said.
A grandparent contacted the School Board because she felt a public apology for what happened in April was warranted also, board member Bill Sodemann said.
“I found the video to be inappropriate and propaganda laden in addition to the left-wing political view,” grandparent Jo Yungerman wrote to the principal in a letter dated April 17 provided to the State Journal.
Bjoin declined to comment. Teacher Diana Mishleau-Daluge, who is listed on the high school’s website as the GSA’s adviser, did not return phone calls.
and if the parents would have complained about the gay straights alliances, and gay day in general without the extra insults, they might have prevented this instead of getting an apology for that which already happened.
Second conflict
This is the second time in six years that there was conflict in the school district over the Day of Silence.In 2008, GSA students in both Janesville high schools hung "informational" posters leading up to the Day of Silence, which drew ire from some community members — including Sodemann, who was a board member at the time, according to Janesville Gazette archives.
“If you’re going to deal with those (controversial issues), then you’re going to deal with them in an even-handed and balanced way and this was neither,” he said Tuesday.
Sodemann also said he considered the video to be bullying people who did not support same-sex "marriage" on a day highlighting the wrongs of bullying.
He said he also would object to showing a video about keeping marriage between men and women — or about any issue — that didn’t offer a balanced presentation.
(host.madison.com) highlights my additions
Once I viewed the video, I felt like it was biased to one side of the (same-sex "marriage") issue," superintendent Schulte said
Three parents wrote letters complaining that students shouldn't have been shown the video, but the majority of parents didn't have an public issue with it, Schulte said.did she ask them or she's just assuming so because they didn't voice a complaint, in short we need to broadcast are complaints
Schulte said the video "certainly didn't show support for the other side" that opposes same-sex marriage, but she believes the student group who chose the video was "well intentioned" and that this is a "teachable moment" for those students.
"We always try to find balance," Schulte said.
Board member Bill Sodemann said the district made an "obvious error" by showing the video but was pleased a public apology was issued.
"The video goes against our policies," Sodemann said. "We can't use the schools to promote political agendas."
Sodemann said the district showed transparency Tuesday by letting the public know it had made a mistake just as it does when it notifies the public of an accomplishment.
"It was supposed to be an anti-bullying message but didn't do anything but promote gay marriage," Sodemann said. "When dealing with these issues, you need to have balance and can't promote political issues."
Board President Greg Ardrey said the board wasn't aware of the video until May 6 and took appropriate action upon finding out from a parent. He said it is important for the district to acknowledge when it makes a mistake.
"The No. 1 piece is we recognized a violation in policy had occurred," Ardrey said. "In this case for certain, there weren't two sides of the video expressed."
(twincities.com) like she actually expected a gay-straight alliance to make a balanced video
We need the Moshiach ASAP.
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