MRHS has had students participate in the "Day of Silence" for gay rights for many years now. Thankfully, it has never become an issue here - I think it is a very appropriate way to draw attention to the fact that many students that are gay often are the victims of harassment and must be "silent" or hide their sexual orientation.
Of course there are people that are still not accepting of gay rights, and one parent at Mt. Si High School has made this an issue in recent years. His story is below. For more on the National Day of Silence, click on this link.
Local News Activists oppose schools' "Day of Silence" for gay rights Seattle Times Newspaper
Of course there are people that are still not accepting of gay rights, and one parent at Mt. Si High School has made this an issue in recent years. His story is below. For more on the National Day of Silence, click on this link.
Local News Activists oppose schools' "Day of Silence" for gay rights Seattle Times Newspaper
Another sad story in which anti-gay bullying played a role is recounted in this story:
8 comments:
This is a ridiculous problem because the people in the day of silence have just as much of a right to practice their freedom of speech (or not speaking) just as much as the parents have a right to protest and speak about their problems with it. i would be more concerned if this got taken to a more extreme level that involved harassment and ridicule to the extreme, but so far what ever those two sides want to do is fine with me.
I think that what these kids are doing is the first amendment freedom of speech. So if kids are bullying them for doing this, the kids are violating someones constitutional rights. The school needed to do something like the mother asked before it got to far. Which it did. So i am totally fine with what the kids are doing.
I think that students not being able to voice their opinions is unconstitutional. It says in the constitution people have the right of speech and freedom of press. Freedom of expression. If they have opinions on gay rights let them express them. The last time i cheched it did not bother anyone student o teachers that there is a day where people choose to stay silent. If it was for any other issue would people act this way as well? If you dont agree with the issue dont participate. Just keep your thoughts and move on. It is only one day out of 365. What harm can it do.
-Sarah Russell
I think that this is not that big of a problem. In america we say that everyone is created equal and we all have equal rights of speach. The constitution says that we have that rigth no matter our, coler, race, reliogion, or belief. so if these students want to voice their feelings about gay rigths in school they have that right. They are not hurting anyone and yes, the parents have the rigth to disagree with it but the students have that same right to have a day of silence. We are a mixed culture full of all kinds of diffrent beliefs and peopel and we should al be able to voice our ideas and beliefs.
Brigette Battle
current event #7
I think that it the people participating in silence have ever right to participate, reason being is that their right is stated in the constitution. Also the people that want to protest have every right of those who chose not to speak. i dont think that there really is anything to worry about untill the situation gets out of control, such as if thee two groups were to slash. Those are extremes that i dont believe it will get too.
:current event #7
4/24/2009 3:50
I think that the school does have control of this day but they let it happen because they feel it isnt offensive or harmful to anyone. Although if it was all of those kids would be suspended that day. In my own personel opinion I think being gay is disgusting and that those who CHOOSE to be gay should want/have to hide it.
-Megan Amacker
Preventing the students from voicing their opinions on gay rights is unconstitutional. In the first amendment it guarantees us freedom of speech and I believe that freedom to not speak falls into this category also. If students want to take a day of silence for any reason they have the right to do so. Whether or not teachers will support this is debatable so the students are risking losing points by not speaking but all in all it’s their choice to either participate or not.
Keegan Malmanger
EXTRA CREDIT
i think they should be able to express there opinions about how they feel about gay rights. i think in a way it relates to the first amendment about the freedom of speech because in a way not speaking can be just as effective in this case. anyone should be allowed to not talk i dont see why it would be unconstitutiional to not talk. it would go against the constiutuion if kids bullied these people.
Spencer Truong
Period 5
EXTRA CREDIT
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