Subject: RE: Spectator coverage of a current issue Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 09:33:53 -0500 Message-ID: <9CBE51C748FC4E469D447D1825C64A3C0140700E@COKE.uwec.edu> From: "Alarcon, Eberth G. Jr." <ALARCOEG@uwec.edu>
Colleagues,
Regarding the Spectator article, I think we need to highlight the
following:
In early May, the school board received an unsigned letter from parents
objecting to sexual and political issues in the classroom. Bennett said
the group is asking for the school's administration and staff to be
retrained on rules, for the school to enforce a dress code for teachers
banning "offensive" clothing such as "rainbow-colored necklaces," for
the school board to hold a forum with parents twice a year and for the
educational system to "return to American heritage and tradition in the
classroom."
What kind of slippery slope are these people advocating when a
"rainbow-colored necklace" qualifies as "offensive" clothing? How many
different colors of the rainbow would you need before it becomes
"offensive"? three? four? What if you have a rainbow-colored scarf, as
Asha does, expressing solidarity with Pachakutik, the South American
indigenous movement? This kind of thinking is quite ludicrous, and I
think it will be seen as such by a significant majority of our community
when we highlight it.
Lastly. let's try to pin down the authors of this unsigned letter (what
was it, a ransom note?) as to the "American heritage and tradition" they
are referring to. I can only imagine.
At least I agree on the idea of a forum with the parents. A forum which
all reasonable minded parents who can do so would be obligated to
attend.
Eberth