Subject: RE: Spectator coverage of a current issue Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 09:39:18 -0500 Message-ID: <D0AEBED8692AB14791F4FA1CE121CC6D011454F6@PEPSI.uwec.edu> From: "Markgraf, Jill S." <MARKGRJS@uwec.edu>
Hi,
I'm new to this list, so maybe this has been done already. I know many
of us have contacted the school board. But what about sending to the
school board a petition or signed letter from parents in support of
tolerance, acceptance and discourse in our schools to counter the
unsigned letter?
Jill Markgraf
________________________________
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Hale, C. Kate
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:35 AM
To: Wilcox, Jean A.; Alea, Mary Ellen; Wesenberg, Nancy Christine; SFPJ
Subject: Re: Spectator coverage of a current issue
Jean and all---
I actually typed "scary" at first . . . I'm trying NOT to be scared, but
in truth I am at least part of the time.
Jean, your point is absolutely correct: I think we have some educating
to do here so that people understand that the status quo IS already
political.
But how to proceed?
Kate
On 5/12/05 9:30 AM, "Wilcox, Jean A." <wilcoxja@uwec.edu> wrote:
Kate and Others,
I find this more than disheartening; I find it downright scary.
I particularly find the "unsigned" letter from parents scary. Is not
allowing the discussion of political issues in the classroom in fact
allowing a political statement to be made in the classroom?
Jean Wilcox
________________________________
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Alea, Mary Ellen
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:14 AM
To: Wesenberg, Nancy Christine; Hale, C. Kate;
sfpj@listserve.uwec.edu
Subject: Re: Spectator coverage of a current issue
Question: where is the principal in all of this. It seems to
me his voice has been quiet. I thought he was a stand-up kind of guy.
--ME Alea
On 5/12/05 9:00 AM, "Wesenberg, Nancy Christine"
<WESENBNC@uwec.edu> wrote:
Just for your information, The board of directors of the
LGBT Center of the Chippewa has crafted a letter in support of Beth
Franklin which will be delivered to the School Board and the L-T today.
N. Wesenberg
________________________________
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Hale, C. Kate
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 8:19 AM
To: SFPJ
Subject: FW: Spectator coverage of a current issue
Colleagues,
This is disheartening-the rally at Clairemont yesterday
was well attended and the energy there was good. But this response,
these additional comments from Mr. Bennett, really troubles me.
We need to stay alert and to be prepared to act as
necessary.
Kate Hale
English
------ Forwarded Message
From: "Phillips, William H." <philliwh@uwec.edu>
Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 06:42:16 -0500
To: "ENGL.STAFF" <ENGL.STAFF@uwec.edu>
Subject: Spectator coverage of a current issue
The Spectator - Campus News
Issue: 5/12/05
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Discussion, photo of student angers parents
By Karline Koehler
Eau Claire community members are divided after a local
high school teacher showed photographs of transgendered UW-Eau Claire
senior Jessica Janiuk's face as part of a discussion about lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgendered people.
On April 14, Memorial High School English teacher Beth
Franklin showed classes photos of Janiuk's face before and after (see
photo) her sex change. The lesson took place during the Day of Silence,
an event "to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment"
against LGBT people.
During the discussion, one student walked out of the
classroom. His father, Neal Bennett, filed a complaint against the
school board, stating the situation constituted harassment.
"She's taking her own agenda and she is forcing it on
the students," Bennett said. "It doesn't matter what that agenda is -
if it's a controversial issue, that's wrong."
Franklin is the adviser for GLASS, Memorial's LGBT
student group. She declined to comment for this article.
"This whole incident is the very reason that the Day of
Silence even exists," Janiuk said. "This is an attempt of a large
community to silence minority groups. I won't stand by and let that
happen."
That's why Janiuk organized a rally in support of
Franklin Wednesday at the corner of Keith Street and Clairemont Avenue.
"Her lesson was in line with all the policies of the
school," Janiuk said. "The problem here is ignorance. It's not bigotry;
it's not hate speech. The only way to fight ignorance is through
education."
However, Bennett said he believes such discussions can
be harmful to still-maturing high school students.
"They may look like they're adults, but they're
teenagers," he said. "They have a lot of stuff that they're trying to
figure out."
Janiuk said the parents' criticism of Franklin's
teaching was also personal.
"Even though he may not have directed it at me, it
attacked me," she said. "It's not an easy thing to deal with, knowing a
sizeable part of the town is upset that you exist."
Bennett said parents should have been notified ahead of
time about the discussion and given the option to remove their
children.
"You can talk about gays, but there are times when that
discussion needs to stay away from the students. It becomes offensive
to people," Bennett said. "If someone decides to do that to their own
body, that's a very private issue."
Janiuk disagreed.
"They're not private issues, they're life issues," she
said. "They're no more private than your ethnicity or your family.
That's who you are and there's nothing wrong with expressing it. It
doesn't have to be kept secret."
In addition to the rally, Janiuk said, she is organizing
an educational panel and forum at Memorial in response to the debate.
She also plans to meet with the school's principal.
"I've had a lot of people say, 'Jess, just tell me
where to be,' " Janiuk said. "I'm not concerned (for myself). It's for
everyone who is now being told they're not welcome here."
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."
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