Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 09:51:13 -0500 Subject: Re: Spectator coverage of a current issue From: Marty Wood <mwood@uwec.edu> Message-ID: <BEA8D791.4A18%mwood@uwec.edu>
Let¹s not overlook the complicity of the Leader-Telegram in all of this.
Their recurring presentation of a variety of extremist viewpoints as if
those viewpoints are respectable or widely held, their eager embrace of thi
s
specific story, including an incredibly distorted headline (³Parents Want
Changes² instead of ³Nutjob Fringe Element Sends Anonymous Threatening
Letter²), their selection of columnists and letters ‹ we deserve much
better. A merely conservative bias might (or might not) be a reasonable
stance for Eau Claire¹s sole newspaper to assume, but that¹s nothing like
what the L-T promotes. The sizeable progressive and moderate portions of
the population deserve something this side of theofascism.
Maybe we could organize a campaign to offer a reality check to the editoria
l
writers.
On 5/12/05 9:39 AM, "Markgraf, Jill S." <MARKGRJS@uwec.edu> wrote:
> 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 boa
rd a
> petition or signed letter from parents in support of tolerance, acceptanc
e and
> discourse in our schools to counter the unsigned letter?
> Jill Markgraf
>
>
> From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu [mailto: [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 ³scary² at first . . . I¹m 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 all
owing
>> 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 v
oice
>> 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> w
rote:
>>
>>
>>> 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 w
ill
>>> 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 atte
nded
>>> 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
>>>
>>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>>> ----
>>>
>>>
>>> Discussion, photo of student angers parents
>>> By Karline Koehler
>>>
>>> Eau Claire community members are divided after a local high school te
acher
>>> showed photographs of transgendered UW-Eau Claire senior Jessica Jani
uk's
>>> face as part of a discussion about lesbian, gay, bisexual and
>>> transgendered people.
>>>
>>> On April 14, Memorial High School English teacher Beth Franklin showe
d
>>> 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, sta
ting
>>> 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 sil
ence
>>> 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 speec
h.
>>> 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 th
e
>>> discussion and given the option to remove their children.
>>>
>>> "You can talk about gays, but there are times when that discussion ne
eds
>>> to stay away from the students. It becomes offensive to people," Benn
ett
>>> 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 an
d
>>> 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 education
al
>>> 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,' " Ja
niuk
>>> said. "I'm not concerned (for myself). It's for everyone who is now b
eing
>>> told they're not welcome here."
>>>
>>> In early May, the school board received an unsigned letter from paren
ts
>>> objecting to sexual and political issues in the classroom. Bennett sa
id
>>> 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 teacher
s
>>> 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 t
he
>>> classroom."
>>>
>>>
>>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>>> ----
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>>>
>>
>>
>
>