Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 10:05:46 -0500 Subject: Re: Spectator coverage of a current issue From: Kate Hale <halecl@uwec.edu> Message-ID: <BEA8DAFA.44FB%halecl@uwec.edu>
Follow-up to my own email (Iıve GOT to get back to work, really!) Obviously
,
perhaps some consciousness-raising would be good for a teach-in . . . Thoug
h
we may want to mount more of a year-long (3-year plan?) campaign for that.
Community outreach, anyone?
On 5/12/05 10:03 AM, "Kate Hale" <halecl@uwec.edu> wrote:
> Some of you know that Iıve suggested media reform/alternative media as a
> teach-in or mini-conference focus for next yearMartyıs comment makes me
think
> that perhaps this is a very good idea. If youıre interested in that idea
, let
> me know.
>
> Kate
>
>
> On 5/12/05 9:51 AM, "Marty Wood" <mwood@uwec.edu> wrote:
>
>> Letıs 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 this
>> specific story, including an incredibly distorted headline (³Parents Wan
t
>> Changes² instead of ³Nutjob Fringe Element Sends Anonymous Threatening
>> Letter²), their selection of columnists and letters we deserve much be
tter.
>> A merely conservative bias might (or might not) be a reasonable stance f
or
>> Eau Claireıs sole newspaper to assume, but thatıs nothing like what the
L-T
>> promotes. The sizeable progressive and moderate portions of the populat
ion
>> deserve something this side of theofascism.
>>
>> Maybe we could organize a campaign to offer a reality check to the edito
rial
>> 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 b
oard
>>> a petition or signed letter from parents in support of tolerance, accep
tance
>>> 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 ³scary² at first . . . Iım trying NOT to be scared, bu
t 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 Elle
n
>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:14 AM
>>>> To: Wesenberg, Nancy Christine; Hale, C. Kate; >>>> To: Wesenberg, Nancy Christine; Hale, C. Kate; sfpj@listserve.uwec.ed
u
>>>> 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 Cente
r 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 dishearteningthe 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
>>>>>
>>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>>>>> ------
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 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 Jes
sica
>>>>> Janiuk's face as part of a discussion about lesbian, gay, bisexual a
nd
>>>>> transgendered people.
>>>>>
>>>>> On April 14, Memorial High School English teacher Beth Franklin sho
wed
>>>>> classes photos of Janiuk's face before and after (see photo) her se
x
>>>>> change. The lesson took place during the Day of Silence, an event "
to
>>>>> recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment" against LG
BT
>>>>> 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. S
he
>>>>> declined to comment for this article.
>>>>>
>>>>> "This whole incident is the very reason that the Day of Silence eve
n
>>>>> 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 Wednesda
y at
>>>>> the corner of Keith Street and Clairemont Avenue.
>>>>>
>>>>> "Her lesson was in line with all the policies of the school," Janiu
k
>>>>> said. "The problem here is ignorance. It's not bigotry; it's not hat
e
>>>>> speech. The only way to fight ignorance is through education."
>>>>>
>>>>> However, Bennett said he believes such discussions can be harmful t
o
>>>>> 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," sh
e
>>>>> 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," Be
nnett
>>>>> said. "If someone decides to do that to their own body, that's a ve
ry
>>>>> private issue."
>>>>>
>>>>> Janiuk disagreed.
>>>>>
>>>>> "They're not private issues, they're life issues," she said. "They'r
e 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 educati
onal
>>>>> panel and forum at Memorial in response to the debate. She also pla
ns 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 par
ents
>>>>> 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 teach
ers
>>>>> banning "offensive" clothing such as "rainbow-colored necklaces," fo
r 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."
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>>>>> ------
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>