North Shore Student Advocacy (a group of concerned parents and taxpayers in High School District 113) published the following advertisement in the Deerfield Review last Thursday, March 1, 2007:
Deerfield High School: What's Going on to Freshman Advisory?
FOR MANY YEARS, HOMOSEXUAL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ON A PANEL TO ALL FRESHMAN ADVISORY CLASSES. IT IS SCHEDULED AGAIN FOR THIS YEAR ON MARCH 6 – 9. WE BELIEVE THESE STUDENTS ARE BEING USED TO FURTHER THE CAUSES OF GAY ACTIVISTS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:
1. What teachers are preparing these students to speak? What personal information are they discussing with these students? Is it appropriate to have teachers discussing personal sexual behavior and choices
with students?
2. Why do they target freshman classes? Aren’t most of the students who are speaking upper classmen? Isn’t this a form of “bullying” younger students into thinking a certain way about the moral issue of homosexuality?
3. Where are your panels of “socially awkward kids,” “fat kids”, “kids with speech problems” or “handicapped kids?”
4. Since homosexuality is a high risk behavior, isn’t it irresponsible as educators to promote the “I’m okay, you’re okay” message to your students? Would you have a panel of students who are engaging in and promoting drug use, having oral sex, or underage drinking?
5. What if a freshman is uncomfortable with an “up close and personal” encounter with gay students’ stories? What are they supposed to do? Don’t you think if these students walk out, or opt out, it will cause embarrassment to them? Won’t they be labeled homophobic or heterosexist? Wouldn’t this be hate speech?
6. What about those students who have deeply held religious beliefs that homosexuality is morally wrong? Where is their panel? Do you think it’s your prerogative to teach a one-sided view to these students,undermining the teachings of their church, synagogue, or family?
7. Why have you refused, in writing, to allow a parent of a freshman to observe this class? Why did two school board members, and our superintendent, cancel a meeting to discuss this issue with parents and taxpayers, in August of 2006, and subsequently refuse to meet?
8. Last year, the gay activists in your building brought in an adult gay speaker/author who promoted his sexually graphic books and his web site that links to 43 gay bars and clubs, fetish groups, and worse. Is this a responsible action by educators? www.alexsanchez.com
9. By encouraging gay students to come even further “out,” aren’t you creating the exact situation you’re supposedly trying to prevent – making them look and feel different? Is high school a time when kids naturally want to stand out or blend in? Some of your gay students are troubled and confused. Do you think it helps when you put them on display?
10. Why is there no parental notification being given to offer an opt-out for these gay panel presentations? What else is going on in Freshman Advisory that parents don’t know about?
DHS – REIN IN YOUR STAFF WHO ARE USING THE SCHOOL TO PROMOTE THEIR PERSONAL VIEWS!
If these issues concern you, please contact your District 113 School Board:
Helene Herbstman HEHCUBS@aol.com
Ken Fishbain ken_fishbain@ghr.org
Jeffrey Annenberg jeff@monteropartners.com
Harvey Cohen HCohen4940@aol.com
Joel Hurwitz hurwitz4@aol.com
Marjie Sandlow Msandlow@aol.com
Bonnie Shlensky DBLBadger@aol.com
George Fornero gfornero@dist113.org
NORTH SHORE STUDENT ADVOCACY
NSSAdvocacy@aol.com
These are honest questions, that deserve an answer...
Special Event! The Gay Agenda? No Child Left Behind...
Sunday, Mar. 11, 7:15 PM, College Church, Wheaton, IL
