From "McGarry wants absences OK'd" posted 4/7/08 by Ann Doss Helms at the Charlotte Observer
School board member Kaye McGarry says she'll ask her colleagues to approve excused absences for Charlotte-Mecklenburg students who stay home on the April 25 "National Day of Silence," held to protest harassment of homosexuals.
The annual event, sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, calls attention to name-calling and bullying of homosexual, bisexual and transgendered students. Some students observe the day by remaining mute at school; they may also put tape over their mouths, wear stickers or pass out cards explaining their silence.
So far, the "low-key" protests have been limited to three or four schools, with small numbers of students participating, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Diversity Director José Hernández-Paris.
But he said adults who are pushing a school boycott are likely to make it bigger and more controversial: "It's one of those things that if you make a big deal out of it, it becomes a big deal." (I would vigorously disagree with this man. Evil never just 'sits there.' If left alone it spreads. Both history and the Bible testify to this. Yeast is used as a metaphor for evil in the Bible. -I Corinthians 5:6 It works its way through the whole loaf if allowed to.)
McGarry said she doesn't approve of any political events in schools: "Whether it's Christian stuff or Muslim stuff or homosexual stuff, it doesn't matter." She said she'll put a motion for excused absences on the board's April 15 agenda.
Read the rest of this article.Update: The school board voted against Ms. McGarry's request. Absences on the Day of Silence will not be excused.
At this point, the yeast is leavening the whole loaf...
We need more school board members who will courageously stand for what it right. There are too few people of courage and moral conviction on our school boards. Please pray for Ms. McGarry - and for your local school board. Also pray that churches will start holding the school board members in their congregations accountable for ungodly decisions.
Counter the Day of Silence - Click HERE
