Dear Editor,
This topic of
”
Day of Silence
”
has made me wonder why certain teachers think it’s a priority
for students to learn a
”
lesson
”
on gay and lesbian issues.
Dear Editor,
This topic of “Day of Silence” has made me wonder why certain teachers think it’s a priority for students to learn a “lesson” on gay and lesbian issues. Is the “lesson” really how to protest something, how to stand up for what you believe in or why we should be more sensitive to the feelings of homosexuals?
Why are our young adults more willing to stick up for the cause of gay and lesbianism as a higher priority than the free use of the word “God” in our schools? Is it about fighting for the minority? What about the minority that has totally eliminated the holiday celebrations in our elementary schools? Why don’t the teachers encourage our students to protest the fact that we cannot celebrate Christmas or Valentine’s Day in school because it’s against the religion of ONE child? They cannot celebrate Halloween because it offends the parents of another child. What happened to the good old days when the elementary school kids could wear their costumes to school and have a parade at lunch? It was fun for them and fun to watch.
My child cannot eat peanut butter and jelly at his school because one child is allergic to peanuts. It bothers me that he always has to have his second choice for lunch. I’ll bet the kid that can’t eat peanuts gets his/her first choice for lunch every day. My daughter was in a class that was not allowed to sing “Happy Birthday” to her friends because it was against the religion of ONE child. It’s all so backwards.
Why is it that we can honor one person’s right not to do something, but not honor another person’s right to do it? Why don’t teachers and students arrange a protest to stand up for that? Why don’t the teachers encourage a protest against our high school kids having to pay for bottled water at profit? Can’t the school provide a decent drink of water to our students at cost? Everything else is so expensive on the menu. Do they have to make money on the water, too? Protest that!
I’m saddened that some teachers and students would support a day of silence as the topic of highest priority when an opportunity presents itself to set an example and make a statement. Yes, the subject should be understood better and people in the gay and lesbian community should not be repressed in any way nor are they less important than bottled water or PB&J, but is this truly the most student involved, critical topic on campus? Can’t we involve more of the majority by promoting a subject with a broader base and teach greater numbers of students how to use their voices to change what needs to be changed?
Wouldn’t it be something if teachers taught students to stand up with respect and pride and to use their voices to say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning?
Lydia Eden Irwin, Gilroy
