The Day of Silence at Gilroy High School Wednesday, promoted by
the school’s
Gay-Straight Alliance and tacitly approved by the administration
should be viewed as a day of mourning: Despite the district’s
motto, we’re hardly headed toward
”
Excellence, the path worth taking.
”
The Day of Silence at Gilroy High School Wednesday, promoted by the school’s
Gay-Straight Alliance and tacitly approved by the administration should be viewed as a day of mourning: Despite the district’s motto, we’re hardly headed toward “Excellence, the path worth taking.”
Excellence in education does not include a day of silence in the classroom, whatever the cause celebre may be.
Where is the outrage when a teacher is allowed to dictate to students a day of silent instruction? Why is there silence from the district office? Under what school board policy is it allowed that a teacher may dictate what is clearly inferior instruction to support a political cause?
The classroom is simply not the place to stage a protest against the oppression faced by gays and lesbians.
Promoting sensitivity toward gay human beings is a good thing. But there are plenty of other ways to accomplish this in a manner that respects education. A lunch speaker, leaflets, stories in the school newspaper on the atmosphere for gay students are welcome avenues to promote discussion and understanding.
But the line should be drawn at the classroom door. Silent instruction is compromised instruction. And frankly, our community cannot afford that. Every minute in the classroom counts. Our students need and deserve a teacher’s full skill set. Period.
Surely, this is a topic that should be taken up by the board. It’s important to make it clear to GHS teachers and, unfortunately, to Principal Bob Bravo that it is not acceptable behavior for a teacher to declare that he or she will not speak all day.
The list of causes is quite a bit longer than the number of hours in the classroom. Where should the line be drawn? No talking on Earth Day? What about those who are aginst the war – silent instruction warranted?
What’s needed is clarity, not confrontation. Let’s acknowledge that sensitivity toward gays is both a legitimate and a politically correct topic. Let’s adopt a board policy that clearly states that interference with classroom instruction is not acceptable for teachers – and let’s hold administrators accountable for actions that compromise that. Let’s stay on the path toward excellence.
