Gilroy
– Some classrooms at Gilroy High School will be unusually silent
Wednesday as teachers and students supporting GHS’ Gay Straight
Alliance (GSA) protest the oppression lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered individuals feel every day – by not speaking. The
decision has some questioning the educ
ational value of silence.
Gilroy – Some classrooms at Gilroy High School will be unusually silent Wednesday as teachers and students supporting GHS’ Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) protest the oppression lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals feel every day – by not speaking. The decision has some questioning the educational value of silence.
“I don’t know what purpose that would serve,” said senior Jonathan Gibbs, who will not participate. “I don’t think that being quiet for a day can do much (to teach tolerance.)”
Those who choose to take the vow of silence will carry cards that read: “Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. People who are silent today believe that laws and attitudes should be inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.”
The event occurs nationwide and last year approximately eight students and eight teachers took the vow of silence, said Principal Bob Bravo.
This year, 25 students and a handful of teachers will participate, said GSA advisor Sally Enriquez. At least 20 teachers have signed on to wear T-shirts in support of the day and 100 students will wear rainbow ribbons, she said.
But while teaching acceptance is one thing – some may feel the that teacher’s using silence as an instructional tool compromises the educational instruction of students or is bringing politics into the school. Some parents contacted members of the school board and GHS with concerns about the day, officials said.
One parent agreed to speak to the Dispatch anonymously, and was hesitant to give a name because the way people might interpret opposition.
“People can confuse the issues,” the source said. “I support programs at the high school that teach awareness about all kinds of political and social issues. But there is a time and a place for it like lunch or brunch or after school.”
This parent is concerned about the path the school is taking by allowing politics into the classroom.
“I think it’s very dangerous when we allow politics to be brought into the classroom. It can very easily enter into the sphere of coercion,” the source said.
While supporting the student’s right to choose whether or not to fully participate in the day’s lesson plans, this individual felt teachers should not have that option: “They’re being paid to teach in their full capacity – writing down the answer to a student’s question doesn’t meet the criteria.” Discussion should exist in the school, the source argued – but in government or history classes, not in algebra or Spanish class.
Several other parents contacted by the Dispatch felt they did not know enough about the Day of Silence or did not feel comfortable to comment.
Bravo sent a memo to faculty members explaining their duties on Wednesday.
“I have told teachers that I expect them to carry out their instructional duties. I do not want it to interfere with the learning environment,” Bravo stressed. How teachers instruct the course in silence is up to them, he said.
Harassment of students for their decision to either partake or opt out of the activity will not be tolerated, Bravo said.
Enriquez will instruct without speaking Wednesday. Her class will be having a discussion, which she will facilitate by writing down questions.
“I think that not speaking is a lesson,” she said. “I’m not preaching about homosexuality, I’m teaching about equal rights. Last year, I had more students pay attention and stay on task because I didn’t (speak). They were curious as to why I didn’t, and they respected that.”
She taught using a buzzer to get students’ attention and by writing everything down. She has been preparing Wednesday’s lesson for weeks and said that all teachers taking part in Day of Silence have had adequate time to plan a lesson that could be taught without speaking.
“It’s ludicrous to think that I couldn’t do my job because I wasn’t speaking for one day,” Enriquez said.
Enriquez has taught at GHS for the past 11 years, and this year is her first year as advisor to the GSA. She took on the position after hearing students use derogatory words about homosexuals in her classroom.
“(Teasing) is constant,” she said. “I gave out detentions last year for saying ‘fag,’ but it didn’t seem to be enough.” Overall, tolerance has improved, she said.
Just last year, Morgan Hill School District lost a lawsuit to six former students who claimed they were harassed and unprotected by school officials. Enriquez said the GHS administration is supportive of the club and its activities.
“Something like this stirs up a lot of emotions,” said GUSD board member Jim Rogers. “Frankly, I think that if the members of the club want to participate, fine. But the thing is, I don’t think it should interfere with the educational instruction.”
The school board was made aware of the activity through an e-mail by a concerned parent, he said. Rogers did not believe the school board’s approval was necessary for student activities like Day of Silence.
Calls to the GUSD district office went unanswered as of press time.
Rogers was curious how teachers taking part would teach their subject matter and hoped that student learning would not suffer because of their teacher’s silence: “(Teaching) is going to be difficult,” he said. “They’ll have to be real creative.”
Many of the students questioned were unaware Day of Silence existed and also were unsure how teachers would instruct if they were to partake in the protest.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to learn if the teachers do it,” said junior Kristen Campos.
By using a method that divides the student body into talkers and silent observers, one might wonder if students feel pressured to take a stand either way.
“Because only eight students participated last year and a few more will this year – out of a school with a population of 2,400, that tells me that there is not an element of coercion,” Bravo said.
But what about students who want to speak in class – are they stigmatized as being intolerant? Or those who are silent – are they categorized as being gay?
“I don’t think students will feel pressured to participate,” said Campos. “If they truly care about the subject they will participate willingly.”
