School suspends kid for voicing opinion in opposition to homosexuality

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her209

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
eskimospy said:
While the teacher seems to have acted stupidly and I don't support it,(if this story's depiction is correct) the right to free speech is pretty severely restricted in the school setting.

So really, there hasn't been much of anything like free speech in schools for quite awhile now.
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Can a student refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or omit the "under God" part of it? I doubt it.
 
Blackjack200

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,686
126
rchiu said:
If you and other gay activist have problem, take it up with Catholic church and other religious entity and make it illegal to teach their followers anti-gay message.

This kid is just telling his friend what he was taught. Seems like you people are too chicken $hit to take up the big boys and only picking on the little guys.
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Whatever your bigoted attitudes on homosexuality may be, gay kids have the right to go to school in a non-hostile environment. As an analogy, saying that you believe that black people are stupid, or Asians are violent, or hispanics are lazy, or any other such thing creates a hostile environment for those students. Saying that you believe someone is "wrong" by the very nature of who they are is disruptive.

I happen to think that it's "wrong" to believe in Iron Age myths and pray to imaginary deities, but if a kid said in class that he thought "Christianity is wrong" I would say he should be disciplined.

I don't know if I agree with the severity of the punishment, that, IMO, is contextual, and as for the teacher's reported interest in the subject, I might have different opinions on that as well, but this story doesn't seem to give a clear picture of what was going on there.
 
T

tydas

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
1,284
0
76
jackstar7 said:
Why did so many of you feel it mattered that you disapprove of homosexuality?

Is it relevant to the debate or discussion?
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What if I said that I opposed black people? this is not a practice, its people...
 
CPA

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
4
0
LumbergTech said:
Yes, it is unfortunate that his parents taught him to "disapprove" of others who aren't doing anything wrong.
Isn't that kinda what you are claiming is being done to him? Kinda sucks doesn't it?
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Nice that the point of this just blows right over your head.

It has nothing to do with whether his is right or wrong about his beliefs. it has everything to do with getting punished for your beliefs.
 
Blackjack200

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,686
126
CPA said:
Nice that the point of this just blows right over your head.

It has nothing to do with whether his is right or wrong about his beliefs. it has everything to do with getting punished for your beliefs.
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He was not punished for his beliefs.
 
CPA

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
4
0
Blackjack200 said:
I happen to think that it's "wrong" to believe in Iron Age myths and pray to imaginary deities, but if a kid said in class that he thought "Christianity is wrong" I would say he should be disciplined.
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The fact that schools teach evolution over creationism is a defacto statement that religion, including Christianity is wrong. Do we punish the state or the school boards?
 
CPA

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
4
0
Nebor said:
He was building an environment of hate. Might as well scatter bottles of pills, razor blades and nooses around the school if you're going to allow that.
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he never said he hated anyone, he just doesn't condone the lifestyle.
 
Aikouka

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
I don't like his opinion, but as long as he isn't a lawmaker attempting to interject it into law, I don't care if he tries to tell the world. Given he's a high school kid, my conditional clause doesn't apply. :p

I was mostly surprised that this happened in Texas.
 
jackstar7

jackstar7

Lifer
Jun 26, 2009
11,679
1,944
126
tydas said:
Well, the whole reason they enact these zero tolerance policies is to try and stem bullying and such...although its obviously not working...
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My point was why are people here, in this thread, mentioning their disapproval of homosexuals, or homosexual behavior. I can't imagine how it matters to the discussion. All I can see is people just feeling like they needed to get it out there and this seemed like a good time to sneak out their intolerance.
 
Patranus

Patranus

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2007
9,280
0
0
We need "don't ask don't tell" for schools.
Homosexual or heterosexual - it has no business in school.
 
Blackjack200

Blackjack200

Lifer
May 28, 2007
15,995
1,686
126
Patranus said:
We need "don't ask don't tell" for schools.
Homosexual or heterosexual - it has no business in school.
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Sure it does. In History or Sociology classes to discuss how gay people were and are discriminated against, their struggle for acceptance, etc. Or in sex ed.

Not sure about German class, depends on the context.
 
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