Gay Straight Alliance: 'Encouraging acceptance, respect among students'
OPINION
From the “Fond Du Lac” paper in Wisconsin:
February 11, 2007
Editor's note: This article is a response to a Web Mail letter published in The Reporter on Jan. 29.
My child is a member of Fond du Lac High School's Gay Straight Alliance. Because of this, I am compelled to respond to a recent guest commentary and to stand up in defense of this student organization.
It is my understanding that the purpose of the Gay Straight Alliance is to promote acceptance and respect among students and to provide a safe school environment for all. Should we as parents find this unacceptable?
I too believe that issues of religion and sexuality are personal matters. I fail to understand the accusation that our public school system is the one that is preaching to our children. I have not experienced anything that resembles religious preaching at Fond du Lac High School.
Mrs. (Mary Fran) Merwin, high school principal, and her staff are excellent educators and wonderful role models for our children. They should be commended more often on their efforts to enforce our school's values, attitudes, expectations of its students and just as important, respect and genuine concern for one another.
In a school of more than 2,000 students, these are the things that make Fond du Lac High School, a success. To accuse them of interpreting the law as they choose and steering our students' religious beliefs is ridiculous. Fond du Lac High School, as with every other public school, is bound by our country's law of separation of church and state, so it is unfair to make such an accusation.
The Gay Straight Alliance is a group of students, both heterosexual and homosexual, who spend their own time, not class time, encouraging acceptance and respect among students and doing all they can to improve their school and community.
Not long ago, this group held a bake sale with all proceeds given to a local charity. I won't presume to guess how other high school students spent their evening last Friday night, but I can tell you where my child was.
He, along with several other members of the Gay Straight Alliance, volunteered their time at Loaves and Fishes. When they arrived, the individual in charge asked if they were there for mandated community service work. When they told him they were not required to do it, but just wanted to, I am told that he was very pleasantly surprised.
Apparently, not many Fond du Lac residents, students or parents, gay or straight, are interested in volunteering for such an important cause.
I am also a Christian and the Lord that I know is loving and accepting of each of us despite our "sins." If God himself had been at the door of St. Paul's Cathedral on that recent Friday night when my son and his peers volunteered, would he have turned them away and condemned them as sinners? I don't believe so.
Julie Becker is from Malone.
All information related to this opinion piece can be found at:
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070211/FON06/702110511/1346/FONopinion
From the “Fond Du Lac” paper in Wisconsin:
February 11, 2007
Editor's note: This article is a response to a Web Mail letter published in The Reporter on Jan. 29.
My child is a member of Fond du Lac High School's Gay Straight Alliance. Because of this, I am compelled to respond to a recent guest commentary and to stand up in defense of this student organization.
It is my understanding that the purpose of the Gay Straight Alliance is to promote acceptance and respect among students and to provide a safe school environment for all. Should we as parents find this unacceptable?
I too believe that issues of religion and sexuality are personal matters. I fail to understand the accusation that our public school system is the one that is preaching to our children. I have not experienced anything that resembles religious preaching at Fond du Lac High School.
Mrs. (Mary Fran) Merwin, high school principal, and her staff are excellent educators and wonderful role models for our children. They should be commended more often on their efforts to enforce our school's values, attitudes, expectations of its students and just as important, respect and genuine concern for one another.
In a school of more than 2,000 students, these are the things that make Fond du Lac High School, a success. To accuse them of interpreting the law as they choose and steering our students' religious beliefs is ridiculous. Fond du Lac High School, as with every other public school, is bound by our country's law of separation of church and state, so it is unfair to make such an accusation.
The Gay Straight Alliance is a group of students, both heterosexual and homosexual, who spend their own time, not class time, encouraging acceptance and respect among students and doing all they can to improve their school and community.
Not long ago, this group held a bake sale with all proceeds given to a local charity. I won't presume to guess how other high school students spent their evening last Friday night, but I can tell you where my child was.
He, along with several other members of the Gay Straight Alliance, volunteered their time at Loaves and Fishes. When they arrived, the individual in charge asked if they were there for mandated community service work. When they told him they were not required to do it, but just wanted to, I am told that he was very pleasantly surprised.
Apparently, not many Fond du Lac residents, students or parents, gay or straight, are interested in volunteering for such an important cause.
I am also a Christian and the Lord that I know is loving and accepting of each of us despite our "sins." If God himself had been at the door of St. Paul's Cathedral on that recent Friday night when my son and his peers volunteered, would he have turned them away and condemned them as sinners? I don't believe so.
Julie Becker is from Malone.
All information related to this opinion piece can be found at:
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070211/FON06/702110511/1346/FONopinion
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