Posted on 05/13/2002 3:10:36 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - A St. Louis, Mo. mom is suing the public high school that blocked her from observing a school-sponsored assembly conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
Debra Loveless had told school officials she considered the event inappropriate, but was trying to view it herself on Oct. 24, 2001 when she was escorted out of the assembly, according to Loveless' attorneys, who have filed the federal civil rights lawsuit in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Loveless' daughter attends Metro High School.
GLSEN bills itself as the country's largest network of parents, students and educators aimed at preventing "discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender/identity expression in K-12 schools," according to its website.
GLSEN did not return phone calls to CNSNews.com.
The group conducted two assemblies at Metro High School, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 of last year, both of which Loveless' daughter was exempted from attending because of the family's religious beliefs, according to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the public interest law firm representing Loveless.
However, when, at the urging of a school board member, Loveless attempted to attend the Oct. 24 event, she was ejected by an armed security guard, the ACLJ stated.
Francis J. Manion, senior counsel for the ACLJ, said parents should be able to participate in activities at a public school to see if it is appropriate for their children.
"This case is about protecting the rights of parents to participate fully in the education of their children," he said. "Parents do not abandon their rights as parents once their children go to school. Parents have a right to know what a school is teaching their children, and should not be punished for exercising their parental responsibilities. That's exactly what happened in this case."
The ACLJ lawsuit contends that school officials deprived Loveless of her parental right to be fully informed of the content of her daughter's education. The suit also claims Loveless' constitutional rights of free speech and equal protection was infringed.
Manion believes there were ulterior motives to blocking Loveless from attending the assembly.
"The real reason we believe our client was not permitted to observe the school assembly is because the school did not like her religious objections to the assembly," said Manion. "The only thing our client wanted was an apology and a change in the school policy governing the rights of parents to observe school assemblies.
"After Mrs. Loveless was ejected from the assembly, she had no choice but to file suit - to ensure that no other parent in St. Louis is treated in the same manner," he added.
The lawsuit names as defendants the superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools and the principal of Metro High School.
CNSNews.com attempted to contact Metro High School Principal Dr. Pamela Randall, but she was away from the campus and unavailable for comment. The Metro High School Instructional Coordinator refused comment Friday, saying she was unaware of any lawsuit.
E-mail a news tip to Matt Pyeatt.
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awwwww Cmon that cant be her real name
There is NO GOOD REASON for ANY school lesson or assembly not being open to parental and public scrutiny; both the parents and general public MUST know what is being taight to America's youth.
Gee, wonder what GLSEN could be teaching kids that they would want to conceal behind closed doors?
For all the warm, fuzzy FReepers out there -- who always reply that they "don't care what homos do in the privacy of their own bedroom" -- look. It's out of the bedroom!
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
With the existance of small camcorders and the Net, I'm sure a student who decides to go in "wired" could provide some interesting footage
We've got some common ground there.
Yet, this isn't a new development, except as regards direct homosexual activism. Thomas Sowell's marvelous book Inside American Education reports mercilessly on instances of school systems charging teachers not to allow students to take classroom materials or class notebooks home to show to their parents. Usually, those materials were used in "values clarification" courses -- courses in which the school tries to thwart the vertical transmission of values and standards from parents to children.
Often, when parents have gotten hold of the materials from such courses and presentations, the resulting outcry has overturned an entire school board and the whole administrative hierarchy of the school. Scant wonder that those who push these non-academic programs don't want the word to get around.
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com
She is a taxpayer isn't she? She has as much of a stake in what the schools are teaching as anyone.
Mmmmm... no. Nothing in there about being a taxpayer -- just being the mother of a student...
The ACLJ lawsuit contends that school officials deprived Loveless of her parental right to be fully informed of the content of her daughter's education.
... who's educational content did not include these assemblies.
Mmmmmmm.
Curioser and curioser.
Nothing in the article about the mother being alive either.
But I would risk a wild guess that most non-deviant readers (correctly) assume that the mother is alive.
She may also like to see what the "powers that be" think is an appropiate assembly for the kids to see. Considering they are deciding what the children learn, she may like to know about their judgement, and what is so important to take time away from learning something valuable.
Would you say the same about a parent who wants to visit a daycare where their child attends, however, isn't present on said visitation day? What if a parent was kicked out of that institution? This taxpaying Mom had every right to be there and see first hand what is going on.
BTW don't say if she is a stay at home Mom she doesn't pay any taxes. My husband pays enough for five people so i can stay home.
GLSEN bills itself as the country's largest network of parents, students and educators aimed at preventing "discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender/identity expression in K-12 schools," according to its website.
Preventing discrimination is not their goal
THIS IS!.....John Dunphy in The Humanist 1983 said “The battle for man-kinds future must be won in the classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as proselytizers of a new faith that will replace Christianity”
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