MCPS BOE's "Day of Silence" Fraud
When BOE President Pat O'Neill spoke out at yesterday's Board meeting about the MCPS "Day of Silence", she said:
"The Day of Silence is not endorsed by or publicized by the school system in anyway. It is not listed as a holiday. "This is code for:
'if we allow it to occur, we approve of it, otherwise we wouldn't allow it to happen'.And make NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, the MCPS BOE IS ALLOWING it to happen! This is not an extracurricular group having an activity after school, it's during the school day in your face protesting. And that's the FRAUD. The BOE CANNOT say they do not endorse something and then allow it to occur as if it wasn't happening.
Today, April 13, has been slated by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, as the Day of Silence in the schools. It’s a day when students in schools refuse to speak as a sign of their support for the students who feel they are gay. Many county schools will participate in this event.
Do you think that Board members, would allow Catholic or Jewish or Mormon kids to host a national “Day of Silence” in the schools to show their solidarity with one another? Shouldn’t we encourage tolerance and permit them to organize public displays of unity in the schools?
The Day of Silence is just as inappropriate as allowing one of the previously mentioned religious groups or some other group to proselytize on school property during the school day. The schools are not the place for social or religious advocacy.
This isn’t about learning core subjects, it’s about getting others to accept certain lifestyle choices. These students are being used, whether they know it or not, by adults who have an agenda to push, and school administrators, because they are wearing their “p.c.” glasses, are blinded and don’t see any problem with this activity.
Reminded recently by the death of a great world leader, we know the power of unity. The Solidarity Movement of the Polish people was an effective force against the real oppression of Communism. What the organizers of the Day of Silence lack is a situation of true oppression. There are no civil or basic human rights at stake here. This “battle” is a guise for the advancement of a cause and its’ beliefs. And, though gay supporters have every right to unite, we should not support the use of school time or property to achieve this goal. It’s time for parents to start speaking out against this blatant abuse of our schools.