Practically Speaking

The youngest is blissfully unaware of this plan. Tonight when I was at conferences, though, I saw fliers posted all over East.

A homosexual 'day of silence'?

Is this something like a 'trans-gendered' monastic event?

Does it mean that the FLDS student club could also sponsor a school-wide moment of reflection to remember the twenty or so Texas polygamous papas who will soon be doing hard time for marrying their twelve year old daughters?

In view of school district sensitivities, how can one even begin to question leaving the HG&D curriculum to their discretion?

Stay home Bob Brown. The district has your back!

Kyle's reply: Sorry, I don't know what a FLDS club is or who Bob Brown is. 

Kyle, let us in on one editorial decision, please.  You chose to not mention that Lawrence King was brutally shot in the head at close range by a juvenile, but it is somehow important to describe his dress habits.

What's your point in bringing up that detail?

Kyle's reply: First, I do not condone or approve of murder, violence, bullying, taunting, etc. for any reason.

That said, I was attempting to illustrate that the case with Lawrence was not about one student quietly going about a personal decision but was being very overt about it.

Sadly, we live in a world where the deranged choose to shoot fellow students (or administrators/ teachers for that matter) for no real reason at all, except that they are angry with the world. The violent target people of all ages, every day, everywhere just because others look/believe something different, possess a desirable jacket or shoes, or you fill in the blank.

I would like to suggest the merits of a GT (Gifted-Talented) Day, drawing attention to the perils of being a thinker in a society of sheeple (people who follow like sheep).  Perhaps the students could dress in mis-matched clothing, wear big glasses (I would supply the Groucho Marx glasses) and propeller beanies.  

Optional would be adding a sport coat, blazer, suspenders, bow tie, or dressing as a book with a worm coming out of it.  I once saw a clever homemade costume like this, constructed of painted cardboard suspended from the shoulders with straps, rather like a large vest over the clothing.  A few dozen of these in school would set the tone for the day.  

Students so dressed would answer questions only with big words, and in the fashion of long diatribes.  Before proceeding to answer, they would spout their various credentials and qualifying test scores, lexile levels, etc for the benefit of all to hear.

If this satirical exaggeration of cartoonish sterotyping were to draw any negative reaction, perhaps a giggle, smirk, stare, or rolling of the eyes, then we'd've proven our community to be quite intolerant. GASP!

At the end of the day the students could sit around in self-righteous indignation and discuss their pain.  

Or not.  Maybe any they could continue to emphasize ways in which they are like others, and what they have in common, thereby continuing to build bridges.

(Hope this got you chuckling... and thinking as well.)

Wow. Thanks for this information. I didn't know this distraction was a part of the education kids receive every year. Why is it that individual differences need to be singled out and have a 'day'? They try to paint the day as a non impacting to the school day event, yet I find it would be hard to ignore and talk about in the classroom. There are other individual differences in students too that are as challenging as this that aren't recognized such as race, facial complexion issues, religion to name a few. Not sure why this one sexual choice somehow needs a day and i wonder if the school would approve of a bi-sexual day or swinger day with such open arms. Shouldn't sexual differences among other differences be just that and not warrant special attention and distraction DURING the school day?

Oops - Timing problem!  I've just read "Contrarian's" posting.  I believe there may've been a delay between when that was submitted and when it was posted, during which interval it wasn't available to blog readers to view.  I believe I posted my initial humorous response during that interval.  My lighthearted comment appearing after "Contrarian's" mention of murder may be misunderstood to be making light of the loss of life... or comparing the loss of life to a mild act of exclusion like rolling one's eyes.

As a mom I grieve for each lost child. I am unaware of national events commemorating others killed in schools: Christians, Amish, principals, etc.

Whether the disenfranchised are the ones acting out in anger as at Columbine or whether the disenfranchised are the victims...  Perps or victims, the problem is the disenfranchisement.  I believe it's up to each of us to heal that by finding the good in eachother and lifting eachother up.  I do not believe that having difference days helps.  

Kyle's reply: Yes, there was a delay so when you wrote, Contrarian's was not viewable. (I don't sit at the computer all day.) :) 

(Hope this got you chuckling... and thinking as well.)

Don't you just hate it when some one horns in and tries to out do you? Great suggestion, but do you really think the schools would allow the G&T kids an opportunity to celebrate their giftedness?

Kyle's reply: I think that was the tongue in cheek of it. 

Kyle, doesn't someone have a kid in an elmbrook high school who would be willing to start a Heterosexual Pride Club? Just imagine the possibilities. They could demand their own Heterosexual Day featuring a teach-in discussing the preeminence of heterosexuality down through the ages, as well as the its importance to future generations. Betcha they could find adults who would be willing to chip in to buy each member an "Heterosexual And Proud Of It" button to wear for the event.

Suppose the principals would permit it?

Kyle's reply: You would think so based on the explanation for the Day of Silence.