Responsibility and Power
Responsibility and Power
Tennessee high school principal resigns in wake of bigoted remarks to student body
Today it emerged that the American Civil Liberties Union was getting involved in a homophobia dust-up in Haywood County, Tennessee public schools:
The ACLU's press release hit the grapevine this morning.
This afternoon, according to The Jackson Sun, Principal Dorothy Bond resigned.
We might welcome Ms. Bond to the twenty-first century, but I honestly don't think she would appreciate it.
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Notes:
American Civil Liberties Union. "ACLU Responds To Reports Of Proselytizing And Anti-LGBT Remarks By Principal At Tennessee High School". March 1, 2012. ACLU.org. March 1, 2012. http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/acl...nd-anti-lgbt-remarks-principal-tennessee-high
"Haywood High School principal resigns". The Jackson Sun. March 11, 2012. JacksonSun.com. March 1, 2012. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120301/NEWS01/120301011/Haywood-High-School-principal-resigns
Responsibility and Power
Tennessee high school principal resigns in wake of bigoted remarks to student body
Today it emerged that the American Civil Liberties Union was getting involved in a homophobia dust-up in Haywood County, Tennessee public schools:
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Tennessee sent a letter to the superintendent of the Haywood County school district superintendent after receiving reports that a high school principal said gay students are "not on God’s path" and threatened to expel them if they publicly showed affection for members of the same sex. The letter was sent on behalf of several students and families at the school.
The ACLU also received reports that Haywood High School Principal Dorothy Bond not only made discriminatory remarks about LGBT people, but also told students that "life is over" for girls who became pregnant.
"Students should never be made to feel like they are unwelcome at their own school, especially by school leadership," said Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the ACLU of Tennessee. "We expect school officials to clearly state that they do not condone this type of harassment and targeted discrimination, and to take action to ensure that it does not happen again."
Multiple students contacted the ACLU to express concerns about an assembly that took place on Feb. 9. At the assembly, Principal Bond reportedly said that gay people are "ruining their lives" and threatened to administer severe punishment—including 60-day suspensions, assignments to an alternative school or expulsion—to any students who were observed publicly displaying affection for members of the same sex. The school already has a policy on public displays of affection that is neutral regarding sexual orientation.
The incident appears to be part of a broader pattern of official anti-gay remarks and policies by the principal, and of incorporating prayers and proselytizing into school events. On one occasion, school officials scolded students who did not bow their heads in prayer and threatened them with discipline. On another occasion, the principal told a lesbian student that she would go to "hell" because of her sexual orientation.
The ACLU also received reports that Haywood High School Principal Dorothy Bond not only made discriminatory remarks about LGBT people, but also told students that "life is over" for girls who became pregnant.
"Students should never be made to feel like they are unwelcome at their own school, especially by school leadership," said Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the ACLU of Tennessee. "We expect school officials to clearly state that they do not condone this type of harassment and targeted discrimination, and to take action to ensure that it does not happen again."
Multiple students contacted the ACLU to express concerns about an assembly that took place on Feb. 9. At the assembly, Principal Bond reportedly said that gay people are "ruining their lives" and threatened to administer severe punishment—including 60-day suspensions, assignments to an alternative school or expulsion—to any students who were observed publicly displaying affection for members of the same sex. The school already has a policy on public displays of affection that is neutral regarding sexual orientation.
The incident appears to be part of a broader pattern of official anti-gay remarks and policies by the principal, and of incorporating prayers and proselytizing into school events. On one occasion, school officials scolded students who did not bow their heads in prayer and threatened them with discipline. On another occasion, the principal told a lesbian student that she would go to "hell" because of her sexual orientation.
The ACLU's press release hit the grapevine this morning.
This afternoon, according to The Jackson Sun, Principal Dorothy Bond resigned.
We might welcome Ms. Bond to the twenty-first century, but I honestly don't think she would appreciate it.
____________________
Notes:
American Civil Liberties Union. "ACLU Responds To Reports Of Proselytizing And Anti-LGBT Remarks By Principal At Tennessee High School". March 1, 2012. ACLU.org. March 1, 2012. http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/acl...nd-anti-lgbt-remarks-principal-tennessee-high
"Haywood High School principal resigns". The Jackson Sun. March 11, 2012. JacksonSun.com. March 1, 2012. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120301/NEWS01/120301011/Haywood-High-School-principal-resigns