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		NW Classen Update - Tues, Aug 21 xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

UPDATED: Wed, Aug 22 - New material has been posted at the bottom

The following is an e-mail from Joe Quigley sent on Tuesday, August 21
(Posted 8-22-01)

I know there are those who automatically hit "delete" when they see the long
e-mail is from me, but this time PLEASE read the whole thing.
This morning at 7:20 I was to meet with my principal. The meeting was
postponed until 1:00 pm.
In the interim there was a meeting with the Principal, union and the attorney
for the school district.
The long and short of it was that the principal had gone too far. The last
straw being his entering my room to throw away papers that were sent to me by
the Oklahoma Public Schools Foundation. The papers I referred to in the copy
of the letter to Dr. Weitzel you received last night.
I was going to receive a written reprimand for violating a memo of April 11,
2001 which although dealing with the taking down of my posters listing Gay
and Lesbian Poets (which was complied with), was interpreted by the principal
as banning anything in my room that contained a rainbow motif. This memo,
although specific and obeyed was interpreted by the principal as more
inclusive than it actually was.
   This interpretation was judged too broad.
    It came out in the attorney, union, principal meeting that in spite of
the Sept. 14 2001 memo being addressed to all faculty and staff, I was in
reality the only one to have received it.
    The long and short was that the principal had gone too far.
At 1:00pm the principal read the proposed reprimand based on a stretched
proposition, and then shedded it.
He agreed that I was correct in that the memo addressed to all faculty and
staff was not delivered to them, and that I was the only one held to it.
     At the Facutly meeting of 8/21/01 all faculty members received this memo
and signed for it removing the onus that I was the only one forced to follow
it.
    I also signed an agreement accepting a directive that I would follow this
directive and only teach what was in my curriculum. I had agreed to this last
year.
     The big things were that I have been directed to report to the principal
any sexcual harassment based on sexual orientation, and that any student
wishing to form a Gay/Straight Alliance would receive support and information
from the principal.
   As of 8/21/01 more than a few students have asked me to be a sponsor of
such a club.
     NWC now has an official stance that harassment of GLBT Students is not
acceptable, and it is in writing.
      NWClassen through its principal has also articulated its support and
encouragement of the formation of Gay/Straight Alliances.
      I would count this as a victrory, while at the same time remaining
vigilant.
     It also came up in the Union, principal, District's Attorney meeting
that there was a need for in-services for employees about the needs of GLBT
Students.
     I will have to, of course, dot all my I's and cross all my T's and be
the best little boy in the world, but I think we have won a victory at
NWClassen, and may have done as well with the District.
     This does mean complaisance, but if the GSA goes through, as obviously
according to the agreement it should, things have greatly improved.
But I will continue to monitor the situation, and after The celebratory
TRAMPS drinks have worn off, if I am in the mind to do so, I will copy the
relevant documents so you will have an accurate record of the agreement.
Joe Quigley

NW Classen Update - Mon, Aug 20/Joe Quigley's latest e-mail to Dr Weitzel

The following is an e-mail from Joe Quigley sent on Wednesday, August 22
(Posted 8-22-01)

Now that the celebratory Tramps cocktails are behind me, I feel confident
enough in my typing skills to reproduce the document I signed yesterday.
The first two paragraphs are a repeat of those signed when I resolved my
grievance on Sept. 20, 2000 relating to the removal of my G/L History month
display and the subsequent reprimand. The only diffrence is that this time
the principal had to guarantee that he gave a copy of the memo to everyone
which he did by having each faculty member initial that they had received it.
   The final 2 paragraphs are what has me jazzed. You might even note that in
his desire to put an end to all of this he added the words, "and any other
club related to sexual orientation", which, if I were a ruthless S.O.B. I
could manipulate to my advantage.
    BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
The students interested in forming a GSA have written a letter to the
principal about getting the proper procedure so they will not have any
technical problems. My only correction to what they wrote was in the choice
of vocabulary. I explained that their first lesson was to avoid those words
chosen by the "enemy" to characterize us for easy dismissal. And so, they
changed "lifestyle" to "sexual orientation". I told them it was a small, but
paradoxically major point.

HERE IS THE WORDING OF THE SIGNED AGREEMENT.

We have previously discussed these matters, but I wanted to put them in
writing for you so that there would be no question as to your expected
compliance.
      In a written directive dated September 19, 2000, you were directed that
the matters taught by you and discussed in the classroom during class time
shall directly relate to the curriculum being taught. You are to continue to
follow that directive throughout the current school year and for future
school years while at NWClassen High School.
     In addition, a new provision has been added to the faculty handbook
regarding the posting of materials in classrooms and hallways. All faculty
are being provided a copy of this new provision, and all, including you, will
be expected to abide by the requirements of the new provision and all others
[sic] terms of the faculty handbook.

     YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN
HARASSED BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO
REPORT TO ME ANY INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION OF WHICH
YOU ARE OR BECOME AWARE.
     I HAVE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED WITH YOU THE FACT THAT STUDENTS MAY FORM A
GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE CLUB OR ANY OTHER CLUB RELATED TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
THE STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FORMING SUCH A CLUB SHOULD COME TO ME FOR
INFORMATION ABOUT ESTABLISHING SUCH A CLUB.

Signed Weldon Davis, Principal        August 21, 2001
            Joseph M. Quigley, Teacher   August 21, 2001

I think having those last two paragraphs in writing is important, as the
first gives protection to students and grounds for a stated policy not only
at NWC, but throughout the District, and the second will help avoid the
foolishness that so often accompanies the formation of GSA's.

What happens in the future is, I hope, very mature, reasoned and smooth.
And I want to thank all of you for being my shoulders to cry on, and for
being there to read my (to me, anyway) extremely short, succinct and to the
point e-mails.
Just knowing there was support made the hard moments easier.
Of course, if things heat up or get dicey, you will still be there, right?
right?
There is always a phase 2.

Joe Quigley

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