Newsx Eventsx Directoryx Searchx Calendarx AIDS & Health Infox Personal Websites of GLBT Oklahomansx Chat/Message Board
Joe Quigley - Memo to Principal Davis


Get on the list!
Enter your email address here to join GayOKC.com's
mailing list!

Oklahoma City Public Schools

Oklahoma State Department of Education

ACLU of Oklahoma

ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union

PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

GLSEN: Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network

Lambda Legal

What do you think?
CLICK HERE
to post your opinion on GayOKC.com's Message Board!

 x

The following is an email from Joe Quigley
(Posted 11-15-02)

(11-15-02) intro:

As I think has become all too obvious, the sole purpose of the selectively applied Paragraph J in the Faculty Handbook at NWClassen calling for the requesting of permission before teachers can hang anything anywhere is to ensure that the principal can prevent the posting of any Gay and Lesbian positive information at the school, and that if anything is posted it is subject to editing at his discretion and based on his bias. I base this belief, as I have said before, on its selective and pointedly directed inforcement with some proof being the rather odd action of entering my room to cut the reference to Fr. Mychal Judge's being Gay from the bottom of his bio and replacing the edited version back on the door (all of which took time and timing) and the utter ignoring of my 6 foot by 2 foot multi-colored poster which I had hung without permission in the hall near my classroom containing the Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats of TS Eliot that the principal passed as he entered and exited my room on more than one occasion and a few times as he walked through the hall.
     I do not in any way object to the content of the display referred to in the following memo, but my concern is for  the restrictions and limitations absent in this case, but everpresent when it comes to Gay and Lesbian information.

TO:         Weldon Davis, Principal
FROM:    Joseph Quigley, Teacher
DATE:     11/15/02
RE:          Inequity


     When approaching the stairway by Room 222 leading from the second floor to the area by the Library I noticed a rather large display in the display case honoring Native Americans.
     Although I found the display of interest I was struck by the absence of the inclusion of anyone from any other groups such as Whites, Asians, Blacks or even cowboys.
    I have previously been told orally at more than one meeting as well as in writing (cfr: handwritten memo attached to my 9-11 display of Gay and Lesbian heroes of that day, "Either remove the statement about these victims, or place heterosexual information about victims along side.") that displays must be inclusive and not limited to any one group without the fair and equal representation of other groups. For example, displays presenting positive Gay and Lesbian role models even during Gay and Lesbian History Month must contain heterosexuals if they are to be considered for posting.
    Further, I have found that although the display is of an historical nature it was not the work of, nor had it been referred for the approval of the Social Studies Department (cfr: memo of 09/04/02). Also, it did not need to be presented to the Faculty Advisory Committee for its approval (cfr: the September meeting with Ed Allen, and my subsequent written request to them in accordance with the statements you made at that meeting).
     The rather large display was posted in the large hall display case rather than restricted to the Community Bulletin Board as your edited and truncated  version of the History of Gay and Lesbian History Month had been (cfr: Memo of 09/04/02).
     All of this is completely contrary to the requirements and limitations placed on a requested display for Gay and Lesbian History Month.
     Certainly the statement is not being made that the history related to certain groups of students is more important than that of others, or that that of others is of no importance whatsoever.
    This inequity needs to be addressed, and if this posting was made in violation of Paragraph J, this also must be addressed and rectified in accordance with our previous meetings, memos, and actions so that it fairly reflects all racial, ethnic or other groups to which our students may belong, and that Two-Spirited people be included. I can supply that information.
     Otherwise, Gay and Lesbian positive displays must be allowed and the mistake of October must be corrected.
      Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

The memo was delivered at 10:00 am 11/15/02

 

 

Previous postings from Joe Quigley:

 

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO FRONT PAGE

 

GayOKC.com COPYRIGHT © 1998 - 2002 ROBERT D. ABIERA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (NO, THIS IS NOT JOE QUIGLEY'S PERSONAL WEBSITE!)

Click Here!