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The following are 2 emails from Joe Quigley
(Posted 11-26-02)

    At the end of the school day today (11/26/02) we went home for the Thankgiving Holiday break. When we return on Monday it will be December.
    During November I had sent a memo to the principal not only questioning the inequitable treatment of Gay and Lesbian History Month when compared to other commemorative months especially the current one honoring Native-Americans, but also informing him that I had some information about Two-Sprited People that if included would make the display in the second floor hall way showcase inclusive of GLBT people just as any Gay and Lesbian display is required to be inclusive of heterosexuals.
   To date beyond the principal not even acknowledging receipt of the memo, the teacher who so generously assembled the display of Native-American History from personal property has not been spoken to to add any inclusive information in spite of the need being brought to the attention of the principal,  nor have I been asked to submit the information I have for the principal's inspection. Yet, the claim is continually made that Paragraph J in the faculty handbook dealing with the need for principal's approval for all things to be hung especially in the hall as that part existed in the handbook long before the invention of Paragraph J is universally and equally applied to all. The principal has even stated (and it is on tape) that when a teacher's ignoring of Paragraph J is brought to his attention whether the action was intentional or an oversight on the part of the teacher, he would indeed address it.
     This does not seem to be the case. The immediacy of action, demands for, or the removal of any Gay or Lesbian information by the principal himself is woefully lacking in this case.
    And so, Native-American History month was honored during November without permission or inclusion.
    This is not equal treatment. It holds Gay and Lesbian Students as second class citizens, perhaps their existence being totally ignored, and clearly shows this attitude is consistent.
    IT IS A SHAME.
On another note, whereas anything at all related to Gay and Lesbian Students that might be allowed has to be hung on the Community Bulletin Board, and is subject to editing by the principal, religious things like campus prayer groups may post their meetings all over the building. Since these are "student" organized (at least one is, the others being of questionable origin) there is nothing wrong with this. But, their notices are also hung on the Community Bulletin Board which according to the agreement that brought it about and the insistence of the principal is for off-campus community based organizartions and activities.
    As a result, the religious campus groups are given an advantage in that they can hang things everywhere while the very limitedly allowed information for Gay and Lesbian Students is allowed only on the Board, if at all. I as  teacher am not allowed to exercise the same rights of other teachers who hang what they want, where they want, and when they want to hang it.
    I think this is just more proof that The Oklahoma City Public Schools does not treat all students equally unless they are allied to the power structure.

Joe

 

 

I realize that my calling a meeting last week for Nov. 26 was rather short notice, so I understand that because of previous commitments many people were not able to attend.
   We met at 7:00 pm.
The first order of business was to show the need for some sort of action by reviewing all the documentation going back to March 11, 1997 that showed a consistent school district pattern of ignoring requests to educate teachers on the needs of Gay and Lesbian Students, making half-hearted attempts to give the appearance of concern, refusing to write inclusive language in spite of a number of opportunities to do so, and a consistent censorship of positive information that would not only benefit the GLBT students, but their straight peers as well.
   Various approaches were discussed, but my dog, the only one in attendance other than myself did not appear favorable to a campaign based on a spoonful of honey attracting more flies than a barrel of vinegar pointing out that for the first few years the honey approach was not instrumental in such attraction having resulted in the administration's using politeness as an excuse to ignore what could be done, kindness as weakness, and the expenditure of a whole barrel of honey, showing his indifference to the approach by licking his ball for an extended period of time.
    The following actions were decided upon unanimously as "give me your paw" was effective in getting a unanimous show of hands.
A) The name ETC. (End The Crap) was rejected in favor of the name RAGE (Really Angry Gay Educator- to be changed to stand for Really Angry Gays for Education if people show up for the informational events)
B) It was decided to have a presence at the administration building at all upcoming School Board meetings to bring attention to the importance of addressing the needs of GLBT Students.
1) The document THE GAY, LESBIAN. BI-SEXUAL BILL OF EDUCATION RIGHTS will be handed out,
2) A sign (with illustration) reading "LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND (except the Gay ones)", as well as a blow up of the Bill of Education Rights will be used to gain attention,
3) Other possible documents for presentation would include a proposal for a District Diversity Statement, a list of things Teachers and administrators could do, a list of recent court cases dealing with the harassment of GLBT students and the ignoring of their treatment by school districts including the amount of the in and out of court settlements which should come as a caveat in these budget crunching times, and suggested procedures to ensure inclusion in the curriculum. These additional documents will be included relative to availability of funds.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 pm as Oscar (my dog) had his own personal needs that needed to be met, and my presence was required to a degree.
HOWEVER, IT WAS DECIDED TO NOTIFY EVERYONE THAT THEY ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO TAKE PART IN THE INFORMATION ACTIONS TO BE HELD AT THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BEFORE AND DURING BOARD MEETINGS
Time of assembly will be 5:30 pm, and we will remain until practical. Those wishing to address the Board will need to sign up in the foyer at that time being mindful that only public comments concerning agenda items are heard at the beginning of the meetings while other, general comments are heard toward the end.
          HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE
joe quigley

 

Editor's note: I am embarrassed to admit that I was not at the meeting, after I had vowed on the front page of GayOKC.com that I would be. In my defense, I will only say that the cold dissuaded me from biking over to Joe's from where I live - my bicycle currently being my only means of transportation. Anyway, that's my excuse. What's yours?

 

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