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Support GayOKC.com! Donate here!		 Joe Quigley/NW Classen Update - 12-19-01

The following are emails from Joe Quigley
(Posted 12-19-01)

Wed, Dec 5 - It has been a while since I sent out an update on NWClassen.
The reason for this is that at the behest of the superintendent, I and the
principal have been working with a neutral labor mediator to see if some
resolution to the ongoing "conflict" can be reached.
     It would not be right, and it could jeopardize the process if I were to
summarize what has been discussed, or speculate on the outcome. So this will
have to wait.
     The hope was that some conclusion or recommendation would have been
reached by now, but the untimely death of the mediator's son the weekend of
Thanksgiving has understandably put things on hold.
     As you may know by now, having a story to tell, but not being able to
tell it is an almost unbearable torture for me. Were I a spy, this method of
torture would be most effective in getting me to sell the farm.
     But I do have one incident to relate that is not part of the mediation
process, and which may be of interest.
     Some may recall from last year that there was a Jewish student who,
along with her family, had twice lodged an objection with an assistant
principal about a banner depicting the Nativity scene and the words "joy to
the world" that was hanging on a classroom door during the month of
December.--a banner that was thrust into the hall when the classroom door was
opened.
     The parents had been told that teachers could hang whatever they wanted
in their rooms, and that they needed to be a little more tolerant.
     After I wrote to the principal about this apparent violation of a policy
on hanging posters- the one that, although addressed to all faculty and
staff, was, at the time, given only to me- I gave a copy of the letter to the
parents who in turn passed it on to their Rabbi.
The banner was removed, but not before the teacher who had hung the banner
was informed who had made the complaint.
     An interesting side-bar here is that whenever I was informed of a
complaint related to any Positive Gay and Lesbian poster or display I had
placed in my room, the identity of the complainant had been carefully guarded.
      At any rate, the banner is once again up this year, and, so, I wrote
the following memo to the principal on 12/03/01.

      In light of the prohibitions to any type of Gay and Lesbian positive
displays in my classroom during Gay and Lesbian History Month (october), I am
seeking clarification as to whether or not permission was granted for the
hanging of decidedly Christian displays in classrooms during the holiday
season.
       While traversing the building I have noticed such displays, and cannot
but help wonder if teachers are not adhering to the policy on posting
materials in the classroom as distributed this past fall, or if there is a
bias toward accepting these displays while denying those that may contain
positive information about Gay and Lesbian people for both the Gay and
Lesbian students, as well as their peers.
     If these posters were hung in error, I am sure a friendly reminder will
rectify it.
     Thank you for your attention to this matter.

From accounts of past events it should be noted that the response to
complaints about Gay and Lesbian positive information was consistently swift
and occasionally angry. The directives for removal contained the demand for
immediacy, the threat of further action, personal removal by an administrator
if my response was not as fast as desired, the occasional removal by one or
more administrators at night or on weekends prior to my being made aware of
any complaint or need for removal, and the usual charge of "willful neglect
of duty".
     At the end of school on 12/04/01, the principal reported to me that,
although he had walked the whole building, he was not able to find the
display to which I referred.
     I gave him the exact location. As it was the same banner and location as
last year,  where to specifically look should have been obvious.
     But even though the location was made known, no removal took place
before students returned for school the next morning. This contrasts very
heavily with the removal of materials by an administrator (rainbow plaque,
Safe-Place insignia etc)  from my class before students returned for the
2001-2002 school year, and remain locked in the principal's closet, and the
missing advocate article on Gay and Lesbian heroes and victims of September
11, not to mention the biography of Bayard Rustin being ripped off my door by
an assistant principal.
    Throughout the day on 12/05/01, I went by the classroom door noting that
the banner was still hanging. In the afternoon, I passed the hallway and saw
the principal speaking with the Teacher, yet the banner was still hanging by
the time I left school at the end of the day.
     Clearly, either the principal did not call for the immediate removal of
the banner, which is inconsistent with past G/L information related events,
or the Teacher ignored his directive. Obviously, there was a lack of
immediacy.
     Either all teachers must adhere to this new poster policy, and many do
not because besides being new, it is also a little odd, or it has a specific
target. After all, it only  came into existence as a result of my grieving a
reprimand that resulted from the events of October 1999, and obviously was
given only to me, as its purpose was to censor and control the hanging of Gay
and Lesbian positive information.
    If it was universally applicable, the Nativity banner would have been
removed by now, if not by a reluctant teacher, then by an administrator, or
administrators, with the same immediacy and alacrity exercised when the
targets were Gay and Lesbian positive information. 
   Even if, and when, the banner is finally removed, I believe the statement
has already been clearly made that the policy to which I strictly adhere as
evidenced by my written requests for the appropriate permissions is not
enforced on an even basis, and generally ignored by the faculty and staff.
    The practice has become the hanging of posters without permission with
the principal reacting only if informed, or if he happens upon a display that
he does not personally like. Otherwise, it is business as usual, with me
making sure I follow the policy at all times so as not to be accused of
"willful neglect of duty" thereby hindering any progress in favor of Gay and
Lesbian Students and Teachers.
     If not all teachers are held to this policy as strictly as I, and if
certain displays are winked at while others are angrily and threateningly
removed, then there is an inequity and a clear statement of bias of the worse
kind.

joe quigley

 

Wed, Dec 5 - I thought it would be prudent to, by way of preemptive strike,  explain my
motivation in objecting to the Nativity poster, lest the self righteous twist
my motivation into proof of Godlessness and anti-religiosity.

I in no way object to the poster in, and of itself.
However, there is a policy in place that is either legitimate, and proved so
by the defense of those who instituted it, or it is merely a ploy to censor
while appearing to be neutral.
   All posters intended for hanging must have the principal's approval before
they are hung. This either applies to all teachers at NWClassen, or I am
being singled out for treatment different from all others.
   As stated in writing as well as orally, all posters to be hung must be
directly related to the curriculum taught in the room. That is the basis for
the removal of my poster for Gay and Lesbian History Month, and subsequent
denials of permission, and Poetry Month, as it contained some poets not
covered directly by the freshman curriculum. Since the Nativity poster is
hung in a math class, its relevance to the curriculum is in question.
   In the reprimand of 1999 which has since been removed from my file, the
justification for the charge of "instructional ineffectiveness" was that in
hanging a poster that was specifically about, and exclusively containing Gay
and Lesbian people, I was ignoring the "other" students in my classes. Would
not a decidedly Christian banner be guilty of the same ignoring of "other"
students?
   The appearance is that a bias exists against those who are not like those
in charge, while it exists in favor of those with whom the administration
identifies. This not only removes the necessary neutrality of school
policies, but it goes against the state Standards for the  Performance and
Conduct of Teachers.
   There will be those who ignore the realities for the emotional argument
because reason is more difficult to deal with. But, my purpose is to
guarantee that this school policy if equally applied to all faculty and
staff, or it should not be solely applicable to me.
Joe Quigley

 

Fri, Dec 7 - Well,
the week has ended and surprise, surprise the banner of a decidedly Christian
nature still hangs. Apparently the majority lifestyle is promotable. But
remember, the poster policy was not supposed to be directed at Gay and
Lesbian stuff. It only turns out like that on a consistent basis.
I sent the following memo to the principal on 12/07/01

I HAVE NOTICED WHEN TRAVELLING THE BUILDING THAT THE POSTER I REFERRED TO IN
MY MEMO OF 12/03/01, AND WHOSE SPECIFIC LOCATION WAS MADE KNOWN TO YOU IN OUR
CONVERSATION OF 12/04/01 IS STILL HANGING.
I AM SURE, AS A RESULT OF PAST PRACTICE, HAD THIS BEEN A GAY AND LESBIAN
POPSITIVE POSTER ITS REMOVAL WOULD HAVE BEEN ALREADY DEMANDED, OR ITS REMOVAL
ACTED ON BY AN ADMINISTRATOR, OR AS WAS THE CASE EXPLAINED RECENTLY BY YOU
RELATIVE TO THE REMOVAL OF MY ARTICLE ON THE GAY AND LESBIAN HEROES AND
VICTIMS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, BY A CUSTODIAN.
THIS IMPLiES THAT THERE IS A DOUBLE STANDARD BEING APPLIED.
IS THIS IS ALSO NOT A FORM OF 'PROMOTING' A SPECIFIC LIFE-STYLE?
IF THIS POSTER POLICY IS BEING APPLIED EQUALLY TO ALL TEACHERS,
AND IF THE BASIS OF THAT POLICY IS SOUND, THEN THIS DISPLAY MUST ALSO BE
REMOVED.

How more blatantly obvious does it have to be for the powers that be to see
that there is continued discrimination against gay and lesbian students even
if it is exercise in awkward subtlety, before they will begin to follow their
our mission and vision statement?

Can I get an AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH?

 

Fri, Dec 7
Sandy Garrett: State Superintendent of Schools
William Weitzel: Superintendent of OCPS
Joyce Henderson: School/Community Affairs OCPS


The last week of January is set aside at NWClassen as Diversity Week.
Its purpose is to celebrate the rich diversity of our school community.
Ultimately, knowledge about those who are different from us can reduce
friction and increase understanding.
    I fully intend to ensure that Gay and Lesbian people are represented for
the sake of Gay and Lesbian kids, not only those already accepting of
themselves, but those who hide in assumed shame and give in to the homophobia
so prevalent and allowed in society, especially the local heavily controlled
society that is Oklahoma City.
   It could also educate straight kids who labor under the lies and
distortions so effective in scaring up the vote or the big money "love gifts".
   As there is plenty of time between now and then, I am asking those
responsible for such things as granting or denying permission that they do
one or the other.
   Presently the application of the revised policy on posters at the high
school is confusing as it is applied only in certain cases, and I cannot
rely, therefore, on the proper decision being made at that level.
   Call it an "end run", or even going over peoples' heads, but in light of
past events and the conscious ignoring of his own policy by the principal, I
am confused, and would like some guidance.
Joseph Quigley

 

Mon, Dec 10 - Someone asked me today what they got in Detroit for winning the Gay and
Lesbian History Month display arbitration. So, I told them.
Then, they asked me what I was after.
For the record this is it.
1) the right for myself, or any teacher in the district to hang posters and
to recognize Gay and Lesbian History Month (October) without censorship or
dealing with the biases of individual administrators.
2) the right for myself, or any teacher in the district to hang Gay and
Lesbian related posters, or supply Gay and Lesbian positive information
during such months as Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Women in
History Moth etc. so that the whole school community will see that Gay and
Lesbian people come in all races, ethnicities etc., and to ensure that GLBT
minority students know they are not the only one.
3) The right for myself, or any teacher in the district to provide positive
Gay and Lesbian role models in person, the curriculum, co-curricular
activites, and school events without fear of false charges of "promoting" or
"willful neglect of duty".
4)An INCLUSIVE diversity policy and non-discrimination statement that by
USING the words "Sexual Orientation" stop leaving inclusivity up to the
personal biases or open mindedness of individual employeees.
5) inservices for employees about the needs and existence of GLBT Students in
our schools, so that through knowledge we can start treating all students
equal without being victims or misinformation, purposeful or otherwise.
6) ensuring that the curriculum acknowledges the contributions of Gay and
Lesbian People in all subject areas whether directly in the texts, or through
supplementary material.

When I say "Gay and Lesbian" that also includes Bisexual and Transgendered,
but I was saving by two typing fingers a little work.

Of course, and this is not mandatory, an apology would be nice, and a
monetary settlement of $1 to boot.

Joe Quigley

 

Tues, Dec 11 - I am sure there are those who would like to know that this afternoon
(12/11/01) the principal spoke to the teacher who had the Nativity banner
hanging on her door, and it (the banner, that is) was removed.
Being the gentleman that I am, I will NOT point out that it took two memos to
the principal, the second one being written last friday (12/07/01)  after I
saw him standing talking to the teacher at her door next to the banner I had
written about the previous monday  (12/03/01), a  personal conversation with
the principal (12/04/01) in which, to assuage his confusion, I told him its
exact location, two e-mails sent to everyone in my address book, and eight
days to do this, as it would serve no purpose beyond reminding people for the
record how long of a response it took in this instance as opposed the
swiftness of demand and removal it took whenever a Gay and Lesbian positive
poster was hung.
I am sure that as this banner was hung in all probability innocently by the
teacher not used to the new (some may be tempted to point out that in reality
it is actually over a year old) policy,  the principal will remind the
faculty and staff that everyone without exception is to follow the policy,
and based on that, everyone will, and no favoritism will be shown either
because of special relationships, or the unwieldiness of such a policy.

Joe Quigley.

 

Mon, Dec 17 - As I passed the door of a particular classroom today, I saw that the banner
was back up. I consulted the teacher, and she informed me that the Principal
told her that she had to remove it unless she also hung things for Channukah
and Kwanzaa.
This she did, but being clever, and knowing it was all a game, she found very
small things and hung them inconspicuously in the rear of her room on the
sides of a cabinet. As this is a multi-holiday season, and as she covered all
the bases, she is correct.
    Now, as far as Gay and Lesbian History Month, Diversity week, Women in
History Month and the rest, the solution to the problem has been found in the
event that mediation does not go the proper way.
  During each of these months, I will hang the appropriate Gay and Lesbian
banners, and up in the corner, visible, but not commanding, I will hang a
picture of an openly heterosexual token individual. Or, as the nativity
banner has out in the hallway prominance while the other two holidays have
been placed acceptably inside the room where you can see them if you look for
them, I will hang a picture of a straight person somewhere in my room, and
enjoy the excitement of "Where's Hetero". It has been established that equal
mention does not mean equal size, or accessibility to view.
     And, If I hang any pictures of heterosexuals for whatever reason, then
in order to meet the requirement of equal mention, then I will just have to
hang banners about Gay and Lesbian people, not concerned if they overshadow
the other.
    Precedents are nice things.
Joe Quigley

 

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