Warren High talking about Silence
Warren Township High School in Gurnee will explore the possibility of officially allowing an annual national effort that's supposed to call attention to harassment of gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender students.
Called the Day of Silence, last month's event included unofficial participation at 309 Illinois middle and high schools, including several in the suburbs. The event, which has stirred controversy at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Participants take a vow of silence to call attention to name-calling and bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
This year's day on April 25 claimed participation at more than 7,500 middle and high schools across the United States. The Day of Silence was dedicated to Lawrence King, a 15-year-old Los Angeles-area student who the Gay, Lesbian and Straight organization says was killed Feb. 12 because of his sexual orientation.
At a meeting Tuesday night, Warren District 121 board member Roberta Pfeiffer brought up the idea of sanctioning the Day of Silence. She said she wants to know how many other suburban school districts are involved and suggested student feedback could be solicited.
Pfeiffer said her interest in the Day of Silence isn't an endorsement of the event.
"I want to make sure we are fair to all our students," Pfeiffer said.
District 121 board President John Anderson said he's receptive to the Day of Silence. He noted the Warren board this week approved a new strategic plan that includes goals related to teacher and student diversity.
"We have to be open to all types of diversity, no matter what they are," Anderson said.
District 121 board member Richard Conley said he's against allowing the Day of Silence or other similar events because there would be an implied endorsement of a group or agenda.
"Schools are a place for learning, not political agendas," Conley said.
Neuqua Valley was forced to allow sophomore Alex Nuxoll to wear his "Be Happy, Not Gay" T-shirt for a Day of Truth event last month as the result of a federal appellate court's reversal of a ruling against him. He and a 2007 graduate filed a lawsuit against the school over the shirt.
Nuxoll and the young woman say Neuqua violated their rights to wear anti-gay T-shirts to class. Neuqua permits pupils to wear shirts with messages supporting homosexual behavior on the Day of Silence, which is followed by the Day of Truth.
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network spokesman Daryl Presgraves said students participating in the 12-year-old Day of Silence have a constitutionally protected right to be silent in class. He said the King slaying created more interest this year to fight harassment of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender students.
"The goal is to get it to a point where there is no need for a Day of Silence," Presgraves said.
Warren Superintendent Phil Sobocinski was directed to research the Day of Silence and report back to the school board.