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Should Schools Be Allowed To Out Kids Who Join GSAs?

Should Schools Be Allowed To Out Kids Who Join GSAs?

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Carjosse said:
I was reading The Globe the other day and they had an article about how the Alberta NDP will make it illegal for school officials to tell parents that their kids have joined a gay-straight alliance (peer-support groups set up by students to provide mutual support and prevent bullying of LGBTQ students). This is all because of Jason Kenney, famous social conservative and former federal cabinet minister currently running for leadership of Alberta's brand new United Conservative Party has said that school administrators should be able to out kids to their parents for joining a gay-straight alliance if the administrators see fit. The statement has received criticism from the governing NDP, other leadership contenders for the UCons and mainly former Progressive Conservative MLAs, but Kenny still stands by the statement.

The question I have for you do you think school administrators should be able to out children who join gay-straight alliances to their parents? The Alberta government say that it puts kids in danger of family ostracization or worse and will stop gay students from seeking support.

I have to say that this is despicable behavior from a famous social conservative and frightening thing is it seems to have completely unaffected his support but then again it is Alberta. Hopefully this law can protect vulnerable students. I cannot imagine how Kenney's statement could be viewed as anything other than a homophobic attack on LGBT youth.
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Given that for some of these kids, the whole reason they join GSA in the first place is because of a risk of abuse at home if they come out... no, absolutely not.
 
X Factor said:
Whatever is done or not done regarding other clubs should be done with these groups. They should be treated no differently.
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My impression was that this kind of club would be treated different, if the Conservative Party leader had his way. From the OP- "...school administrators should be able to out kids to their parents for joining a gay-straight alliance if the administrators see fit."
No mention of the badminton club or the 4-H or the quilting club. And 'as the administrators see fit' isn't a comforting qualifier. Makes a very critical decision about a teen-ager's life a matter of somebody's whim or mood or religious conviction or whatever makes someone think they see fit about the subject.
Leave them alone, together. Don't try to manage.
 
jimbo said:
I come down on both sides of this issue. I get the kid may have issues with daddy finding out, but if I am the parent and legal guardian then the school better not withhold pertinent information that affects my child and my responsibility.

I have two problem areas. What is the school doing sanctioning secret clubs? And how is this possible? Your telling me that if the kid goes to the gay club room every Thursday after school, that the secret is not out?

We don't live in a perfect world and there are no perfect rules. As a parent I want to know if little Johnny is not turning in homework, showing up for class. doing drugs in the bathrooms. Asked the school nurse for BC prescription. I've got no problem with gay, and would not care either way.
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The school does not inform you when your son joins the chess club
 
vegas giants said:
The school does not inform you when your son joins the chess club
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It doesn't make it secret either.

If any club is public with public meetings, then no. If the school is withholding secret information, then I want to know.
 
jimbo said:
It doesn't make it secret either.

If any club is public with public meetings, then no. If the school is withholding secret information, then I want to know.
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Where is it stated that this would be kept especially secret
 
Most extra curricular groups need a parents permission to join until high school. Here in the US, people are lawsuit crazy and I could see this going both ways, in addition to some people objecting to their tax money going towards other than education. It's hard enough to get support from taxpayers for sports and art programs. I personally think schools should avoid this entirely.

The need for this type of support is needed in communities, but not provided by public schools.
 
vegas giants said:
Where is it stated that this would be kept especially secret
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If it's not secret, what's the point? The parent will know.

I noticed that, but cannot figure out any other reason why this is an issue.
 
jimbo said:
If it's not secret, what's the point? The parent will know.

I noticed that, but cannot figure out any other reason why this is an issue.
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You do know that some parents are morons and don't have a clue what their kids are doing in school. So why send the a letter telling them?
 
vegas giants said:
You do know that some parents are morons and don't have a clue what their kids are doing in school. So why send the a letter telling them?
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I do. But as I said, we don't live in a perfect world.
 
It is not only the fear of abuse from parents. It is the fear of coming out. I know of one high school student who was so afraid of coming out to his father, he slashed his wrists. A year or so later, when he finally did talk to the dad, the parent was very supportive. The problem is, the kid was so distraught about his situation, even in a loving and supportive family, that he tried to kill himself in the belief that his parents would be hurt by his coming out. GSA's may have helped.
 
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