The Day of Silence, which is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), will take place in most public schools on April 11. Thousands of public high schools and increasing numbers of middle schools are promoting the idea that students should remain silent for an entire day to promote homosexuality. Our public high schools, funded by federal, state, and local funds, are governed by the federal regulations mandating that every child is educated by funds provided by taxation.
What options do parents and students have? One of your options is to keep your child home from school that day. According to the Illinois Family Institute, who is once again sponsoring the Day of Silence Walkout:
Parents should call their children’s middle schools and high schools to ask whether the administration and/or teachers will be permitting students to remain silent during class on the Day of Silence.
If students will be permitted to remain silent, parents can express their opposition most effectively by calling their children out of school on the Day of Silence and sending letters of explanation to their administrators, their children’s teachers, and all school board members. One reason this is effective is that most school districts lose money for each student absence.
Resources:
- Reasons for the Day of Silence Walkout
- Instructions for Parents
- Sample Call Out Letter
- Grove City College Professor’s Misguided “Golden Rule Pledge”
- Questions and Answers for Kids about Homosexuality
- Keep Your Kids Home on Homosexuality-Affirming “Day of Silence”
Related articles
- Thousands of students participate in GLSEN’s 17th annual national Day of Silence against bullying (miamiherald.typepad.com)
- National Day of Silence calls attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools (miamiherald.typepad.com)
- Christian Group Wants Parents to Call Their Kids Out of School on ‘Day of Silence’ (patheos.com)
- Lesbian Teen Sues School For Suspending Her On National Day Of Silence (queerty.com)
- Your Child’s Schooling – Do You Know Your Options? (everydayfamily.com)
