Yesterday Obama announced Arne Duncan, head of the Chicago school system, as education secretary. With the reputation of a tough, results-gettin' reformer and an agenda to make schools so competitive you'll think you're in a Korean prep school, his appointment on paper sounds like an A. Minus.
He chilled his reputation in the Windy City this Fall with the proposal of a gay-friendly school. Not surprisingly, it was met with resistance. After a few edits — sexual orientation — he reproposed it as a safe haven for all bullied students. But at the last minute he withdrew the plan, promising a revised version next year.
Opposition came not only from social conservatives but also from liberals and, let's be inclusive, moderate conservatives who called it segregation. And right, I get it. At first light, it does sound like a plan to hoard gay teens in a separate school lined with rainbow-colored lockers; however, after reading about New York City's gay high school, I decided it's not. To find out why, read more.
Not every, or even close to every, gay teen will attend a gay-friendly school. They are for teens who are ostracized by families and peers, often homeless, and more likely to drop out. More Rickie from My So-Called Life and less (OK way less) Eric van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl. It's nothing more than a niche school for at-risk students, like schools for pregnant teens and young mothers, as a part of the increasing trend to break large schools down to small, specialized ones that better serve communities.
Isabella Oliver
Casadei
Koodos
I'm not sure I understand the point of this post: it seems like a stretch to criticize Duncan.
1See now I would have thought social conservatives would love this. Throw all the gay kids together and keep them from spreading their gayness and corrupting the moral fiber of influenceable youth.
You just can't please anyone these days...
2So this school is ONLY for kids ostracized for being gay? Or any kid who feels bullied and wants to join? I'm certainly not into the idea of a "just for us" school. What if someone tried to make a straights-only school? That would be terrible.
3"The school in question was not designed exclusively for gay students, but rather, would "cater" to gay students who felt alienated or intimidated at their traditional school. Duncan liked the idea as a way to respond to the growing dropout rate among GLBT students (a study in Chicago in 2003 found that gay students are three times more likely to miss school because they didn't feel safe)." Washington Monthly
I still don't get this post - the proposal is described in a round-about, 'it sounds like but isn't' way and it was withdrawn almost a month ago - so what's the point???
4You've got a headline that says one thing and a story that says another.
5I don't think it is segregation at all, it is not like mandatory all gay people report to "Rainbow High" - it can be your average school, open to all who would like to attend with an environment tailored to be comfortable to gay teens. Like the school message or unapologetic stance will be gay-friendly.
It is no different then students of different cultures, religions, races going to schools more accepting of their lifestyle, so I don't see the big deal.
6Stephley, at this point I think they're just posting "gay" stories to get everyone riled up to distract us from all the boring, poorly done stories they've been putting out lately
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7Oh snap!
8The proposal was withdrawn? Seriously then, what IS the point of this post?
9Burn!
10"More Rickie from My So-Called Life and less (OK way less) Eric van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl."
Is this new Citizen a 12 year old?
11I am seriously cracking up. I don't know if Adam Carolla knew about this yesterday, but he was talking about making a movie where there is a gay school, and Shia Lebeouf plays a kid who fakes being gay to get into this school because it's guaranteed to get you into a good college and then Dakota Fanning plays a girl acting like a gay guy to get in the school. Then they end up falling for eachother and questioning their sexuality. This post totally made me think of that story. LOL!!!!
12Is that a real movie, Hainan??
13Compare this post to yesterday's post where Citizen 3.0 called Bush an "overconfident jock." I feel like I'm reading a junior high newspaper.
14...is it weird that I might watch that? Actually I already have...it was called "She's the Man" based on "The Twelfth Night" and it was Channing Tatum and Amanda Bynes.
And I watch Gossip Girls too (Organic), so back off! Just the clothes and bags are enough!
15Ain't nothin' wrong with Gossip Girl. But, poor Eric van der Woodsen gets NO love. Or a storyline.
Side note--"Milk" is an awesome, awesome movie.
16Oh I wanna see that Em! I'm glad to hear it's a good one
17"More Rickie from My So-Called Life and less (OK way less) Eric van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl."
I LOVE my So-Called Life!
18and Gossip Girl at times
organic, the whole sugar network is a 12 year old. hence the obsession with The Hills and Lindsay Lohan
19bluesarahlou--bring Kleenex. (I'm a crier, but I saw it with my friend who never, ever cries at movies--and she was a blubbering MESS. So, yeah, Kleenex, and no mascara.
)
20Question for those who are critical of the Sugar sites: Why do you bother to keep coming back?
21The point of the post is to get us talking. Duncan is a pretty radical guy and that is exactly what we need in education a radical change. I am not in any way shape or form for closing low performing schools but I think some of his ideas are really good.
22Right on Linda McP!!! As for the article, Arne Duncan has improved some of the structure and education here in Chicago, maybe not as radically as he wanted and hoped but there has been vast improvement in the last 6 years here. It has made a leap maybe not a great leap but it's headed up.
23Linda McP, I really like my groups on Sugar (most are posting more interesting topics then the main sites) and not all the Sugar sites are slacking.
24I stay on here, because I have friends on here, not for the content.
25I confess to being far more interested in his academic reforms than this manufactured controversy over the gay high school. The American educational system really needs a kick in the ass.
"Why do you bother to keep coming back?"
Because we like this site. One doesn't have to be 100% adoring of everything on this site all the time to like it and enjoy posting here.
26I think I've agreed to everything Jude has said today, lol. It's scary that our schools are so behind! When are we going to fix our academic system?
27I like the site, just couldn't make heads or tails of the post.
28Linda- Because it has potential to be an awesome site. If we don't criticize, how will it ever improve and reach its potential?
Seems reasonable enough to me.
29Also, this portion of the site used to have a little more thought and professionalism in the articles. It's alright to still come here for the conversations but point out that the articles themselves are dragging. For example, I don't think I can stand to see another post about President Bush and shoes.
30agreed, Mich.
31This is interesting, I don't like it. Because IMO it won't change the end result which is bullying. If a gay teen moves to a gay school they may not be bullied for being (gay) but trust honey young gays can be just as if not more vicious to each other than any homophobe short of gay bashing of course. I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy to get in the midst of those claws, lol.
I'll tell you what how about a zero tolerance for bullying nation wide. Seems like it makes sense to me, that way we kill all birds with one stone.
32The problem with that is how do you enforce it? What is considered "bullying", and what isn't?
33Are you kidding me? You're telling me that an educated sane adult who is trained to deal with children will not be able to make that determination. Well then I say God help all.
34What I'm saying is that when rules are made, the reasoning portion goes out the window. Let's take the zero tolerance policy on all weapons that came into effect after the Columbine massacre. Good kids were expelled for carrying pocket knives (less than 1" in length) that they used to trim the bows of their violin. Where was the reasoning there? I'm opposed to anything that is "zero tolerance".
35Oh I see where you're coming from now. IMO zero tolerance doesn't have to mean expulsion. Zero tolerance simply means nipping it in the butt at every (noticed) instance. The punishment however can be one or a variety of things but I don't believe that bullies should be expelled. That's just waisting a child.
36This is a bunch of bollocks really - a joke. It's really going too far. I'm not against homosexuality because a lot of my friends are gays. However, if I have a child who is gay, there's no way I'd ever send my child to a gay school. Everyone goes through tough times during high school, and that's how you learn and mature. I don't understand why they are trying to be so protective of everyone. Life is hard - deal with it!
37I also think that by doing this, they are differentiating the gay people and making larger gaps. If liberals really think sexual orientation is not a big deal, then have those kids deal with the reality. Fat kids get bullied all the time, but no one has come up with Obese High School. Kids with acne, kids who are awkward, and maybe sometimes kids who are minorities can get bullied, but no one comes up with special schools for them, so why gay school? Let's all start labeling everyone and segregate them! Doesn't that sound so wonderful and liberal? protecting everyone so no one has to be bullied when everyone gets bullied at least once in their lifetime.
38"I'm not against homosexuality because a lot of my friends are gays."
39LOL! Jude you're crazy.
40I agree with Hypno that there should be a zero tolerance for bullying, period. How many kids drop out of school, or begin to use drugs to escape from the reality of their bullied existance?
41Vanilla J, I hear where you're coming from. once the segregation begins, where does it end? And who's to say this new school (if the proposal had passed) wouldn't have it's own bullying? It isn't a permanent answer really, just a band-aid, and I believe the srticle said it would accept not just gay students but any student who felt bullied.
Also, I know it's cliche when people say they aren't against a certain group of people because they have friends who fall into that demographic, but honestly, they're just trying to relate and aren't sure what other avenue to do that by. So cut them a little slack, they're trying.
42"I agree with Hypno that there should be a zero tolerance for bullying, period. How many kids drop out of school, or begin to use drugs to escape from the reality of their bullied existance?"
Probably the same number of kids how turn to drugs because they don't have the mental capabilities to handle disappointment.
43And no it isn't a real movie. Adam Carolla does these things where he creates plot lines. And they just kind of flow and add things on as they go. But it does sound a little familiar to "She's the Man" But not quite. I would love to see that movie come to fruition though
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