Sunday, April 03, 2005

STOP "Day of Silence" at Your Schools April 13

URGENT NOTE TO PARENTS:

High schools and junior high schools across the state and country have scheduled a day-long homosexual propaganda assault on our children for April 13. The event is sponsored by GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network), and poses as a student-initiated and student-run event. Most schools do not announce this event on their calendars, websites, or in notices to parents. (And you may well ask what they are hiding!)

Called the "Day of Silence", students remain silent all day, wearing GLSEN badges and carrying cards explaining that their silence is an act of solidarity with homosexuals (who are terribly discriminated against). Supporting the homosexual agenda is portrayed as a great civil rights cause, and remaining silent this day as a brave act of civil disobedience.

Children are drawn in through weeks of indoctrination before the event, and told that this is the "progressive", cool position to take. Children craving the attention of their peers will jump on board, trying to look like sacrificing heroes. It also promises students that they don't have to answer questions if called on in class. (What teenager wouldn't want to take advantage of that?)

BUT -- The Massachusetts Parental Notification Act of 1996 requires that schools inform parents in advance of such an event, as it includes discussion of human sexuality. Parents, once informed, may then opt their children out. The problem is, this event takes over the whole school environment, so there's really no effective way to opt your child out (short of keeping them out of school that day)!

You should speak to your school's superintendent, or the high school and junior high school principals. Confirm that the "Day of Silence" is scheduled in your district. Then demand that this event be cancelled, since there is no way to opt your child out. Quote this excerpt from the Parental Notification Law:

Chapter 71: Section 32A. Sex education; policy regarding notice to parents, exemption.Section 32A. Every city, town, regional school district or vocational school district implementing or maintaining curriculum which primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues shall adopt a policy ensuring parental/guardian notification. Such policy shall afford parents or guardians the flexibility to exempt their children from any portion of said curriculum through written notification to the school principal. No child so exempted shall be penalized by reason of such exemption.

For more information, see these links:
Traditional Values Coalition article on "Day of Silence"
Mission America article on GLSEN
GLSEN's own description (Interestingly, this year the GLSEN Boston website is silent on the Day of Silence ...)
Dayofsilence.org (See the incredible organization and money behind this! You can link to materials ready to download, registration links for student "leaders", etc.)