Obama Education Nominee Favors Gay High School
While President-elect Obama’s choice of Arne Duncan to head the Department of Education has, by and large, earned accolades from conservatives, the current Chief Executive Office of the Chicago Public Schools has done one thing which concern those of us who oppose the further Balkanization of America .
Duncan recently recommended the creation of the Social Justice High School—Pride Campus which would “address the needs of the underserved population of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and their allies (LGBTQA youth). He pushed this “explicitly gay-friendly school” to keep “students from being bullied and ostracized” and “where half of the students were expected to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”
Let’s hope gay activists and others join much of Chicago’s political establishment in opposing this new type of segregation. Shouldn’t our goal (and that of our supporters) be to find a place for gays to live openly in the mainstream of American society? Shouldn’t we focus on means to change the minds of those who would make life difficult for gay teens rather than encourage those teens to study separately, among those just like them?
While Duncan’s efforts are certainly well-intentioned, they are just one more sign how the agenda of the various minority groups have changed, from overturning laws and policies and changing attitudes which defined us by our difference to creating institutions which do just that–keeping members of various “minority” groups outside the mainstream.
I don’t think Duncan’s support for this school should disqualify him from being confirmed as Secretary of Education. But, his support should raise some red flags. Let’s hope Senators press him about this in his confirmation hearings. And let’s hope he doesn’t favor the further Balkanization of American society, with separate institutions for each and every interest group.
On the whole, it does seem has the knowledge, understanding and ability to promote real education reform.
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While I am not fan of gay segregation, I am more concerned that only 17% of Chicago eight graders achieved basic literacy under Duncan. I guess we know why Chicago is a locked-down, one-party, Democrat city. The voters are kept dumb and dependent.
Comment by V the K — December 18, 2008 @ 9:20 am - December 18, 2008
And if Arne Duncan did such a great job with the Chicago Public Schools, why did Chairman 0 and Lady M send their darling daughters to a $20,000 a year private school instead?
Comment by V the K — December 18, 2008 @ 9:24 am - December 18, 2008
Let’s see. Gay activists want to increase the next generation’s understanding and acceptance of gays. So, segregating gay kids into an all-gay school – thus effectively segregating straight kids into all-straight schools, as well – is the answer.
Huh? What was the question again?
Oh, silly me. While attending their new all-straight schools, straight kids will still receive mandatory indoctrination lessons in loving and accepting gays. That’s the second part of the gay activists’ plan. And it’ll work for sure. (not)
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — December 18, 2008 @ 9:39 am - December 18, 2008
Reading, writing and arithmetic. All students in the top 10% and getting smarter.*
Sex ed, social studies, PE. All students in the top 10% and rising.*
Addressing the needs of the underserved population of L, G, B, T, and questioning youth and their allies (LGBTQA youth), CLAXON HORN, SIREN, BELLS, CLANGING GONGS, REDS FLASHING LIGHTS !!!!!! Students must be segregated, sheltered, coddled, have their special needs met, psycho-serviced, ego stroked, given babble intensive curriculum, encouraged to act up, out and away.
(*) It is noted that not everyone can be in the top 10% is most situations. This is not true, however, in public education. There, one simply lowers the top 10% to everything above 10%. This will soon be applied to medical degrees as socialized medicine takes root.
Comment by heliotrope — December 18, 2008 @ 10:08 am - December 18, 2008
What an awful idea. But like VtK said, I’m more concerned that this person is patently incompetent than that they’ll pursue this lunacy.
It’s far more troubling that someone can “achieve” 17% effective literacy and still be taken seriously as a voice of education.
Comment by DoDoGuRu — December 18, 2008 @ 1:44 pm - December 18, 2008
I think we have to take it a bit easy on the Obamas with respect to their school choice for their daughters. Regardless of DC’s public school system’s strengths or weaknesses, the “first children” of any president face significant social and security challenges, and it’s easy to see how a private school might be able to alleviate those problems. They could never be “just kids” in a public school; they have more of an opportunity to do so in a private one. NO president of ANY party should make a school choice for their children based on politics.
Comment by Don Jones — December 18, 2008 @ 3:49 pm - December 18, 2008
An Obama cabinet member for segregation. Who’d have thunk it?
Seriously, a 17% literacy rate among Chicago 8th graders and this guy would be in charge of the whole country’s education? That alone should keep him out of the running.
Comment by Attmay — December 18, 2008 @ 4:05 pm - December 18, 2008
Really, Don Jones? Are you sure about that? How about Presidents who support liberal policies that make our schools worse, then turn down school choice for others? You know, “For me; not for thee”. “Do as I say, not as I do.”
And even if there are legitimate security concerns for a President: OK, what about when Obama was just a Senator, or a state Senator? No particular security needs there – and he was already sending his daughters to private schools.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — December 18, 2008 @ 4:40 pm - December 18, 2008
Ok, hypothetical. Arnie Duncan is a white (apparently) straight male. Would there not be a cry for his head on a pike if he called for an “explicitly black-friendly school” to keep “students from being bullied and ostracized”?
and as to the last, for someone in education, he sure hell doesn’t know kids, does he? I went to ‘redneck high’ and we had our cliques. Does he honestly believe that they won’t clique?
Comment by The Livewire — December 18, 2008 @ 7:18 pm - December 18, 2008
Good comments guys! I was hoping there would be opposition to this.
Thanks,
Comment by Timothy — December 18, 2008 @ 7:43 pm - December 18, 2008
We already have one — the one where they film “High School Musical”
Comment by American Elephant — December 18, 2008 @ 10:11 pm - December 18, 2008
Well, we know Comrade Biden favors segregation based on religion, so why not? Or is that just for the 7-11 and Dunkin Donuts clerks who populate Iraq?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — December 18, 2008 @ 11:51 pm - December 18, 2008
I WAS GOING TO SAY “DON’T WE ALREADY HAVE MAGNET SCHOOLS FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS”
I know tacky, but the entire concept is ridiculous.
Acceptance works both ways and by segregating students by sexual preference would be a step backwards. I have a 17/16 yr old nephew and niece.
Gay students are accepted and nearly ignored at their Kingwood High School. This is a very conservative suburb of Houston.
Comment by Jeb — December 19, 2008 @ 9:09 am - December 19, 2008
#13 – Jeb, I hear you. The only “gay” high school is HSPVA (High School for the Visual and Performing Arts).
Stereotyping? Please. The only reason HSPVA doesn’t have an athletic team is because we couldn’t get them out of the showers.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — December 19, 2008 @ 3:51 pm - December 19, 2008