Anti-gay bullying continues to be a contentious issue in Anoka-Hennepin School District
Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 11:42 am
- 42 Comments
Monday night’s meeting of the Anoka-Hennepin School Board was a contentious one as the issue of bullying and suicide in the district again came up. The state’s largest school district opened an investigation into the suicides of nine students over the past year — some by students who were allegedly bullied for their sexual orientation — and said that it found no evidence that any of the nine were bullied. Students and parents criticized the district for its statement — at times the conversation devolved to shouting — while district officials said there’s not much they can do if students and parents don’t report incidents to the schools.
In a voicemail to staff last week, the district said that reports by parents, students and staff regarding bullying are “not true.”
“We continue to correct inaccurate statements about students who have committed suicide over the past year,” Superintendent Dennis Carlson told district staff. “We know how difficult these deaths have been for our schools. Based on all the information we’ve been able to gather, none of the suicides were connected to incidents of bullying or harassment. In addition to family and friends, many of our employees were personally affected by these tragedies.”
Over the last 18 months, the district has been at the heart of the debate over LGBT-bullying. In late 2009, a high-profile investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights found that two teachers in the district conspired to harass a student they thought was gay. The teachers went on leave, and the district paid $25,000 to the student.
Then, in July, the suicide death of gay 15-year-old Anoka student Justin Aaberg sparked an uproar. Parents, teachers and students held a series of press events and gave testimonials before the school board where advocates said that as many of four students took their lives at least in part because of bullying.
Carlson said that these statements by students, staff and parents at school board meetings weren’t truthful based on data from the district’s student services department.
"None of the suicides were connected to incidents of bullying," said Supt. Dennis Carlson
“As we all try to heal from the pain of these deaths the continuation of inaccurate information is not helpful,” he said. “Once again we have no evidence that bullying played a role in any of our students deaths. In a few instances, people told the school board and district leaders that employees stood by while a student was bullied. These statements are also not true. We have no evidence of that occurring.”
On Monday night, freshman student Jacob Tighe testified to the board that he was upset that the district called those statements “not true.” He said that bullying was a factor in his friend’s death and that even he has experienced anti-gay bullying — and he’s straight.
“Not only did some of these kids who committed suicide get bullied before they died, but one of them, who was a personal friend of mine, was even bullied even after she died. Kids said things like ‘she deserved to die,’” he told the board.
“Even though I am straight, I get teased because people think I am gay based on how I dress. Recently I had an incident where a student in class harassed me, and I reported it to the teacher who then singled me out in front of the class and ultimately made the situation worse by how she handled it.” He said the teacher handled his complaints “indifferently.”
“You tell us to report things, but then when people come forward, like some have done in this very boardroom, you say that what we say isn’t true,” he said. “Why should kids come forward then if you aren’t going to believe them?”
Justin Aaberg’s mother, Tammy, was also angered by the school’s response. She and Justin had discussed his sexual orientation, she says, and she was supportive of it. Shortly after his death, she learned from his friends that he had been bullied at school.
She has pressed the school board on several occasion to make policy changes to create a safer school culture for LGBT students, especially changing a policy that bans discussions of LGBT issues in classrooms.
She said it makes LGBT students feel devalued. “Gay kids believe that they deserved to be treated this way because they were gay,” she told the Minnesota Independent. “I honestly believe this is what Justin thought, which is why he tried not to make a huge deal of what happened to him.”
“I don’t know why they are doing this,” she said of the district’s response to statements by parents and students. “This is outrageous. They are bullying [students] into silence,” she said.
Aaberg is conducting her own investigation to determine what the district knew — if anything — about Justin’s experience with bullies. She says she didn’t know that Justin had seen a school counselor about it and questions why the school didn’t inform her of that fact.
But the district maintains that in none of the nine suicides was bullying reported to the district — either before or after the students’ deaths.
Responding to testimony by parents and students on Monday night about incidents of bullying and the perceived inaction by the district to address those incidents, Superintendent Carlson said, “There’s no question this is a difficult issue for this district, and we’ve been struggling with it for a long time”
He said that no one is casting blame at the victims of bullying. “In no way do we see the victims of bullying and harassment as individuals to be blamed. I mean, in no way.”
To the presenters he said, “When you make serious allegations against this district, we are obligated to investigate. We don’t investigate hearsay or rumors. We investigate facts.”
He said the district will investigate staff that do not intervene in stopping bullying.
“If they are unknown to us or are not named, it is impossible for us to go down that road. So clearly that is something that needs to be done,” he added.
Bill Thurston, the father of an Anoka Middle School student, said, “Publicly casting doubt on the number of suicides that were LGBT or bullying-related suggests that protecting the status quo is more important than protecting students.”
At last month’s meeting, Thurston spoke about his son being bullied, and board members said they asked him for specifics so that they could investigate.
“You know, we were very sincere when we said that when you came before us at the last board meeting and said you son was bullied, but we need you to talk to administration and tell us where it’s happening so we can deal with it,” board chair Tom Heidemann said. “If you are not willing to do that with us then that becomes a real issue for us to go and investigate.”
“I have a great relationship with the principal at Anoka Hennepin Middle School, and I saw that you scapegoated her and when you scapegoat teachers as well… You have to know, Tom, that it’s this policy,” said Thurston, referring to the ban on LGBT issues being discussed in the classroom.
Heidemann interrupted, “You are out of line.”
“You are out of line too, sir!” Thurston shot back.
That policy seems to be at the crux of the contention in the district, and each person testifying said it created an unsafe school climate for students to report anti-LGBT bullying.
A district staff member, fearful about being fired for criticizing the district about the policy, spoke with the Minnesota Independent on condition of anonymity. It can be confusing for adults — let alone students — to know when LGBT issues can be brought up at all, the staff person said: “The policy is confusing. The policy is a paragraph in length and earlier this year [the district] produced a two-page table to define situations that were either neutral or not. Only one of the points on the table was actually curricular.”
The staffer continued, “They always claim that it’s only a curriculum policy. It was very laughable because one of the points was about staff wearing rainbows on their lanyards and how some students would be made to feel uncomfortable if staff wore rainbows. In the so-called training we had at the beginning of the year, any mention of homosexuality is supposed to cause the teacher to make a referral to the counselor or school psychologist. This pathologizes homosexuality.”
The district employee added, “The policy creates an environment in which kids are implicitly told they don’t matter. If they can’t talk about who they are in class, then why would they feel okay about seeking help from a principal or counselor?”
Despite the policy and the assertion that the district has not found bullying to be a factor in recent suicides, the district has beefed up its suicide prevention efforts and altered its anti-bullying policies.
In October, the board voted to clarify its anti-bullying policies to include sexual orientation.
During the summer, the district produced videos, to be shown to all students at the beginning of the year, that address anti-gay bullying. And the district has brought in special suicide prevention staff and distributed Safe Space kits — training materials for staff on creating a safe environment for LGBT students — in district schools.
“For well over a decade we have offered SEED diversity training (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) to teachers and administrators,” the district’s assistant communication director Brett Johnson told the Minnesota Independent via eamil. “All SEED leaders include a segment on concerns of GLBT students. While it offers staff an opportunity to discuss GLBT issues from diverse perspectives, the teachers who have participated in this training have said their primary goal is to learn how to best support students.”
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Comment posted December 16, 2010 @ 12:34 pm
The district has taken its marching orders from a fundamentalist hate group MRC which is an extension/ tentacle of the larger Family Research Council also known and exposed as “The Family”. They fight the “normalization” of gay youth and consistently spread KNOWN FALSEHOODS. The neutrality policy is designed to isolate the child under the “promotion of homosexuality” falsehood. Ms. Aaberg ought to sue the pantaloons off this district. They know what they are doing and only hope to fool everyone else into believing their innocence. These folks are notorious for spreading incredibly defamatory lies about the gay community, being gay and the fraudulent “reparative therapy” industry. This here in lies an incredible ideological fight being brought to you by fundamentalist Christian extremists in this district. Lets keep in mind that this hate group FRC aka The Family is also behind the Kill The Gays Bill in Uganda who are helping craft Constitutional changes out in a number of countries about “the promotion of homosexuality.” Wake up people. Some enemies carry bibles.
Comment posted December 16, 2010 @ 12:51 pm
I am calling on all parents in the Anoka Hennepin School District who care about the climate in our schools to start taking a stand! Our school district board has taken the stance of hiding behind rhetoric instead of being strong role models in our community.
We elected them to the office they hold right now, let’s keep them accountable.
The fact that the chair of the board called a parent out of line for speaking the truth during the public comment portion, only shows the chair’s inability to be willing to hear the truth. Instead the board has taken every opportunity to silence the growing voices of concern and cover their own behinds.
First, the board takes away half of the opportunities for the public to comment to the board. Tom Heidemann, the district chair, uses the excuse that board meetings are known to go past midnight. THIS IS A GROSS EXAGGERATION!! The board only adjorned ONE TIME past midnight in all of the board meetings from August 2009-August 2010!
Second, the chair stated during the last board meeting that if you have addressed the board before with the same item, basically don’t unless you have new information. If it is still a concern to citizens, I WILL CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD UNTIL THE BOARD TAKES ACTION!!
THE TIME HAS COME FOR A CHANGE IN THE BOARD MEMBERSHIP to include board members who know they are there to REPRESENT THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ELECTED THEM INTO OFFICE!
Presently, the concern regarding certain citizens who also hold political office at the state level would be offended and therefore not work on behalf of this school district unless the board cow-tows to their influence is dispicable! I don’t care if that citizen is a member of PAL or any other anti-glbt group. BOARD-YOU ARE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, NOT A PERSON who promises to get you money for the district!!
THIRD, now restricting public comment to only 2 minutes instead of 5 minutes??? If this continues to next month’s board, the board would have effectively reduced the amount of time a TAX PAYING CITIZEN can address the BOARD THEY ELECTED from 10 minutes per month to 2 minutes! THAT IS CUTTING PUBLIC COMMENT BY 80%!!!
The board members who are unwilling or afraid to stand up to other board members who are unduly influenced by either their own religious or political agenda, need to take heed. Lukewarm is as good as cold.
Comment posted December 16, 2010 @ 1:08 pm
How sad that the concerns of those parents, students, and staff are so completely brushed aside by the administration and board. The dismissive attitude shown is shameful.
Pingback posted December 16, 2010 @ 1:39 pm
[...] student who committed suicide in July after years of anti-gay bullying? Well his school district is denying that his suicide, or any of the other 9 suicides in their district within the past year, had [...]
Comment posted December 16, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
Dennis Carlson works for us, the citizens of Anoka and Hennepin counties. We need to show up to the school board meetings in force and show him that his job is in jeopardy if he continues to deny this situation. Only then will he do what is needed to protect our children who are under his watch while they are in school. Here is a link to a PDF file with all the school board meeting dates listed.
Please, all of us need to gather in a peacefull show of solidarity for our children and in support of the families that have lost their children.
Comment posted December 16, 2010 @ 3:26 pm
As a graduate of Anoka High, and a queer person, I maintain that the biggest bully I had in high school was the school board. They systematically kept/keep the GSAs and LGBTQ students from flourishing by limiting outreach and support to LGBTQA students, and refusing to even address the issues that hurt LGBTQ students.
Comment posted December 16, 2010 @ 5:48 pm
Parents, community members, students, and members/leaders of faith communities- this is a call to action. Bullying has no place in our schools, or our communities. We value all of our kids, including those who happen to be GLBT.
The school board is failing our students in a fundamental way. They are demonstrating that GLBT kids are “less than” others and don’t deserve respect or protection. Unacceptable!
Please. Go to the school board meetings. John included a link above.
In the meantime, call & write the school board. Talk with your friends & neighbors. And, especially, let it be known that you value the GLBT kids (and adults) in your community & won’t stand by while they are bullied to death.
Pingback posted December 16, 2010 @ 8:29 pm
[...] week, the Superintendent of the district, Dennis Carlson, went on record to say that there was no evidence to suggest that any of these nine students took their lives because of [...]
Pingback posted December 16, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
[...] week, the Superintendent of the district, Dennis Carlson, went on record to say that there was no evidence to suggest that any of these nine students took their lives because of [...]
Comment posted December 16, 2010 @ 11:00 pm
Because Catey, simply DISCOVERING you are as beautifully normal GLBT does not compute for the cesspool of fundamentalists head-shrinking. They believe people or even family members have done nasty, horrible and damaging things to you to cause you to be GLBT or have a “bonding issue.” They think if they keep from uttering the actuality and deny you your own reality and sexual discovery that you will somehow magically become heterosexual. If that doesn’t work they have “conversion” torture centers for you or even an exorcism compliments of the Catholic Opus Dei. If none of that works to their satisfaction they will shame you into a life of celibacy and complete lack of intimacy and self-actualization. If they mash up your identity well enough, they will offer you your own self-loathing ministry for you to continue the ritual spiritual abuse on to others. Im grateful you did not succumb to this abuse.
Comment posted December 16, 2010 @ 11:01 pm
What happens to gay teens is just symptomatic of the hatred spilled out in the name of God in this country. The family research council is a hate group (officially). They even paid $25000 to a lobbiest to fight a resolution in congress that condemned the “genocide of gays bill in Uganda, a bill sponsored by American “anything but:” christians. Shows you how eveil they are.
I’ve see Spriggs, the number 2 man of this group testify. the hatred shown in hsi body language was so think you could cut it with a knife.
And what spriggs doesn’t tell you is that he is a baptist minister. The religious culture that gave us slavery, the kkk and segregation, and now has a new group to hate.
And his sidekick boss Perkins. I showed Perkins pix to a number of gay friends who said they did not recognize him. But to a man, they looked at the pix and said “he’s gay”. Perkins is just another self hating gay, paranooided by his church into believing that if he doesn’t spit out their hatred all the time, he will go to hell, rather then heaven.
And one more thing – Spriggs was an actor in christian plays in college. While not definitive, so many actors are also gay. Its a possiblity, its conjecture, but his hatred still fits the mold.
Why are we fighting terrorism that killed 3000 Americans (and btw about 200 Islamics) in the WTC attacks? When every year we have a repeating 9/11 of about 3000 gay kids driven to suicide by bullying and the people who justify it with their hatred.
To say nothing of the other 5000 or more kids who commit suicide each year and no one knows why most of them did it.
BTW, I had a son who was suicidal, doing poorly in school, drinking at lot as a teen. Obvious problem failure with girls. The real problem, which he finally admitted to us, was he thought that if he couldn’t succeed with girls there was’ nothing to do except become gay” . Just another BS statement form the likes of hte relgiious haters.
I’m lucky – a good shrink helped. He is now in his 30s, married, and doing very well. And in the opinion of his Psych, my opinion, and the opinion of some gay people we all know, he is the last person in the world to actually be gay.
:Lets just put this all in perspective – our children are being murdered by the thousands every year. By the words of the religious haters. What should we do with them?
And dont say free speech. Htiler murdered 55 million people with his words. By his hands only 1 – himself. If we had captured him alive, wonder what we would do with him – give him a free pass?
Comment posted December 17, 2010 @ 3:44 am
I hope everyone shall learn to accept and respect gay people. Love and prayer for the family of the kids.
Pingback posted December 17, 2010 @ 3:52 am
[...] MN: Anti-Gay Bullying Continues to be a Contentious Issue in Anoka-Hemmepin School District. Read more [...]
Comment posted December 17, 2010 @ 7:55 am
This is honeslty an outrage!!!! Somebody needs to show the district that bullying no matter what kind or form proof or not causes depression! I knew Justin, hell i even went to meetings with him! He’s a quiet shy boy! He would never come out and be like so i was bullied today! No child wants to admit it! I hope that Tammy will get the school district to change! If they are so concerned with there students well being then why havent they done anything about this?! Tammy keep doing what your doing! We all know that Justin is helping all of us along!
Comment posted December 17, 2010 @ 8:41 am
Yes – High School and Middle School are horribly difficult times in a person’s life. GLBT kids are especially at risk. Even kids who support GLBT kids are at risk. However, I see this as a larger problem of the climate that has been created by the religious fanatics in our area. I would argue that now wearing a “cross” or identifying with a religious group is now a christian/god gangster movement. Are entire legions of people now dedicated to the public hatred and bullying of short people? obese? tall? brown skinned? No. Do churches weekly preach the sinfulness of being of german descent, disabled, or from a single parent family? No. Kids and Adults know that this is coming from the christian zealots who are in the news and condemn them daily and offer to “minister” to GLBT to change them. This is wrong. Last night my daughter told me that now the swim team has “ANOKA TORNADOs” arranged in a cross. One more reminder of the hate filled group that torments them daily. The Christian Gangsters. Flashing their signs to show who is boss.
Comment posted December 17, 2010 @ 10:20 am
Just as a heads up to everyone – there are numerous studies demonstrating the risks GLBTQ kids are at, and a recent study did an excellent job in examining the link between school climate and all kinds of problems faced by GLBTQ kids.
In general, the two biggest things that affected kids was being “questioning” (unsure of whether or not they were LGB) or being LGB/questioning and being in a hostile school environment.
That these people refuse to accept reality is a giant problem and a crisis for youth.
Birkett, M. (2009). LGB and questioning students in schools : The moderating effects of homophobic bullying and school climate on negative outcomes. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38(7), 989-1000.
Comment posted December 17, 2010 @ 12:21 pm
This is when they snap out “studies” by the fake American COLLEGE of Pediatrics and Paul Cameron and George “Rent Boy” Rekers, a right-wing fundamentalist- extremist spin-off the the real and accredited American ACADEMY of Pediatrics. With the help of Pawlenty and Bachman you may remember, the phony org sent out mailings to EVERY scholl in the state this year. They can be held as accomplices to this attempted fundamentalist takeover of our schools, and the scientific truth.
Comment posted December 17, 2010 @ 2:08 pm
“Betty Rubble”: Comment deleted; note our comment policy:
Commenters assuming the identities of others or creating multiple identities in an effort to deceive are subject to removal. One username per IP/email address, please.
Thanks.
Comment posted December 17, 2010 @ 5:34 pm
Eugh, the superintendent is despicable. Just because there is no written evidence or video of bullying doesn’t mean it didn’t happen! Testimonies are not enough?! Ridiculous.
Comment posted December 17, 2010 @ 9:45 pm
I think the students should protest by forcibly starting a GSA (by threatening to get teh ACLU involved if it isn’t allowed) and discussing LGBT issues in class. If the administers complain or attempt to stop things they get in touch with the ACLU and allow them to take it from there
Comment posted December 18, 2010 @ 7:51 am
This school district sounds like the place to send your kids if you wish you never had them.
Comment posted December 18, 2010 @ 8:10 am
As an atheist, I am heartened by the number of comments showing that people in Minnesota are rising above religious belief and all the hatred that goes with it–especially the Judeo-Christian and Muslim religions.
It’s an emotional struggle for most of those who hold religious beliefs, but the harm that religion does to individuals and society demands that we think and rid ourselves of superstition. For the rest of us, religion is so oppressive that it prevents us from working with others in the community, and the end result is that victims of religious persecution appear to be socially and politically apathetic. What the non-religious are doing is trying to protect ourselves from the religious.
The task of keeping religion and state separate is a much bigger job than most of us realize. The only way to keep religion out of the lives of others is to, through self-education, abolish religious belief wherever we can.
Comment posted December 19, 2010 @ 5:37 pm
This supposed “investigation” is a farce and a slap in the face to all of those who have been, and continue to suffer the torment at the hands of the bullies. This just gives aid and comfort to the bullies as well as to those who allow it to happen.
In an effort to silence those who wanted to speak about this at the most recent school board meeting, the board restricted public comments to just 2 minutes.
They continue to deny, lie, blame others, and play the victim card, all the while enforcing a so-called “neutrality” policy aimed at censoring discussions on LGBT issues in the classroom. A better name would be The “I Hate the Gays” policy.
To the LGBT students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, please know that you have great, unending support from all of us who will continue to fight in order that you have a safe environment, where ALL students are treated equally with dignity and respect.
Comment posted December 20, 2010 @ 12:16 am
9 suicides in one year? The Board of Education in that town has a serious and pathological case of denial! How dare these administrators speak down to parents about how they’re “out of line” ! Who do they think they are speaking to? Another one of the children they push around in their crummy public schools?
This district has national attention in high schools. We are out on the West Coast and students in my child’s high school demonstrated in the Day of Solidarity with the students who died.
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell appears to be the motto in classrooms too.
I am glad I accidentally discovered the latest news today. I will let some of the kids following this story hear about what the Superintendent had to say. One can well imagine what kind of example they will see him setting for yet another hypocritical adult in political power in the U.S.A.
Comment posted December 21, 2010 @ 2:15 pm
This is the reason that I recently contacted Minneapolis’ Out 4 Good program, in an effort to be proactive about gender & sexuality based bullying in my son’s middle school. I feel incredibly lucky that this resource is available for a concerned parent like me and for the rest of the students and staff in Minneapolis Public Schools. Childrens’ lives are on the line. To deny this is to be complicit in their deaths.
Comment posted December 22, 2010 @ 5:47 am
I am severely saddened by the recent biased decision of the school board and superintendent. Bullying has always been a problem in our schools and has been treated as a “fact of life”. I’m sorry, but as a student who was bullied through middle school and high school, this action by AH is just awful. For the school board to ignore this is giving the go ahead to the bullies that their actions will not be punished.
I believe it is time for action, a recall of the elected school board, and a review of the superintendent. The review request can be made to the board of education.
These actions of the AH school board and the superintendent cannot be tolerated and action must be taken for the safety and well being of our students, staff, teachers, and families.
Comment posted December 23, 2010 @ 7:24 am
The bible says, Man shall not lie with man as with woman, it is an abomination and both shall surely be put to death. God gave these children up to a reprobate mind because they did not not want to obey the truth. The parents of these children are the ones responsible for their death because they raised them!
Repent you wicked sinners! God hates america because america hates God. You all even hate your own children. If ye loved them you would have trained them right. They took their own life, no one murdered them! Stop pointing the finger and take full responsibility for your parenting!
Comment posted December 23, 2010 @ 11:26 am
Whoa
Sounds like this Joseph Glenson is from the Westboro Baptist Church style of thinking. It is obvious that your mind has been twisted by the lies of Satan. I shall pray for you to find the love that Jesus preached about. May you accept the true teachings of God.
Comment posted December 23, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
Hey Joe, not all of us go to the same church you do, remember freedom of religion? And besides, public schools don’t teach religion, if you want your kids and admins following whatever biblical philosophy then you have a right to send them there. Otherwise, religion doesn’t play on this playground.
Comment posted December 23, 2010 @ 4:44 pm
Gee, Mr Glenson, you don’t mention that the bible also says that eating pork or shellfish is an abomination, as is wearing mixed fabrics (cotton/poly blends), planting two kinds of crops in the same field, working on the sabbath (Friday, Saturday or Sunday, depending on your particular brand of religion), cutting your hair and any number of other things. Or do you only pick the ones that inconvenience others? And what’s this “God hates America” stuff? Did that come to you in a dream, or just an alcohol-fueled fit of paranoia?
Comment posted December 25, 2010 @ 10:33 am
I had to laugh when I read Steve H’s comment “or just an alcohol-fueled fit of paranoia?”
Very good Steve.
Comment posted December 25, 2010 @ 4:40 pm
Joseph mean just beat the gay out of them. That doesn’t work either. And Joseph, God doesn’t hate America, or gays….. just you!
Comment posted December 27, 2010 @ 10:48 am
@joseph glenson
Holy shit… Are you really good ol’ Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church?? Because that direct quote from the bible is so ass backwards. In that same section of the bible, it states that thou shalt not eat shelfish. Tell me Joseph, do you enjoy Shrimp or Crab?
To everybody else that has posted on this topic, I thank you for your support. As a young gay adult, who was bullied at my middle & high school, and who has been bashed a few times. It saddens me to have to hear that our future youth are taking their lives because nobody is protecting them. – Please speak out, please raise hell on this topic. Please help protect our LBGTQ youth.
@josepeh glenson – Please do us all a favor and never post on this website again. Your bible thumping, Support for the Westboro Baptist Church has noticed, and igorned, due to the fact that you are completely ignorant.
Comment posted December 27, 2010 @ 3:33 pm
WOW…… students and teachers cant discuss GLBT issues & if a student mentions, they are sent to councel or to mental heath professional??? Why, it is just as bad as the Military’s DADT policy.
If a parent is complaining about his child being bullied, then an investigation needs to start. A student doenst know every damn classmat. When i was bullied in school, most of the time i had never seen the person before.
Comment posted December 29, 2010 @ 10:08 am
Wow – this brings me back to my days at Anoka High School and the lovely “All-American Boys” that would torment and bully any new student of color, trying to push the student of color to eventually “snap” and throw a first-punch, thus getting expelled from school. I also remember their policy on homosexuality was that it was “an invalid and unhealthy lifestyle choice” Not sure if its still the same.
I am SO glad to NOT be raising my children in the same toxic environment! Anybody who has the ability to do so should fill out a school-choice card by the end of next month and transfer your kid OUT of the district. Maybe a significant drop in enrollment would open their eyes?! I know, not everyone can do that because of the transportation issue.
When we have those in power (school board, legislature, etc.) who are so anti-gay is it any wonder that children feel invalid? I am SO glad that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed, maybe that will send a good message! But we still have ignorant elected officials spouting anti-gay sentiments all the time and kids hear that stuff. Look, everyone in the 6th re-elected Michelle CRAZY Bachman who is about as anti-gay as they come!!!
And I agree with atheistcable. Image a World With No Religion! Hmmm…what a more peaceful place that could be. Two book recommendations – The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris.
Comment posted December 31, 2010 @ 10:41 am
All of these comments decrying your school district are very heartening, bless you all for speaking out. I live in Arkansas, very rural, where one could expect conditions for gay students to be even worse. All of this commentary on various sites concerning this issue has given me a new perspective, thank goodness my family doesn’t live in Minnesota. It is wonderful that so many parents are standing up against the board and villains like Barb Anderson, but the fact that these bullies managed to get appointed in the first place is very scary. Best wishes to you all, but we will NEVER be visiting your state.
Comment posted January 3, 2011 @ 9:01 am
Just re-affirms for me to AVOID Minnisota Like the Plague…another Hateful State in America to Avoid….wow, this country shrinks more and more…….the Hate & Bigotry are taking over.
Comment posted October 28, 2011 @ 10:47 am
To be commpletely honest Anoka-Hennepin district is a piece of shit. They should be legally punished by law. I have been doing research on Anti-gay bullying and the deaths of many teenagers becsuse of these fucking assholes. I myself am a teenager and fucking pisses me off seeing this happen to others. I want a STOP put to this bullshit. Schools should be REQUIRED to not let this hapoen their students!!!!
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