tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12971986425790915122024-03-08T08:07:37.198-08:00The Best and BrightestThis blog records the ongoing struggle between the Alliance Defense Fund and North Carolina's Governor's School program.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-53814051393843414682012-04-09T09:53:00.003-07:002012-04-16T18:03:58.125-07:00The Many Deaths of Governor's SchoolSeveral people have asked me my thoughts about the General Assembly cutting funding to Governor's Schools for 2012, as well as the attempt by the GS Alumni Association to keep them open by soliciting funds.<br />
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Obviously, I think cutting funding for Governor's School is a mistake- both schools are programs that deserve to be fully funded, to honor the legacy of Terry Sanford if nothing else. There was a time when GS was the pride of the NC education system and while that time had passed, it could have come around again if the legislature had enough foresight to keep the programs running.<br />
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But honestly, as soon as they started charging tuition in 2010, Governor's School was already dead. Arguments that the tuition was nominal and that scholarships were available missed the point; GS worked because it wasn't selling a service. Instead it was providing an education. That the government of NC chose to cover the cost of the school was in many ways the whole point of the school. Attendance was an honor and choosing to accept that honor meant you were also buying into the school on the school's terms. No student had to attend GS; choosing to do so meant you were signing on to the GS model.<br />
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But as soon as GS started charging tuition it turned into a less prestigious version of TIPS or any other of the million other education camps that exist. These camps are selling a service, which means they need to respond to the buying public. Henry Ford had to make the Model T in different colors when it became a product that had to win over a consumer. The same thing is true when GS became a summer camp by charging tuition; all of a sudden, parents are buying a product for their student. Introducing students to contemporary Hong Kong cinema trends or the complicating nature of documentary fiction has to help get Little Johnny into the big name college he wants to attend; the fact that it is contemporary scholarship being undertaken by said universities is no longer enough. Students aren't being given a challenging education by the state- they are buying a college application boost from a company and that company now has to answer to its customers ahead of its pedagogical mission. Numbers will have to be generated and explanations for classes and extracurricular activities will be dependent on the numbers they generate. How will this help get Little Johnny into college?<br />
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I also think crowd sourcing the next several years of GS is a huge mistake. What motivation does the state have to readopt the program if it still runs under the same name with no financial input from them? Why let the legislature off the hook for its mistake? And realistically, how many summers does the alumni group believe it can raise these funds? Instead of going down fighting and praising what GS did do right, the school now dies, hat in hand on a street corner, begging for alms. The sound you are hearing is Terry Sanford rolling over in his grave.<br />
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It makes me sad to write all this because the people that are fighting so hard for it right now are my friends and I know they do what they do because they love GS. I loved GS too, but when I was fired, my heart was broken enough that I got a different perspective. It also makes me sad to write this because I made the same mistake I think they are making now, the mistake that the faculty and administration have been making for years. I loved my job at Governor's School more than I loved Governor's School itself. It really is the best teaching job there is and I did anything I could to keep that job there- I lied to myself and my students, I believed lies that I knew were lies, and I tried to placate hate-driven bully groups. All of those are mistakes and tragically, they are mistakes that many have made and continue to make.<br />
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Governor's School is dead. Tell the stories of what the program did right and call on the carpet those that killed it, myself included. But propping the corpse up in the corner with a champagne bottle duct-taped to its hand honors no one and does no one any favors. Governor's School is dead. Long live Governor's School.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-46479567534320446832009-07-10T07:30:00.000-07:002009-07-10T08:18:15.922-07:00Tom Winton's ReplyFolks forwarded me probably 15-20 letters they sent to Tom and Mary and maybe 10 other folks let me know they were going to send letters. I was curious to see if anyone would get a reply from Tom and Mary, mostly because I was curious to what they would say.<br /><br />The only person I know of that heard from them was Jim Dadosky. He was a GSE student who I had in Area III one year. He's a smart, insightful young man with a fiercely independent streak. He heard back from Tom after sending him 2 requests for a response.<br /><br />The response is pretty standard, but concerns me deeply because its first paragraph is riddled with blatant lies which Tom knows are lies. GS does alter its curriculum and content. As faculty members, we were asked at different times by David Mills, Tom Winton, J. Grymes, and Michael McElreath to either censor content or change the title of electives specifically so they could fly under the radar of the ADF on the public calendar. (David and Tom were the DPI GS directors, J. and Michael were GSE directors.)<br /><br />While I know admitting there were attempts to appease a homophobic, out-of-state group is embarrassing (I'm embarrassed that I changed the name of the Human Sexuality Film Series and that i shut it down one year), lying about it is to me the first offense that begins to mitigate Tom Winton's dismissal.<br /><br />(1) Lying about simple things like these violates the ground GSE is built upon. We don't lie to the students and faculty members don't lie to each other. We state our truths or positions and try to find responsible, respectable ways to work differences out. It is what we require in the classroom and in the general GSE community. We ask it of both the students and the staff. It is one of the most powerful models GSE offers to its students, as well as its faculty. If Tom is going to begin openly lying in public about GS policies, I believe he is unfit to hold his position. If he is lying at the request of his superiors, they too need to be removed.<br /><br />(2) His letter indicates that I am lying when I state that I changed the name of the film series, removed films, and censored books at the request of Tom Winton, Michael McElreath, J. Grymes, and David Mills. Each of them asked me to do one or more of the above actions, specifically so the ADF would either be appeased or would be hard pressed to discover what we were doing at GSE. I said at the time and I restate now, those actions were homophobic and violated basic tenets of GS. It is my great shame that I ever censored or removed material from courses or electives. However, I am not lying when I say that it occurred. Tom Winton is lying when he denies that it occurred.<br /><br />I also feel Tom plays fast and loose with the truth when he states that there are topics of sexuality on both the GSE and GSW calendars. The link to the GSE calendar is here <a href="http://www.ncgse.org/calendar/calendar.htm">http://www.ncgse.org/calendar/calendar.htm</a>. (I choose not to concern myself with GSW as their response to being asked to censor or disguise topics of sexuality was very different from the GSE response.) There are no electives or activities beyond the GSA that uses any word related to sexuality. (We were asked to use "gender" when we could instead of "gay" "sexuality" "homosexuality" etc.) The GSA is the only thing that we were not asked to censor because GSA's usually win when challenged in court. Very simply, if you allow any electives or groups, you have to allow a GSA and the ADF does not challenge those legally.<br /><br />This is not to say there are no discussions of sexuality or sexuality theory. There have been and I am sure there will be. It is the attempt to disguise them from the ADF or their removal that is homophobic and needs to be stopped. Therefore, if Tom knows that topics of sexuality are being discussed, he has yet to allow them to use that vocabulary on the public calendar.<br /><br />Tom's reversion to public denial of well known facts is concerning, but also indicates to me the ineffectiveness of GS leadership. This makes me fear for its continuation. GS is a powerful, progressive NC institution. It needs leadership that is up to the challenges it currently faces, as well as those coming in the future. Tom Winton's inability to speak a very simple, very public truth concerns me, not only for the slander it commits against me, but for his inability to deal with threats to GS existence. If he has read Opening Windows, Winton would have to realize the truth, while difficult at times, is the best weapon against lies.<br /><br />The letter is below. (Jimbo gave me permission to post this and to use his name.)<br /><br />Dear Mr. Dadosky,<br /><br />Thank you for your notes and for your concerns about Governor's School. Your input is valued and appreciated, and I hope your educational career is moving forward well since you attended Governor's School in 2006.<br /><br />While your points are clear, they seem to be founded on information that is inaccurate, misleading or false. I encourage you to follow the Governor's School model and not automatically believe one person's version of events. In fact, we do not alter the Governor's School curriculum or content in response to the threats of the ADF or any other organization. Virtually every decision on content and materials is made by the faculty and On-Site Director. All pertinent topics, including topics on sexuality, are open for discussion. (Please examine the calendars for both Governor's School East and Governor's School West. I believe you will find them to be very diverse, including sexuality topics.) The administration at the Department of Public Instruction does, however, have the assigned responsibility to direct the Governor's School. We do receive and listen to suggestions from a variety of perspectives, including yours, through the year. We also trust and value the opinions of our faculty. On the rare occasions we make more direct decisions, we do our best to adhere to the mission and purposes of the Governor's School and consider the needs and interests of the wide variety of students who attend. Then we examine those decisions, with feedback from stakeholders, make adjustments and move forward. This is not to appease a group or an individual, but to provide what we believe to be in the best interest of students.<br /><br />While I will not engage in debate on individual points and assumptions you have expressed, please know that we are on the same side in these matters. I look forward to the North Carolina Governor's School continuing to be a pioneering educational program, the first of its kind in the country and the model against which other states' programs are fashioned. Thank you again for your dedication to Governor's School and your advocacy for its success.<br /><br />Tom Winton<br />Section Chief, Instructional Support & Related Services<br />Exceptional Children Division<br />North Carolina Department of Public InstructionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-35820943736447699962009-06-01T06:19:00.000-07:002009-06-01T06:24:52.875-07:00Summer 2009The Governor’s School 2009 session starts June 8th, with students arriving June 14th. This summer I am asking people to contact GS administration and insist that faculty and staff no longer be asked or forced to (1) edit any part of the Area I, II, III or elective curriculum according to actual or anticipated requests from the Alliance Defense Fund. The ADF is a homophobic group in Arizona. As such, they should not be determining the curriculum of a North Carolina public school program. (2) remove any words relating to sexuality from the curriculum when those words accurately reflect content. Disguising content associated with homosexuality (accurately or not) with word play is homophobic and as such is dangerous to faculty, staff, and students.<br /><br />You may contact Mary Watson, Director of Exceptional Children Division, or Tom Winton, Director of both Governor’s Schools any of the ways below. <br />Mary Watson. <a href="mailto:mwatson@dpi.state.nc.us">mwatson@dpi.state.nc.us</a> 919-807-3969.<br />Tom Winton. <a href="mailto:twinton@dpi.state.nc.us">twinton@dpi.state.nc.us</a> 919-807-3982.<br />The postal address for either is Department of Public Instruction. 6356 Mail Service Center. Raleigh, NC 27699-6356.<br /><br />Many of you are aware I was fired from North Carolina’s Governor’s School program just before the 2008 session. (I taught at Governor’s School East. Read more about the program here. <a href="http://www.ncgovschool.org/overview/">http://www.ncgovschool.org/overview/</a>) Five of us that were fired for expressing concerns about homophobic policies from the Governor’s School administration and issues of academic freedom. The other four were quickly offered meetings to explain why they were fired and were reinstated after they promised not to talk about their firing, their meeting with administration, or what was happening between Governor’s School and the Alliance Defense Fund. I am the only one of the five that is queer. I publically identify as so and was out to administration and faculty.<br />Governor’s School has been under attack from the Alliance Defense Fund since 2003.<br /><br />The ADF is a legal group primarily funded by Focus on the Family and is based in Arizona. The ADF is openly homophobic and they file lawsuits across the country that support their homophobic agenda. (You can read about the ADF here. <a href="http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/about/Purpose/whatwebelieve.aspx">http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/about/Purpose/whatwebelieve.aspx</a>) Each year since at least 2005, the ADF has threatened Governor’s School with litigation and demands that GS post curriculum on a public board so it may be “monitored” both from Arizona and locally by the John Locke Foundation and their monthly, the Carolina Journal. (You can read some of the CJ’s work on Governor’s School here. <a href="http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/series.html?id=26">http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/series.html?id=26</a>)<br /><br />When the ADF objects to books, films, discussions, activities, they both send out an alert, asking members of an email list to flood GS offices with both written protests and phone calls. Then they threaten litigation unless the content they find objectionable is removed. Almost all content the ADF has found objectionable has been because of perceived homosexual material, although they did object to both the films, American History X and Pan’s Labyrinth at Governor’s School West because of violence.<br /><br />The response of the administration at GS has been threefold. (1) Content has removed at the ADF’s request. The only movie I know that ADF objected to that was shown anyway is Ma Vie En Rose in an elective I ran, the Human Sexuality Film Series. Other than that, films, books, speakers, electives, and activities the ADF objects to are removed from the curriculum. (2) Faculty have been asked to choose curriculum and materials according to what the ADF might find objectionable, despite the academic importance of the topic or material. (3) Faculty have been asked to disguise electives and materials the ADF might find objectionable. This has most often been done by removing the words “sex”, “sexuality”, “gay”, “lesbian”, “homosexual”, “transgendered”, “bisexual”, and “queer”. While the administration has not objected to the material, they have been concerned that those terms might draw the attention of the ADF if they appear on the public calendar. (For instance, I was ordered to change the name of the Human Sexuality Film Series. I changed it to “The Film Series That Dare Not Speak Its Name. Or Show Films”. I was later told one reason for my firing was because of this change, despite the fact it was approved at the time and it fit the criteria I was given- remove the word Sexuality from the title.)<br /><br />Governor’s School is also under attack from the governor and legislature this year. Part of the budget recommendation is for one GS campus next year. That will result in 400 fewer students having the GS experience. While this threat is real and meaningful, the administration’s desire to shape GS curriculum is line with ADF’s homophobic agenda seems the greater threat. Whether there are 1 or 2 GS campuses is a moot point when GS has moved so far away from its stated goal- to “acquaint these future leaders with the latest theories and techniques in their chosen fields – introduce them to some of the present thorny problems in the field- . . .” (Opening Windows Onto the Future: Theory of the Governor’s School of North Carolina. You can see the full text of this document here. <a href="http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED087186&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED087186">http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED087186&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED087186</a>)<br /><br />Why any public school in North Carolina should attempt to mollify a homophobic group in Arizona is a crucial question. Why GS in particular does is a question that must be made public and answered by its administration. Their current plan seems to be to remain quiet, get rid of any problematic staff, and hope all issues will remain under the radar of the public, the legislature, and the ADF. Saving GS from budget cuts is important; saving it from its current leadership is essential. Your letter, email or phone call will remind the administration there are many voices. Neither the curriculum nor the faculty of any NC public school program should be set by the loudest. It is their job to defend the stated goals of GS, not to attempt to hide the important work GS does from a homophobic bully. Hearing from people other than the ADF is really important to Governor’s School as a whole, but particularly for faculty, staff, and students this summer. The administration needs to know not everyone thinks homophobia is acceptable and that they are accountable to all of the citizens of North Carolina and not just the ADF.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-46398869041055844792008-12-15T13:35:00.000-08:002008-12-15T14:02:01.270-08:00CoveringThis summer, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GSE</span> alumni suggested I should read <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kenji</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yoshino's</span> <em>Covering: The Hidden <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Assult</span> on our Civil Rights</em>. She was reading it for the 2008 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">UNC</span>-CH summer read for new students and she thought it related directly to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">GSE's</span> homophobia, their resistance to their behavior being <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">identified</span> as homophobic, and their efforts to differentiate their behavior from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ADF's</span> homophobic behavior.<br /><br />In many ways, this has always been the strange part of this whole ordeal. Why in the world would GS repeatedly as a faculty to not use the words "gay" "lesbian" or "queer", encourage all contemporary academic work except for sexuality studies, and fire me and then keep insisting none of that was related. Why would <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">ADF</span> and GS not wear what they are with pride? Why work so hard to distance themselves from the label "homophobic" when wearing that label is not illegal and would actually ingratiate them to the audience they have chosen?<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Yoshino's</span> book (which I finally got to as this semester was winding down) does provide an excellent explanation for this type of behavior. It also places the responsibility for homophobic behavior back on the homophobes, no matter how much they may attempt to resist that label. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Yoshino</span> offers that queer equality (and most civil rights struggles) has three stages- conversion, passing and covering. Conversion involves attempts to deny an identity or "correct" that identity; passing involves an admission that the identity is there but hiding or disguising the identity; covering involves an acceptance of the identity but controls on how the identity is expressed.<br /><br />"Don't Ask/Don't Tell" is the perfect example of covering behavior; it is not being gay that is the problem. Instead it is "acting gay" or performing gay in an unacceptable way. Or as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Yoshino</span> puts it, "Individuals no longer needed to be white, male, straight, Protestant, and able-bodied; they needed only to act white, male, straight, Protestant, and able-bodied." Doing is what is under attack, not being.<br /><br />And of course, this defines exactly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">GSE</span> demands. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">GSE</span> and the GS administration doesn't ask its faculty to be straight or not to teach queer subjects. What it asks is that its faculty or their subjects not be obtrusively queer, queer in such a way that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ADF</span> might be able to read it as queer. They had no trouble with me teaching the Human Sexuality Film Series. What they objected to was the word Sexuality because that would draw the attention of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ADF</span>. What they objected to was my academic work on queerness because it is easy to find and identify. "We aren't like the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">ADF</span>" they want to insist, but of course, it is the same homophobia reflected from a slightly different angle. As <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Yoshino</span> puts it, "In the new generation, discrimination directs itself not against the entire group, but against the subset of the groups that fails to assimilate to mainstream norms. This new form of discrimination targets minority cultures rather than minority persons. Outsiders are included, but only if we behave like insiders -- that is only if we cover."<br /><br />For the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">administration</span> at GS and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">GSE</span>, they like to believe that gives them enough distance from homophobia that they don't have to be tarred with its brush. But of course, to a young student who may be thinking about his/her sexuality, who wishes to be reflective about the sexual choices s/he makes, the message is the same either way and just as dangerous. "There's something wrong with you. Your behavior is deviant and it will be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">punished</span> and brought into line or else you wind up like these we have exiled. You are so deviant we can't even bring ourselves to talk about te topics you are interested in." That responsibility lies on the heads of Mary Watson, Tom <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Winton</span>, and Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">McElreath</span> whether they feel comfortable with that or not. The question is, which, if any, of them will be brave enough to say what they know is true, for themselves, for the program, for the students?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-50635709015773182322008-11-07T15:41:00.000-08:002008-11-07T16:52:29.571-08:00Gay Marriage and DPII've been away from this blog for a few months, mostly because it's been nice to have a break from thinking about DPI and homophobia. But of course, that hasn't mean that things haven't been going on. Some kids from 2008 GSE contacted me about starting GSAs in their schools; one student was denied by their high school, despite the fact the school has other non-curricular clubs. Other kids have had more luck and I was happy to run into some of their GSA's at Pride this year. And I am looking forward to speaking to some student groups next semester.<br /><br />And perhaps most importantly, Focus on the Family, the group that funds the Alliance Defense Fund, led the charge to add state constiutional amendments banning gay marriage in Arizona, California, and Florida. Prop 8 in California is particularly an interesting turn because homosexuals could be married in California previously.<br /><br />What this means is that we have allowed an individual's right granted to them by a state to be determined by a majority decision, not the decision of the state's court system. Of course, ADF and FotF are both always bent out of shape about "activist" judges and see these votes as the will of people, as if that should be what determines what rights people should have.<br /><br />But of course, we don't determine human rights or civil rights by popular decision. Women and blacks didn't get the right to vote by popular acclaim; schools weren't desegregated by a majority vote; we didn't legalize mixed race marriages through the "will of the people." In fact, it is the job of state and federal judges to determine rights and responsibilites of citizens not through a majority or based on what a certain religous group might think, but based on an understanding of the Constitution or other appropriate documents and translate it into law if necessary. We strictly don't ask churches to determine what state laws should be.<br /><br />In fact, the great shortcomings of the courts have been when they don't interpret a legal document but act as if all possible meanings and definitions were carved in stone the day they were written. See the Dred Scott case (which the evangelical conservative right equates to Roe vs. Wade interestingly) where the Supreme Court decided blacks couldn't have rights of citizenship because they weren't part of the "We" when "We the People" was written.<br /><br />So what does all of this have to do with DPI and Governor's School? FotF and DPI argue that if enough people are homophobic, they should be allowed to enact homophobic policies or set homophobic laws. They detest when courts, judges, or administrators, who are specifically there to set policies and make laws, follow stated values or guidelines instead of putting everything up to a vote. So in California, where marriage was thought to "be a fundamental right of free men" when anti-miscegination laws were overturned, it doesn't matter that queers are "free men", just that there are a lot of homophobes.<br /><br />And the DPI has of course allowed this kind of majority opinion hate to overrule the stated values of Governor's School. GS doesn't promise to teach what the largest or loudest number of people want GS to teach; GS states it will set a curriculum based on an "exploration of the latest ideas in various disciplines". (Really-it's right there on the front page of the website.) But when the ADF says GS can't teach anything containing the word sexuality, they have no legal or rational grounds to stand on. What they threaten GS with is a lawsuit that GS will lose in the court of public opinion. And DPI is scared of this and responds to stay out of a public discussion.<br /><br />Homophobia is wrong. It doesn't matter how many people are homophobic. It doesn't matter that Barack Obama is homophobic when he speaks out against gay marriage. (At least he admits that there may be a possibility that he is bigoted and short-sighted.) It doesn't matter that there are homophobic laws in place. Homophobia is still morally wrong. And it violates the 14th Amendment.<br /><br />Homophobia is wrong for GS too. If human sexuality is a latest idea in a discipline, then it can be taught at GS. It doesn't matter that the ADF or the Carolina Family Council or any other group doesn't like it; they aren't academic groups and don't determine the curriculum for NC state schools. And it doesn't matter how many homophobes they can rally to write or call. It doesn't make homophobia right. And pretending that it does, is and of itself, homophobic.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-12484661708626782102008-08-19T15:44:00.000-07:002008-08-19T16:03:42.281-07:00For The Bible Tells Me SoI was really excited that the students and faculty started a GSA after the Indy article came out. I was even more excited that they listed it on the calendar; it will be interesting to see what results from that.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the censorship continued this summer. The faculty wanted to show For The Bible Tells Me So, a documentary that looks at the dialogue between homosexuality and religion. The reason given was that there were better choices and because it didn't portray both sides well enough. I'm not sure what the missing side was, but I always think that's the default excuse that holds no water.<br /><br />It isn't the job of GS to show all sides of any issue. It is the job of GS to present contemporary work in academic areas. When we would talk about global warming, students would often accuse the program of not showing "both sides" (as if there were only two positions on the topic). I would point out we give them access to CNN, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MSNBC</span>, Fox News, and other cable channels. We gave them the New York Times each morning. They had access to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">internet</span>. What did they feel like we were hiding from them? And mostly, that statement meant we weren't telling them what they wanted to believe; we were in someway challenging their beliefs.<br /><br />I haven't written here for awhile because I've been trying to take a break from resisting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ADF</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DPI</span>. It was hard all summer and strangely got harder when GS ended. But classes are back in session and I am feeling ready again. But I'm also going to try to do a better job of saying how and why this process has been really painful, as well as being able to say when it is now.<br /><br />Thanks to everyone who asked how I was or talked to me about what this fight meant to them personally or said nice things. That all really helped and I'm going to try to be better about thanking folks for that and asking for it when I need it. It makes me feel much less alone.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-66423573548659447052008-08-02T11:20:00.000-07:002008-08-02T11:40:26.444-07:00MeOne thing i haven't talked about is the effect <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DPI</span> decisions have had on me, personally. There's a couple reasons for that; I am really worried about GS and its <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">existence</span> and I am really worried about students and future students. It is dangerous to send a message to these students that there is something wrong with them if they want to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">reflective</span> about their sex, gender, or desire.<br /><br />But getting fired is also been detrimental to me. That's important too. The decisions that Tom, Mary, and Michael make don't just harm some hypothetical future student. They did and are doing real harm to me, right now, in a real way.<br /><br />First of all, getting fired somehow indicates that i did something wrong. Tom has sent emails to people who have contacted him (and said in other situations) that they don't know all the facts of the story, as if there is some crime i committed that, if they knew, would make them agree that I should have been fired. This is a lazy and cruel strategy often taken against queers. Put forth some vague suggestion of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">impropriety</span> and let people draw their own conclusions.<br /><br />Michael told the students that I didn't get fired for being queer or for calling homophobia <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">homophobia</span>. I understand he feels contractually obligated to say this, but it also indicates that I did get fired for some real reason.<br /><br />I didn't. I got fired because a homophobic group in Arizona wants there to be nothing resembling homosexuality on our curriculum, because the administration of GS decided to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">acquiesce</span> to that instead of stand up and fight, and because I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">insisted</span> on labelling those actions as homophobic. Lots of other faculty did too, but they aren't queer or can't be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">identified</span> as queer in a simple <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Google</span> search. Until <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">DPI</span> starts admitting that, they are doing harm to me <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">every time</span> Michael, Tom, or Mary tries to act like it is something else.<br /><br />Secondly, i don't get to teach at Governor's School any more. Being at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">GSE</span> was a great pedagogical and artistic inspiration to me. Being around my colleagues and the students made me a better teacher and writer. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">DPI</span> has removed me from that community against my will and for no good reason. That actively hurts me as a teacher and writer.<br /><br />The third thing it does is send a clear message to me that I am deficient in some way. Not only was I fired, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">DPI</span> had no intention of ever talking to me about it at all. I understand why- they had to make up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ridiculous</span> reasons for firing me and then Tom has to look like an idiot when they trot him out to repeat them. But not even having the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">integrity</span> to talk to me, to tell me the truth, indicates a real lack of respect on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">DPI's</span> fault. The truth is, Tom should have been down on his knees, begging me to come back and to forgive them.<br /><br />Finally, it is insulting to insinuate that I do not recognize homophobia when I see it. I've been queer and out for a long time now. I've taught gay and lesbian, queer, and sexuality studies for a long time now. I've been a victim of homophobia and homophobic violence before. What, in the long and storied personal lives and careers of Tom Watson, Mary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Winton</span>, and Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">McElreath</span> indicates that they would be better at recognizing homophobia or its lack better than I? What leads them to believe that they will be better off fighting a homophobic group without me than they were with me?<br /><br />Tom, Mary, and Michael are actively hurting and oppressing students,alumni and the institution of GS. That is important. But they are also actively hurting me for no reason then their own convenience. And that's important to say as well.<br /><br />Let's see if any of them are brave enough to stop and to start telling the truth.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-42186606318989478122008-07-23T08:43:00.001-07:002008-07-23T08:48:51.528-07:00A Legal Takehere is a legal take on the ADF's bullying and DPI's responding. comes from a blog called the eclectic hedonist.<br /><br /><a href="http://eclectichedonist.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/north-carolina-governors-school-under-attack-by-arizonan-special-interest-group/">http://eclectichedonist.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/north-carolina-governors-school-under-attack-by-arizonan-special-interest-group/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-52400563146064967572008-07-22T08:22:00.000-07:002008-07-22T08:29:39.055-07:00GSE GSA Talki enjoyed talking to the GSA at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GSE</span> yesterday. They had a lot of good questions about how to start their own <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GSA's</span> at their high schools, what their legal rights were as high school students, what troubles they should anticipate, what the real story is about what happened last summer (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">GSE</span> hadn't talked to them about the other members that were fired for example), what they could do to support GS, whether it was better to take on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ADF</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">DPI</span>, and some questions about sexuality theory.<br /><br />they were interested, kind kids and it left me sad and once again surprised that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DPI</span> can't just be honest with the faculty and students at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">GSE</span>. these were kids who quickly got what was going on and why not allowing the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ADF</span> to affect the GS curriculum was important. why in the world is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">DPI</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">GSE</span> not telling them the whole story? (i understand why the faculty can't, but certainly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">michael</span> could lay out the situation for them)<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">i'll</span> say again that the faculty, students, and alumni are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">GS's</span> greatest strength and as long as the administration of GS keeps lying to them and withholding information from them, they will never be ready to take on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ADF</span>. GS <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">desperately</span> needs leadership right now and it's not fair to ask the faculty and students to provide that leadership- that's the job of Tom <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Winton</span>, Mary Watson, and Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">McElreath</span>. Someone needs to love GS more than they love their position at GS.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-44738445337888237812008-07-18T12:24:00.000-07:002008-07-18T12:30:28.533-07:00GSE GSAI'm going to speak on Monday to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">GSE</span> GSA. I'm looking forward to hearing the students' questions and just hearing about where they are at with everything. I'm also very proud that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GSE</span> has put the GSA on the public calendar. I'll be interested to see what comes from that step, but I would also say that step fills me with pride and hope as well.<br /><br />I'll also be interested to hear about the process of having me as a speaker. I know there was some concern but I don't know what level that was at- faculty, admin or above. I plan to be respectful, responsible, and honest. I feel some security knowing they can't fire me twice. However I did find out that my dean at the college got a note from above him about my presence in the Indy article. May be time to start passing on faculty openings you know about, although I hope not. I enjoy the students at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">VGCC</span> a lot and would hate to lose them, just as I hated to lose the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">GSE</span> ones.<br /><br />I'll try to give an overview of the talk- it will be at 4pm in the chapel on the Meredith campus.<br /><br />Oh and my response when I sent Marcy a note, asking why the sudden interest in GS now by the N and O? I'll quote in full- "thanks, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">tanya</span>." Not sure if that means "i didn't read your email" or "yes you are exactly right" or "please leave me alone you crackpot."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-61822045789889129482008-07-10T08:19:00.000-07:002008-07-10T08:31:58.030-07:00N and O RequestI'm really not a conspiracy theorist, but the timing of the <em>News and Observer</em>'s request for GS memories seems suspicious as best. According to its own records, the N and O has written exactly zero (0) articles about GS since 2004. But the week after the <em>Indy </em>prints its article about questioning why the ADF should be censoring the curriculum of GS, a NC public school program funded with state money, the N and O puts out a call for your best GS memories? Hmmm.<br /><br />In its patheticness, it strikes me exactly as something DPI and Exceptional Children would do to attempt to "combat" the "negative" publicity. Answer the charges? Allow faculty and students to talk to reporters? No. But launch a "counter" sunshine and roses campaign. Yeah. That sounds about right.<br /><br />Hey, I have long argued that NC should be proud of GS- it's an amazing program that is as pedagogically progressive and sound as I've seen and been a part of (until its administrators started censoring curriculum according to the wishes of right-wing, homophobic, christian groups). But now? Smells rotten to me.<br /><br />I sent an email to Marcy Smith asking her if the N and O were doing this at the bequest of DPI to counter the bad publicity which it got, as well as if the N and O were looking into the question of the ADF setting curriculum for NC public schools. I would urge you to ask the same.<br /><br />i love GS. i will always love what GS stands for in its documentation and in many of its years of practice. but now does not seem the time to be burying GS in praise. it seems time to be asking hard hard questions of an administration that is not only remaining quiet, but demanding that its faculty remain quiet.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1136688.html">http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1136688.html</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-72352768183133223852008-07-06T09:55:00.000-07:002008-07-06T10:07:34.301-07:00Jesse Helms died on Friday. No one wants to celebrate the death of any human being. And yet as a North Carolinian, I hate to see the deification of Helms that's occuring. He was a man who was driven by hate. He was given many opportunities to divorce himself from that hate, to find another defining force in his life, and he turned his back on each and every one of those chances. That's hard to find admirable in any sense.<br /><br />Here is a link to the obituary from the <em>Guardian. </em>I like the way it gives Helms "credit" for all the hate he fostered, nurtured, and carried around his whole life.<br /><em></em><br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/04/usa">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/04/usa</a><br /><br />Helms was certainly one of the people that made groups like the ADF possible, in multiple ways.<br /><br />I think every human being is capable of change and should be given room for redemption. I hope that fighting for GS can help members of the ADF redeem themselves, find it possible to live a life that isn't defined by fear and anger. But some folks are too frightened to step away from what they know, what they were told to believe, what they choose to believe. It's why places like GS are so important- the world needs more models of how to talk about difficult issues respectfully and responsibly instead of bullying and tricking people into embracing the exact world view you want them to have.<br /><br />I hope some members of the ADF and the North Carolina Family Council will take advantage of this opportunity and do what Helms never could; let go of the hate.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-59082689143673943052008-07-03T14:37:00.000-07:002008-07-03T14:52:34.987-07:00Double-Secret ProbationTrevor Hoppe (a GS alum who wrote about the ADF and DPI) has a new entry in his blog, including an email he got back from Tom Winton after Trevor wrote Tom about the situation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.trevorhoppe.com/blog/">http://www.trevorhoppe.com/blog/</a><br /><br />It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Apparently, Tom has super-secret reasons i was fired and no one knows them but him. In fact, I may have been on double-secret probation. But it angers me that Tom insinuates that I'm lying about something, that I secretly know why I was fired and that it has nothing to do with the ADF or homophobia.<br /><br />When Tom and I met, I told him one thing I found insulting was his implication that I can't recognize homophobia or that I cling to it as some sort of victim. I've been queer, I've been out, I've been in sexuality studies long enough to recognize homophobia when I encounter it either directly or indirectly. Not allowing the word "sexuality" on the GSE website because it might upset the ADF is homophobia. Shutting down the Human Sexuality film series because it angers the ADF is homophobia. Removing films that parents have approved for their children because the ADF doesn't like the films because of the way they deal with human sexuality is homophobia.<br /><br />They can't deny doing any of these things. So why won't they explain why they are acceding to the demands of the ADF? There must be some reason. Tom Watson and Mary Winton need to say what that reason is.<br /><br />They also need to stop insinuating that I am lying about why I got fired. I got fired because I'm openly queer, a fact easily found with a simple Google search. I got fired because I teach and write in the area of sexuality studies. I got fired because I identifed homophobic actions as homophobic. If they have anything beyond that, I would love to hear it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-39818389969732030942008-07-02T15:34:00.000-07:002008-07-02T15:39:25.236-07:00The Independent's ArticleHere's a link to the <em>Independent </em>and the article they wrote about the Alliance Defense Fund and Governor's School's response to their bullying threats. I thought <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Saldana</span> identified the proper problem and did a very good job overall. I'll try to write my own response soon, but please take a look at the article; the Indy also has a good comments section for their articles.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A260529">http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A260529</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-80205303762843801222008-06-30T12:12:00.001-07:002008-06-30T12:16:32.768-07:00Alternative ReactionsWhile the situations are obviously different, I am again struck by how different the responses are between the state of NY and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DPI</span> of NC. Governor Patterson marched in yesterday's Pride parade and had this comment about the litigation threats of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ADF</span>.<br /><br />Earlier this month, on behalf of several state Republican elected officials, a conservative Christian policy group based in Scottsdale, Ariz., sued Mr. Paterson in State Supreme Court in the Bronx to block the governor’s order.<br /><br />Before he marched in the parade on Sunday, Mr. Paterson defended his order and insisted that a lawsuit challenging it would fail.<br />“It is the law and it is the right thing to do. I stand by it,” he said. “If someone would like to go to court and waste their money and prove me wrong, they can do that. And I welcome that.”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/nyregion/30paterson.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/nyregion/30paterson.html?_r=1&ref=<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">todayspaper</span>&<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">oref</span>=<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">slogin</span></a><br /><br />Again, I am stuck on why <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">NC's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">DPI</span> would attempt to appease <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ADF</span> instead of stand up for Governor's School, their faculty, their students, and their alumni.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-66443556303287250102008-06-26T11:48:00.000-07:002008-06-26T11:56:26.047-07:00Independent ArticleI'm happy to say the Independent, the alternative newspaper in the Triangle, is working on a story about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DPI's</span> attempts to appease the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ADF</span>, as well as why calling out homophobia would get you fired. (these are two very interesting questions, although i also wonder why the desires of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ADF</span> trump the desires of student's parents as to what movies they can see, so I hope they'll take that on too.)<br /><br />I was interviewed by Matt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Saldana</span>; he also contacted the faculty members who were fired and then offered their jobs back. I'm not sure if they'll be free to talk to him. Apparently, part of the agreement of getting their job back had to be that they not talk about their firing with students. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">DPI</span> just becomes a more and more fervent defender of the old First Amendment rights as every day passes.<br /><br />I also got to do a photo shoot with Derek Anderson at the Indy; he's a great photographer and it was a lot of fun. I have no idea how the whole thing will turn out or what angle they'll take or how seriously they'll take it, but it seems like a start. I still believe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DPI</span> has to answer as to why they would allow the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ADF</span> to determine an NC public school's curriculum. Perhaps this article can open the door to that discussion.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-29787603796294564402008-06-25T08:53:00.000-07:002008-06-25T08:58:19.813-07:00DPI LetterSomeone asked me the other day what the 3 sentences were in my letter I got from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DPI</span>, firing me. I'll transcribe them below.<br /><br />Dear Ms. Olson:<br /><br /> Thank you for your service this past summer with the Governor's School East program. In reviewing your position, the Exceptional Children Division has decided to move in a different direction and open this position to other applicants. We hope you consider your time with Governor's School valuable and wish you good fortune in your future endeavors.<br /><br />Then it is signed by Mary Watson. You would think they would at least have had the good manners to address me as Dr. Olson, seeing as it is official correspondence.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-48757470878595475532008-06-22T12:27:00.000-07:002008-06-22T12:45:56.779-07:00Civil Rights MovementI am just returning from the Mississippi Delta where i have spent a week with the Fannie Lou <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hamer</span> Institute meeting participants in the Civil Rights struggle, visiting landmarks of the movement, and hearing lectures about Freedom Summer and the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike.<br /><br />We ended the week at the National Civil Rights Movement Museum; it's a great museum and no matter how much you know going in, a little or a lot, you will absolutely learn something. In one spot, they show clips of students learning how to do sit-ins and people responding to the sit-ins. One woman explains how her civil rights are being violated if she has to be in a store or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">restaraunt</span> that serves blacks.<br /><br />This clip is in the loop to illustrate how absurd the defense of hatred can sound; we are supposed to see it as dated and hateful and illogical. However, this is the exact argument the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ADF</span> often fields- if you make us act as if homosexuals are humans with human and civil rights, then you are violating their rights to practice their religions.<br /><br />I have no doubt that homophobia is a dead-end game. In many ways, it already seems simple minded and out dated and I wonder when we will see clips of people expressing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ADF</span> like ideas. This makes it all the more confusing that anyone, especially members of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, would give this hatred any power, allow it to shape curriculum decisions in any way.<br /><br />The most important things I learned in this workshop were how many things, how many <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">infrastructures</span> have to be in place for any movement to find success. The Civil Rights Movement only succeeded because it started long before 1954 and because there were lots of failures before.<br /><br />I was also struck by how many people it took for the movement to succeed and many of these people weren't big names or became famous. They were people who, time and time again, identified hatred when they saw it, stood up to intimidation, and continued to speak what they knew was true. Fannie Lou <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hamer</span> is a famous example of this- a sharecropper with a 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> grade education, she became a powerful member of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party who called Hubert Humphrey out on what his ambition would cost Mississippi citizens and who spoke so powerfully she terrified Lyndon Johnson.<br /><br />The most powerful person I met this week (out of many who I have so much respect for) was L.C. Dorsey. Read more about her here <a href="http://www.olemiss.edu/mwp/dir/dorsey_lc/index.html">http://www.olemiss.edu/mwp/dir/dorsey_lc/index.html</a>.<br /><br />People need to know about the Civil Rights Struggle because it continues, but also because we currently need models of people and organizations who stood up for their rights and were willing to pay the cost to free not only themselves, but their oppressors of their hatreds.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-41907887308259484182008-06-14T08:42:00.000-07:002008-06-14T08:55:00.905-07:00ADF TacticsThe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ADF</span> is very focused right now on stopping California from allowing same-sex couples equal marriage rights. Interestingly, we can see familiar tactics in how they address that. From the Friday June 13<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> paper with a link to the whole article.<br /><br />"In a statement, County Clerk Ann K. Barnett announced that her office would not solemnize any wedding vows after Friday, a move that she said reflected administrative and budgetary concerns, but that gay rights activists think reflects Ms. Barnett’s distaste for same-sex marriage. The decision does not affect the ability of any couple in the county to obtain a marriage license. . . .<br /><br />Ms. Barnett did not return calls seeking comment. On Monday, The Bakersfield Californian published e-mail messages between her office and a conservative legal group, the Alliance Defense Fund in Arizona, which had unsuccessfully argued against same-sex marriage in front of the State Supreme Court."<br /><br /> So in this case, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ADF</span> has found someone on the inside of the issue and has guided/directed/supported their homophobic actions. But again, we are left with the question of why an evangelical Christian group based in Arizona should be denying California citizens the rights of their state?<br /><br />Similarly, why was the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ADF</span> allowed to overturn the rights of NC parents? These parents had already given their permission for their children to see the films in the Human Sexuality Film series? Why would <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">DPI</span> allow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ADF's</span> homophobia to overrule the rights of parents? Was this a decision made by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tom</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Winton</span>? Mary Watson? June Atkinson? And why are they not being called to task for denying GS parents their rights?<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/us/13marriage.html?scp=1&sq=gay+marriage+alliance+defense+fund&st=nyt">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/us/13marriage.html?scp=1&sq=gay+marriage+alliance+defense+fund&st=<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nyt</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-58456054117992844582008-06-12T07:56:00.001-07:002008-06-12T08:24:11.959-07:00No Child Left Behind and Free SpeechToday in the New York Times there were side by side articles about the First Amendment and free speech issues and the worth and continuation of No Child Left Behind<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/us/12hate.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/us/12hate.html?_r=1&ref=us&<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">oref</span>=<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">slogin</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/washington/12spellings.html?ref=us">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/washington/12spellings.html?ref=us</a><br /><br />Their side by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sideness</span> got me to thinking about them together and their relevancy to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ADF's</span> attack on GS and why the administration of Governor's School is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">acceding</span> to the demands of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ADF</span>.<br /><br />The Alliance Defense Fund often uses First Amendment and religious freedom arguments in their litigation. Part of their argument is that is you don't allow them to say vile things about homosexuals you are violating their First Amendment rights. (They may have a point about this. like it or not, in this country hate speech is covered under the First Amendment up to the point where that speech may reasonable cause acts of violence.)<br /><br />Another stance they often take though is simply talking about homosexuality in any way that doesn't directly reflect their religous standpoint on it violates their freedom of religious expression. This makes no sense, particularly in combination with their above argument.<br /><br />So why doesn't Governor's School and DPI simply allow ADF to file litigation then and take them on in court? This is where NCLB becomes important. DPI fears that if GS became more well known, had attention called to it, that it wouldn't be able to get funding through the NC legisature. (That may be true but i doubt it- this is where you call in the long arm of the alumni and put them to work.) One reason they think they would not be publically supported is because we don't create any numbers.<br /><br />GS has no grades, no rankings, no tests. We produce no numbers beyond numbers of people that attend. We don't track the alumni to see how "successful" they are. And of course, this is what most faculty and students like about GS. A successful summer looks different for every single student. One student may have a successful summer by making friends, another by mastering ideas behind game theory, another by writing and directing a theatre performance, another by experiencing what a life of the mind looks like. Every single student has to define their own version of success and work towards that. As a program, we simply provide the tools, space, support, and safety for that work to take place. Most of thos successes are not reproducible in number, only is narrative and often not until years later.<br /><br />And that's what I fear is getting lost, why GS will no longer truly work by these and other GS values. It seems unlikely (although not impossible) that there will be a movement towards the production/business model of education in which GS has to prove it's worth each summer by documenting how students are "better" at the end of the 6 weeks than at the beginning. But if you treat an entire academic discipline as if it has no value, if you don't illustrate to students how to vigorously think about and interrogate what makes up themselves and their world, if you present to students that one class of people is worth less than another, then GS isn't GS.<br /><br /> It becomes an actively dangerous place for queer studnts, queer friendly students, or students who wish to think about what it is to be a person with a sex, a gender, or desire. You present to students the idea that there are some things that should not be talked about or thought about. "Question everything. Accept nothing" (a popular GS motto) morphs into "Question the things that won't attract the attention of bullys. Accept the things that will help you hide from yourself and from others in the world." (That will not fit as well on a t-shirt either.) You model for them that there are topics that are so hard that they can never be talked about or disagreed about with a level of respect and reponsibility by people.<br /><br />And in the end that's not GS. It's CNN and talk shows and most other public schools and a growing number of universities. It's what the students swim in each and every day. Why would they have to go to Raleigh or Winston-Salem to spend 6 weeks being exposed to that? They already know that. It's what bashes them over the head, every single day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-68973121093605266592008-06-11T12:43:00.001-07:002008-06-11T12:46:40.820-07:00Another GSE Alum ResponseHere is a response from a GSE student from 2000, before my time, on his blog.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.trevorhoppe.com/blog/archives/2008/06/north_carolina_1.html">http://www.trevorhoppe.com/blog/archives/2008/06/north_carolina_1.html</a><br /><br />It amazes me that the adminstration of GS can't figure out how to co-ordinate, encourage, and use the brilliant students that have come through Governor's School doors. Talking to alumni and hearing there many thoughtful responses across the spectrum of responses makes me very proud of them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-21461544910069192202008-06-10T08:33:00.000-07:002008-06-10T08:49:34.526-07:00Learning From The Civil Rights Movement<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">i've</span> been reading about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mississippi</span> and the civil rights movement. the thing that struck me in both books is how civil rights <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">activists</span> there were successful not because the federal government supported them, but around that lack of support. they knew what they had to and could do. so this meant <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mississippi</span> focused a lot on voter registration over direct action. local people started freedom schools and had parallel elections and ran parallel parties.<br /><br />no matter what the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">administration</span> said, they were often selling out these activists that were fighting for what they knew was right. for example, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">kennedy</span> administration would verbally say they supported the freedom riders and would never work against them. then they would make a quiet deal with the local <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sheriffs</span>, promising if they would let the freedom riders get to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">jackson</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">the</span> federal agents would allow the riders to be arrested.<br /><br />there's also the interesting aspect that many black teachers and principals were against integration and initially signed on to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">mississippi</span> governor's offer to "voluntarily segregate" schools in exchange for increased funding. those teachers and principals had a lot to lose- their jobs, their standings, their economic position.<br /><br />i know that thinking about thinking about sexuality and the civil rights movement together is controversial for many people. but i am learning a lot about how to resist homophobia, what state and federal administrations will do to protect the power they have, that people who have any kind of power will present one face <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">publicly</span> while viciously defending their power in secret.<br /><br />i think this is exactly what is going on at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">DPI</span>. I have long said someone has to love Governor's School more than they love their administrative position at GS. So far, we have seen no one who feels that way. No one is willing to stand up and question why a openly homophobic, evangelical Christian group in Arizona should be determining or effecting the curriculum of a public school program in NC. And I doubt anyone in a position of power will anytime soon.<br /><br />Which leaves those of us who are powerless or have less power to use what we have. Faculty. Students. Alumni. Those of us who have been pushed outside the GS community. Power at the bottom often gets overlooked or undervalued, if recognized at all. But it is all the little things that begin to add up. Calling out homophobia where we see it. Resisting when basic tenets of academic freedom are violated. Labelling hypocrisy hypocrisy. These things matter. They mattered in Mississippi in the 1960's. They matter in NC in 2008.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-4688769565189777432008-06-06T12:55:00.000-07:002008-06-06T12:58:34.312-07:00ADF Loses Court AppealNew York Times. June 5, 2008- "The California Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay its landmark decision allowing <a title="More articles about Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships." href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/same_sex_marriage/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier">same-sex marriage</a>, clearing the way for gay weddings to begin statewide later this month.<br /><br />Two conservative legal groups and attorneys general from 10 states had asked the court to stop the same-sex ceremonies until a ballot measure intended to ban such unions was taken up by California voters in November."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/05stay.html?scp=1&sq=alliance+defense+fund&st=nyt">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/us/politics/05stay.html?scp=1&sq=alliance+defense+fund&st=nyt</a><br /><br />Note the idea of allowing the ADF to follow through on their threat instead of acceding to their demands. Note how the ADF loses the appeal. Novel ideas, eh?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-4244711304070065102008-06-03T11:09:00.001-07:002008-06-03T11:35:42.624-07:00ADF OverviewIt's always good to know who objects to you and why. Here is some nice background info on the Alliance Defense Fund, where they get their money from, who supports them, and what their goals are.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alliance_Defense_Fund">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alliance_Defense_Fund</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=4457">http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=4457</a><br /><br /><a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200510140005">http://mediamatters.org/items/200510140005</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6776&abbr=cs_&security=1001&news_iv_ctrl=1544">http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6776&abbr=cs_&security=1001&news_iv_ctrl=1544</a><br /><br />Here is a place to track what the ADF is currently up to<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/groups/alliance_defens/index.html">http://www.rightwingwatch.org/groups/alliance_defens/index.html</a><br /><br />The ADF also is very open about what they want to accomplish. You should be sure to check out what they are doing, in their own words, as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/main/default.aspx">http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/main/default.aspx</a><br /><br />ADF also sponsors a group called the Center for Academic Freedom that deals specifically with colleges.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.centerforacademicfreedom.org/main/default.aspx">http://www.centerforacademicfreedom.org/main/default.aspx</a><br /><br />If they get more friends, they will have a page on Facebook<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/networks/50433582/Alliance_Defense_Fund/">http://www.facebook.com/networks/50433582/Alliance_Defense_Fund/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297198642579091512.post-88372535932092381502008-06-02T13:26:00.000-07:002008-06-02T13:37:36.375-07:00Another Player in the GameWhile the ADF is the biggest player attacking GS, there are other players in the game. One on the scene in the North Carolina Family Policy Council.<br /><a href="http://www.ncfamily.org/index.html">http://www.ncfamily.org/index.html</a><br /><br />They also like to "monitor" what goes on at Governor's School and seemingly, threaten litigation. (At the very least they like to have their lawyer send letters.) They specifically complained about <em>Me Vie En Rose </em>that I showed for the series and <em>Tarnation</em> that I showed in Documentary Fiction class. (They seemed to have last years syllabus though or they were just shooting blind that I would show both again. <em>Ma Vie En Rose </em>I did kick off the Human Sexuality Film Series with, but <em>Tarnation</em> had been part of the 2006 Area I class and I did not show it in 2007.) <a href="http://ncfamily.org/stories/070706s1.html ">http://ncfamily.org/stories/070706s1.html </a><br />2006 was the year the film series was censored and shut down; <em>Tarnation</em> was shown in class.<br /><br />The links between the ADF and the NCFPC are made clear here <a href="http://ncfamily.org/specialhomosexual.html">http://ncfamily.org/specialhomosexual.html</a> and again the question is why DPI would allow either of these groups to set curriculum for an NC public school program.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11131112112205298077noreply@blogger.com0