10/24/2008
Chicago's Mayor Daley Warns of Segregating LGBT Students
Mayor Richard Daley spoke out about plans for an LGBT high school in Chicago. A vote on the school was delayed earlier this week until late November.
Daley noted that the School for Social Justice Pride would "unduly segregate" the students, the Chicago Tribune reports: "You have to look at whether or not you isolate or segregate the children...A holistic approach has always been to have children of all different, you know, backgrounds and everything in schools. When you start isolating children, you say only 50 percent here or 40 percent here...we start doing that, you're going to start isolating and segregating people."
A final vote on the school is to be held November 19th.
Posted 2:00 PM EST by Andy Towle in Chicago, Education, Gay Youth, News | Permalink
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Bullshit...absolute bullshit! Those gay and trans kids who will attend the "gay highschool" will be those kids who catch hell in other highschool settings. They are harassed and bullied out of school--not just by other students, but also by teachers and NTAs. Most "normal-acting" gay kids will stay in public, parochial & private schools.
Y'all know how much I love my SlimJim, but I hate some of his associations with Chicago Slim politicians. Hopefully none of them will follow him to the White House. If we see/smell a trail of slime from the South Lawn to the White House...well....
Mayor Daley...yuck.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Oct 24, 2008 2:17:15 PM
that's SLIME...Chicago SLIME. Like father, like son...SLIME.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Oct 24, 2008 2:19:05 PM
I actually agree with him. It is important to address our concerns over making sure gay kids are say, but at the same time, we don't want kids to live in a bubble either.
Posted by: akaison | Oct 24, 2008 2:19:41 PM
Daly is full of shit! Studies by GLSEN and others document that harrassment of kids thought to be LGBT in public schools is still rampant, frequently vicious, and rarely stopped by teachers and administrators.
GLSEN's 2007 study found:
- 86.2% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 44.1% reported being physically harassed and 22.1% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.
- 73.6% heard derogatory remarks such as “faggot” or “dyke” frequently or often at school.
- More than half (60.8%) of students reported that they felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and more than a third (38.4%) felt unsafe because of their gender expression.
- 31.7% of LGBT students missed a class and 32.7% missed a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe, compared to only 5.5% and 4.5%, respectively, of a national sample of secondary school students.
- The reported grade point average of students who were more frequently harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression was almost half a grade lower than for students who were less often harassed (2.8 versus 2.4).
The sad thing is that it's easier to create a separate school than change the visceral "it's your own fault/we can't do anything/can't you just act normal?" attitudes and behaviors of the majority of administrators, counselors, teachers, and students.
Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Oct 24, 2008 2:22:15 PM
I disagree as well. Having an environment where you can be completely free to be yourself would be something a lot of gay people could really benefit from. That said, I DO think straight people should be allowed to attend the high school if they want, just with the knowledge that it's a glbt friendly school.
The bottom line is when we have situations like Larry in California happening in the extreme, and extreme bullying everyday, where students can't feel free to express themselves, then something has to be done. In districts large enough where they can have a glbt-geared school, they should.
Posted by: Ryan | Oct 24, 2008 2:26:37 PM
Daley's proclomation is most unfortunate, seeing as how he's been generally supportive of LGBTQ causes here in Chicago. He was integral in the foundation of The Center on Halsted, Chicago's primary LGBTQ community center. Whatever political postureing he's attempting evades me. The data is clear, and the plan for the school is solid. His rhetoric sounds reminiscent of the 1960's, when school integration was the hot button issue. Clearly it was necessary then, and its necessary now...
Posted by: Young and Gay in Chicago | Oct 24, 2008 2:33:52 PM
Yep, I agree with him also - I don't like the idea of separate schools, separate isn't equal. I fully understand being bullied - that happened to me when I was in school. What needs to be done rather than a separate school is a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on abusive behavior - and I mean ZERO TOLERANCE. That of course is ALOT harder than building a separate school... but it would be a far better solution. Keeping kids separate perpetuates isolation and abusive behavior. I would push ZERO TOLERANCE and then hold their feet to the fire to get it implemented.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 24, 2008 2:37:12 PM
I volunteered at a small private LGBT high school in Dallas, TX for several years. These students could not have attended any other high school and had ALL dropped out of school because of their orientation. In this case, segregation is a GOOD thing. It allows the GLBT students to be who they are and learn in a welcoming, supportive environment.
Posted by: Bruce | Oct 24, 2008 2:37:34 PM
Yep, I agree with him also - I don't like the idea of separate schools, separate isn't equal. I fully understand being bullied - that happened to me when I was in school. What needs to be done rather than a separate school is a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on abusive behavior - and I mean ZERO TOLERANCE. That of course is ALOT harder than building a separate school... but it would be a far better solution. Keeping kids separate perpetuates isolation and abusive behavior. I would push ZERO TOLERANCE and then hold their feet to the fire to get it implemented.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 24, 2008 2:38:54 PM
Interesting responses. How do you feel about school choice and vouchers?
Students and their parents should be allowed to chose their schools. This is one of many reasons.
(i agree with Daley in principle - students need to learn to interact with people that are different from themselves)
Posted by: yoshi | Oct 24, 2008 2:40:25 PM
I completely disagree with a segregated school system. First and foremost, the school districts should enact rules to prevent bullying and harassment of any type. It must be enforced by teachers as well as administrators. If the child continues to be bullied, then they should have alternate recourse be taking it to the superintendent. Disciplinary action should also be taken on any teacher or administrator that does not comply.
Having these kids live in a bubble does nothing for their ability to socialize and work outside of the LGBT community. Everyone needs to be able to interact with people of all stripes if you want to be successful in the future. If segregation is so right, why were laws passed in the 60's (Brown vs. the Board of Education) allowing the integration of blacks into the school systems? This is flat out wrong and only lends some sort of self entitlement to these kids.
I was harassed in high school and saw the repercussions it had on a few students during my four years there. It's sad, but without enforcement this is to be expected. Isolating these kids from society will have future repercussions in their adult lives. The world is not made of billions of bubbles, it would be one lonely world.
Posted by: K j A M | Oct 24, 2008 2:46:19 PM
@Mike
You had me until you mentioned "zero tolerance". "zero tolerance" policies are a disaster. They take away common sense. I wasn't bullied in high school and my nephews are going to the same schools that I am and bullying is still rare. When situations do happen - it taken care of in a pragmatic matter involving the parents and the school administration.
Posted by: yoshi | Oct 24, 2008 2:48:47 PM
At the end of the day, I am concerned enough about the violence and safety of young people that I think having a separate school is probably the way to go at this point.
With that said, I don't think it is unreasonable for Daley or anyone else to question whether segregation is ever a good idea.
It wasn't that long ago that people were fighting against segregated schools. So, I think that there should be some angst around the concept now. It would be troubling if it weren't.
Posted by: Brandon | Oct 24, 2008 2:51:11 PM
I am for school choice, but against vouchers. We need a strong public school system with equal educational opportunities for all. Vouchers suck $$$ away from that. If someone wants to send their kids to another type of school fine, but they should pay for it. I know they are already paying property taxes, etc. but that is for the public school system which I pay for also... and I don't have any kids. If you want to opt out, fine, but you'll pay extra. I view it as the "take the easy way out" approach. Yeah, it's much harder to do the right thing and fix the public schools, but it is the right thing to do so EVERYONE has equal opportunity and excellent education.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 24, 2008 2:54:56 PM
What the crap are y'all talking about? You can learn to interact with straight folks when the school day is over, or on weekends. The main thing is for gender role non-conforming gay & trans kids to get their highschool diploma. It can be torture for them in a regular school environment when they cannot adhere to gender role norms. Many a gay child has been destroyed by public or parochial schools... leading them to early addiction to alcohol, drugs, prostitution and unsafe sex.
"they need to interact" Where? In jail? THat's where too many of them end up when they cannot earn their highschool diploma.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Oct 24, 2008 2:57:52 PM
Rather than creating one school where young people are able to feel safe regardless of their sexuality (including kids outside of L, G, B and T), Chicago should put those efforts in making every school safe and nurturing for all kids. Every school in Chicago should be a safe haven for all the negative crap that awaits our students outside that school door.
Posted by: Tim S | Oct 24, 2008 3:00:40 PM
Jessica H. Christ! What fucking cretins some of you are! You don't get that such schools do not FORCE anyone to go there. They're not the victims of "segregation"—despite Daly's moronic use of the verb—they are the beneficiaries of the opportunity to learn in safety if they choose.
Nor, imbecile, are such kids in a "bubble." The typical kids at such schools have NEVER been able to "pass" and have suffered abuse from society from an early age. They already know what "the real world is like" all too well. Such schools give them a chance to rebuild self-esteem among those who are most like them and adults who accept them as they are, as well as, again, concentrate on learning rather than worrying about being terrorized. Otherwise, many drop out of school entirely, or never go onto college; either setting them up for financial hardship as adults.
Is being beaten to the ground and urinated on a part of Daly's concept of a "holistic approach"? Perhap y'all and Daly should check out the documentary about Jim Wheeler who, despite a totally accepting family, was still suffering such post traumatic stress disorder AFTER GRADUATING that he hung himself.
Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Oct 24, 2008 3:01:02 PM
Rather than creating one school where young people are able to feel safe regardless of their sexuality (including kids outside of L, G, B and T), Chicago should put those efforts in making every school safe and nurturing for all kids. Every school in Chicago should be a safe haven for all the negative crap that awaits our students outside that school door.
Posted by: Tim S | Oct 24, 2008 3:01:26 PM
Regarding ZERO TOLERANCE: That to me doesn't mean if someone bully's someone that they are immediately put into the gulag - but it does mean that you are going to take some type of halfway serious action. Possibly a one day suspension from class, etc. It means to me that you are taking non-trivial steps to ensure that this type of behavior won't be tolerated. Repeat offenses would bring escalating punishment.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 24, 2008 3:54:03 PM
Well, at least a LGBT school won't have a problem w/ teen pregnancy. =)
Well, that is, if we separate the B's (sorry bisexuals...git ur own skool!)
Posted by: Qwerty | Oct 24, 2008 4:08:26 PM
Well, at least a LGBT school won't have a problem w/ teen pregnancy. =)
Well, that is, if we separate the B's (sorry bisexuals...git ur own skool!)
Posted by: Qwerty | Oct 24, 2008 4:09:46 PM
I'm sure the kids at the LGBT will find *something* else to pick on each other over. Bullying is endemic to humans.
Posted by: Nick | Oct 24, 2008 4:32:48 PM
Hey, we just want gay kids who've been through hell, who've been thrown out of their homes, or who've never had a home to be able to finish highschool. As far as I know, the Harvey Milk Highschool in New York City has helped many young gay folks achieve a highschool diploma. Without that school many of them would have probably dropped out and down.
People blame "noticeably gay" gay children for their own suffering.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Oct 24, 2008 4:59:34 PM
You guys can talk zero tolerance all you want, but the fact is that glbt kids are always going to censure themselves and suffer bullying until they have an environment they're completely comfortable in. Having 4 years to discover themselves during an all inclusive, safe high school sounds like a brilliant opportunity, just so they can be themselves in an age group when others are cruel or they'd otherwise feel afraid.
As I mentioned above, I don't think the school should be gay-only... if straight people want to attend it, perhaps they have a best friend going, I think that should be allowed, but the concept of the school is a really great idea, especially as a test for the rest of the country. If it ends up being something overwhelmingly positive and works well, it could be duplicated elsewhere and have a major impact on improving the lives of gay teens.
Posted by: Ryan | Oct 24, 2008 6:31:48 PM
Of course ALL schools should be safe for LGBT youth, and bullying should not be tolerated. I'm sure that nowadays many gay kids can thrive in "integrated" schools, and those kids will go to them. But let's not pretend that all schools have positive learning environments for all gay kids. Gayness may be tolerated better than it used to be, but being "different" can put some kids who can't pass and/or conform (or don't want to have to) in mental and physical danger. For these at risk kids I believe it's better for them to be in a place where they can be themselves, rather than on the streets after they drop out.
And, Yoshi, just because you weren't bullied, doesn't mean it's "rare." There are many, many examples--several publicized on Towleroad and elsewhere, and that's the tip of the iceberg--of schools where LGBT bullying is rampant and has not been dealt with it in a "pragmatic manner," at least not for the damaged gay kids. Where the hell have you been?
Posted by: Ernie | Oct 24, 2008 8:57:28 PM