A great article about the Harvey Milk School

[dsc]

www.nytimes.com/2003/08/27/education/27EDUC.html

I have chosen not to quote any of it so that people will go and read it for themselves. You do need to register (free) before you can.

This has been discussed here before and I know it is contraversial but I think more than a few gay and lesbian posters can tell you why we fell this school is a necessary thing even in this day and age. I will never forget the shit I had to take growing up and I was sort of able to pass. In any case happy reading.

[dsc]

1. Kick

:kick:

[newyawker99]

2. kick for dsc's 10,000 posts

:toast:

[dsc]

4. Thanks I had no idea I was at 10k

I wish they could have set it up so at least we could see our own post count. Thanks again.

[mkregel]

3. I personally like what Bill Maher said

Why don't we just take all the BULLIES and get rid of them?

Seriously - I don't like segregation. The gay community may embrace this school now, but when it gets treated "seperate but equal" just like the black schools in the south did pre-Civil rights, they will sing a different tune.

[dsc]

5. I don't know what else you can do

especially in schools that are that large. I was told by the principal of my middle school that if I were more manly then I wouldn't get beat up in the restroom. Well I did what I could to butch up. I deepened my voice, studied sports stats like mad, and in general created a persona. And I was by no means a Jack McFarland but more like Will to begin with.

Teachers can't be everywhere all the time. And the people picked on for being gay won't tell since they don't want people to know. My parents, both teachers, had no clue what happened to me in middle school. I was one of the lucky ones in that my persona worked.

[mkregel]

6. Strength in numbers

Bullying of any kind is the problem here. With this school you have the bullies feeling like they won - they'll think they chased the gays out.

And, it further polarizes the groups.

[dsc]

7. Those arguments are not without merit

but barring turning schools into police states which presumedly no one wants there is a limit to what can be done. We still have to take gym and still have to use the toilets. I certainly don't think this is an ideal solution but I also think the alternative is worse. The Little Rock 9 had supportive parents backing them up. Their gay equivalent don't or at least may not.

[Yupster]

8. Separate schools are okay by me...

as long as they're equal.

This has been a sarcastic response.