I imagine they would outraged, and rightly so. But then in a way, a group of conservatives are banding together and demanding they leave by bullying them all the time, making their lives at school miserable. And they are outraged and trying to find creative solutions. Does that sound reasonable to you?
I’m sure it would be relief for some. But this isn’t a demand. This is an option. Big difference.
DeskMonkey
“Bullying?” You think being gay is the ONLY reason a kid is bullied at school? Please. Being picked on by a bully at school is a rite of passage for most kids. Is there anyone who WASN’T picked on for some reason? What about wearing glasses? Being short? Being fat? Having asthma? Having a stutter? Being skinny? Having an alcoholic parent? Whatever?
Kids like to pick on whoever is “different.” Being gay today, like it or not, is considered “different.”
A separate “gay” school is NOT the answer.
Well, I think the bullying that accompanies being gay is quite different than those who wear glasses, are are short, etc . . . For instance, no one insists that God Hate Four-Eyes. Maybe I’m out of the loop, but asthmatic bashing hasn’t really been a problem. There are plenty of adults who are just as willing to bully gay kids (and adults) as teen-agers.
I’m not diminishing the bullying of others for different reasons, but I don’t see why you’re so up in arms about a school that offers an alternative to those who want it. Perhaps it will lead the way in creating even more alternatives so kids who are being harrassed can escape rather that accept it.
What do you suppose the answer is? Allow the bullying? Tell kids to suck it up? Take the punches and chalk it up to “rite of passage”? Frankly, that’s a rite I’ll pass up if given the choice.
Are you angry because you’re truly worried that these kids will be adversely affected by not going to a mainstream high school? Or because gay kids seem to be getting special treatment and you don’t think they deserve it?
Who says I’m “angry” about anything? Am I coming across as homophobic or something? I’m just taking a look at this in a realistic manner, that’s all. Kids are incredibly cruel to each other for many reasons. They are usually so insecure about their own self-image that they will pick on anyone who seems “different.” It’s a fact of life.
A separate school based simply on sexual orientation? I think it’s crazy. Why not a separate school for the overweight? How 'bout a different school based on height? How 'bout a separate school for girls who “develop” earlier than other girls in their class? Where does this end? What happens when these gay students graduate? Do you think having NO exposure to the kind of cruelty kids are capable of is going to be any kind of benefit to them in the ‘real world?’
I’ll bet the gay students asked most of the same questions I did, and laughed at the idea of the Pee Wee Herman High School for Flashers.
Nearly everybody has a hard time going to high school. If it’s too easy you aren’t growing.
What’s wrong with my existance that high school students would need protection from it? And what’s the cure, my non-existance?
Or is a little ideological diversity too much for you?
Oh, they’ll be exposed to life’s cruelty plenty, unless they plan to never fall in love, lose a pet, get a crappy job that they hate . . .
I’ve been in the “real world” for . . . good lord! 17 years now, and not once have I been verbally abused as I was in high school. I’m pretty sure if one of my co-workers came over here and tipped my chair over while I’m sitting in it, he’d be fired. If one of our clients gave me a swirlie in the bathroom, he’d be arrested.
What’s the big deal? There are all sorts of alternative high schools. Voc/Tech schools, schools for art and dance, schools for gifted students, schools for students with special needs. What’s all the hubbub, bub? Do you think it’s important for kids with glasses, short kids, pimply kids, gay kids, any “different” kid to have to suffer for it? Do you honestly think this is a tradition that should be preserved? I see this as a step in the right direction in combatting the rampant bullying that has made kids miserable for years. All these flapping heads going on about how we can’t allow another Columbine, think about the children, something needs to be done! Well, here’s something that’s being done. It’s sort of experimental, but if it works, my guess is other schools will follow. Then all the butt-heads who want to beat up on people can stay in one school and give each other wedgies while everyone else goes somewhere to learn.
I’d give my eye teeth to be able to send my future kids to a school like this where I’m sure rules will be stricter, classes will be smaller, and students who can’t help but treat their peers to a brutal rite of passage will be booted out on their keisters.
But please, enlighten me. What is the real Answer?
Damn, sorry for the bad coding. I didn’t mean to make it all look like a quote from Stephe96, honestly!
People in this thread still aren’t getting that homophobia has been institutionalized.
Homophobia (and, to some, gay bashing) is a-ok according to some upstanding citizens (and Phred). It is seen as justifiable ( “My book was written by Gawd and, when interpreted by me, who is always right (like Gawd), it says that gays should be stoned to death” FE).
Show me someone who thinks that beating up on fat kids is justifiable. Show me a principal who tells “Four-eyes” that no one would call him that if he just got contacts. Show me a short kid who is told they CHOSE to be that way, and not being able to pull their gym shorts off of the tallest shelf is a natural consequence.
This is one of the reasons I’m an advocate for privatization of schools. Let the schools compete, let the kids pick what school they want to attend, and a lot of your problems will disappear. Because the kids won’t want to leave that school. As it is now a kid has to practically burn the school down before the administration can permanently expel him. The kids know it, the administration knows it and the parents know it.
The threat of being kicked out is a great incentive against bad behavior. Too bad that only private/alt schools can use it.
What verbal litter? The Truth? SEE YA!
When I first started reading this thread I was thinking that this can’t be a good thing and that the only way to fight prejudices against anything is to get people to intergrate, and to a degree I still do but after reading DeskMonkeys post I had to re-evaluate my posistion. I had a relativley benign time at school, although I think everyone gets picked on a little at one time or another, so I couldn’t really say that I know what its like to be bullied and as DeskMonkey said once you leave school thats pretty much it, you are unlikley to encounter bullying again (certainley not school playground style bullying) so why not have a place that kids can go to if they choose and learn in peace, before moving on to university and or work? I believe that a lot of kids are openly gay at school and are accepted and can deal with it, but for those who aren’t comfortable, I say let them learn where they want. I do admit I have a slight problem with the whole ‘segregation’ can of worms it could open, but I believe that it wont spiral out of control leaving us with institutes that only cater for a specific type of person. Variety is the spice of life and we should embrace people who are different to ourselves, but also remember that we are talking about high school aged children and they are not always so enlightened.
People. I have never looked down on a gay person.
Anyway, this school is a bad idea and it’s segregation. These people don’t want to be singled out and they just wanted to be treated just like everyone else. However, having all gay school singles them out and they will be treated differently from everyone else.
Also, you would think these kids would have a little bit more sense in that they should have known better that kids make fun of other kids who are different. They should have never told anyone about their, what I call, illness. (You can call it whatever you want).
Also people, I know gay people and have gay friends.
See, just when you almost make sense, you come up with a wowser like that. No, Kputt, you do not have gay friends. There may be gay people with whom you associate, but no one could think of a “friend” as you think of gay people. I’d love to talk to some of these so-called friends of yours and find out what they think of your opinions on homosexuality.
I said that just because I do feel it is an illness. Sorry. I think it’s curable. I told my friend that I don’t have problems with the people, just the idea.
Either way, they shouldn’t have said anything about their “different orientation for whatever reason” to anyone at the school. I think that common sense rules on that one.
I did have a conversation with this friend and she told me. I used to be less accepting than I am now. But I’m not anti-gay or a gay hater because I believe it’s a sin and a chosen lifestyle. But let’s say it’s not a chosen lifestyle and you are born with it, then they should get help just like anyone else with disorders and illnesses. (These people don’t want to be considered or treated differently). Believe me that people have made fun of me and were not very understanding of my disorder. People even play me on it. This is why I don’t put down gay people. Hey, I think it’s wrong and it’s a sin, but that’s not important. I’m not one to judge and my opinion doesn’t matter. There is only one person that has feelings and opinions that do matter. I’m pretty sure you know who I’m talking about. A gay person is just like every other human being on earth. We all have weaknesses and problems. We also have our strenghts and talents. I will admit that a lot of “gay couples” make better parents than a lot of “straight couples”.
Please don’t take Common Sense’s name in vain like that. Common sense would dictate that you should not give someone a hard time because they do not have the same preferences, feelings, and beliefs as you. Especially when they’re allegedly your friends. But like Eve, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when your “friends” sit there as you enlighten them with your diagnoses of their disease.
(And yes, insisting someone’s homosexuality is a curable disease qualifies as giving them a hard time.)
And WILLASS, thanks for giving my posts some thought. I’m glad it made sense and delighted that it gave you pause to reconsider! Yay! 
“Please don’t take Common Sense’s name in vain like that. Common sense would dictate that you should not give someone a hard time because they do not have the same preferences, feelings, and beliefs as you. Especially when they’re allegedly your friends. But like Eve, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when your “friends” sit there as you enlighten them with your diagnoses of their disease.”
I said illness, I didn’t say disease. And two, yes you are right that people shouldn’t give these people a hard time because they are different. However, reality is, they do.
It might be curable, it might not be. I never gave a gay person a hard time.
My friend already knows of my views and she likes me. She is more upset that I talk about myself too much.
All I said it was wrong, but what I think doesn’t even matter.
Ok. I guess I am wrong about stuff, but people still don’t have to live like that. I still stand that that in reality, people are going to give a person a hard time because he/she is different. It’s wrong, but it’s reality.
It’s not a disease or illness. Supposedly, it’s not curable. There is possibly a bioligical link to it’s cause. I still maintian that there are a lot of people out there that just choose to live that lifestyle.
I’ll let all judgment be between the gay person and his/her god.