The New Jersey Ledger Star has been following the situation closely. Tuesday evening, the Ledger Star reports that about three hundred people attended a Union Township school board meeting, apparently with a fair mix of those supporting and opposed to Ms. Knox.
Opposing Ms. Knox's open bigotry,
Garden State Equality, a gay rights advocacy group, organized some protesters, while representatives from Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay-rights association, attended to deliver a petition signed by 75,000 supporters calling for Knox’s firing.
Supporting her,
But others, like Harry Skeele of Hillsborough, defended Knox.
"I don’t want to see her get fired over this," Skeele said outside the meeting. "Viki has a First Amendment right to express her opinion, a freedom the gay community has ridden before."
Union parent Ondria Caffey said she corresponded at length with district administrators to express her dismay over the LGBT display — weeks before she learned of Knox’s comments.
"I rely on UHS for teaching my child academics, not for what this display represents," Caffey said at the meeting.
Regarding Freedom of Speech, it is a misnomer to consider that this Right extends into the workplace. And, while parents have every right to request particular topics be included or excluded, the school exists for the entire community. Parents can be even more effective by working with their children at home to reinforce those lessons that they choose and discuss why they disagree with other lessons. Education needs to include all groups, including the LGBTQ community.
Board president Francis "Ray" Perkins said members would not be taking any immediate action after the public comment session, which began around 9:15 p.m.
This is good. Personnel matters need to be handled in closed session. The public had its say, now we will need to wait and see what the results are.
Not waiting, Governor Christie has weighed in against bigotry in the classroom.
"I think that kind of example is not a positive one at all to be setting for folks who have such an important and influential position in our society," Christie said this morning on 770 WABC Radio. "I'm really concerned about those kinds of statements being made."
Christie said he finds the comments "disturbing."
Governor Christie does not support marriage equality, but is correct in his concern.
Thanks to Joe.My.God and TowelRoad for the heads up.
17 October 2011, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post
27 October 2011, FollowUp 2
Excellent commentary, Some_Teacher. You've nailed her. Job well done.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am glad to read that she is looking forward to this "confrontation" so that everyone can see her for the bigot, the hater and the discriminator that she is.
The more publicity that her words get, the better.