Boy Punished for Talking About Lesbian Mom

Monday, December 01, 2003

LAFAYETTE, La. — A 7-year-old boy was scolded and forced to write "I will never use the word 'gay' in school again" after he told a classmate about his lesbian mother, the American Civil Liberties Union alleged Monday.

Second-grader Marcus McLaurin was waiting for recess Nov. 11 at Ernest Gaullet Elementary School when a classmate asked about Marcus' mother and father, the ACLU said in a complaint.

Marcus responded he had two mothers because his mother is gay. When the other child asked for explanation, Marcus told him: "Gay is when a girl likes another girl," according to the complaint.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,104508,00.html

Is our children learning?

Let's make the teacher write:
"I am a social dwarf"
"I am a social dwarf"
"I am a social dwarf"
a hundred times on the chalkboard (not BLACKboard, chalkboard!)

So the kid was required IN SCHOOL to write.." I will never use the word gay IN SCHOOL again.."?

It seems that the punishment and its purpose mutually exclude one another...

jheaston@lft.k12.la.us to email the school super intendent, James Easton. tell him that you hope that the teacher who did this will be reprimanded severely and that a program will be put in place to inform children about diversity.

parish school district school board email addresses.

dgt0741@louisiana.edu, claco44@aol.com, mheffner@bellsouth.net, bevbw@bellsouth.net, hildcox@cox-internet.com, mnkconst@cox-internet.com

the superintendents email got bounced back to me so i emailed the whole school board. mheffners box is full.

This teacher is going to make this child feel ashamed of what is likely a very loving and devoted Mom. How sick!

write 1000 times "I am a stupid b**ch"

day when one student told another to fuck himself!

I should just have had him write dozens of times on the board, "I will not use "FUCK" in school!" What the hell was I thinking?

Can't we just make it legal to choke some teachers?

to be punished for something that is loving and had nothing to to w/him.

Adults can be so fucking mean!

I know someone VERY close to me who's first name just so happens to be "Gay". How would that work if "Gay" had a child in that school and someone asked the child what their mother's name? I guess in their warped world the child would not be allowed utter the name of their own mother inside the school. The Deep South. Dontcha just LOVE IT?

just the ignorant idiots that live here. Many Southerners are open minded, caring people that recognize the stupidity going on and try to stop it, to teach our children about diversity and to be colorblind, etc....

where 2 girls were expelled from school for kissing? I'm pretty damned sure it was not in the deep south.

Stereotypes, dontcha just LOVE EM?

...but my place of work filters the world "gay" in URLs. I kid you not. Well, here's something about him that doesn't have his first name in the URL: http://www.english.upenn.edu/~wh/whfellow/

He claims to be a champion for minorities. He was dead silent on this matter. I have emailed the edudept also.

www.aclu.org

"Now we don our gay apparel."

Why do so many idiots go into school teaching? Yeah, an assistant principal was also involved -- but I'm not surprised at the number of idiots in that field.

:kick: the school board.

I could never live in Louisiana......what sort of negative impact will this school's behavior have on the child?

The teacher better realize that the student was not discussing sex and anything inappropriate. Those who wish to insulate people from the existence of lesbians and gay people are fighting a losing battle. We're everywhere--it's really true.

I emailed the school board president for that school system and got a response. Anyone else get a response? He says he only heard about this yesterday and was going to look into it.

from 2 of the members. they both said the same thing- "just heard about it- will wait until i hear the other side to make a decision- will get back to you with our decision if you would like"

Sounds surprisingly similar to the one I received. I wonder if they got together on answering some of the emails. Also, the local paper has a more detailed article on this and a poll. Here's a link to it.

http://www.acadiananow.com/news/html/29863EA1-5279-4D71-8DE7-C07FA0C526EC.shtml

http://www.aclu.org/LesbianGayRights/LesbianGayRights.cfm?ID=14481&c=104


...

Upon hearing this, Marcus’s teacher scolded him in front of his classmates, telling him that “gay” is a bad word and he should never say it at school, then sent him to the principal’s office instead of letting him go to recess. The following week the school required Marcus to attend a special behavioral clinic at 6:45 in the morning, where he was forced to repeatedly write “I will never use the word ‘gay’ in school again.”

“To tell a 7-year-old boy that he can’t talk about his family not only makes that child feel confused and hurt – it violates his Constitutional right to free speech and equal treatment,” said Ken Choe, a staff attorney from the ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project who is handling the matter. “At the ACLU we often deal with schools that mistreat treat gay children and children who have gay parents, but this is beyond the pale.”

On a student behavior contract form that Marcus had to fill out and give to his mother about the incident, Marcus wrote that the thing he did wrong was that he “sed bad wurds.” A handwritten note at the top of the form from Marcus’s teacher further explains: “He explained to another child that you are gay and what being gay means.” On a behavior report form signed by the assistant principal, the teacher wrote, “Marcus decided to explain to another child in his group that his mom is gay. He told the other child that gay is when a girl likes a girl. This kind of discussion is not acceptable in my room. I feel that parents should explain things of this nature to their own children in their own way.” The forms can be viewed online at http://www.aclu.org/LesbianGayRights/LesbianGayRights.cfm?ID=14478&c=104 and http://www.aclu.org/LesbianGayRights/LesbianGayRights.cfm?ID=14480&c=104.

“Of course we believe that parents should be the ones who talk with small children about things like sex, but Marcus McLaurin’s school seems to think that he was talking about sex when all he was talking about was his two mothers,” said Joe Cook, Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana. “The fact is that there are children of lesbian and gay parents in schools throughout Louisiana, and those children have the same right as any other children to talk about their families.”

and it's ME! We live in Minnesota and our experience with schools and teachers has been wonderful.

I'm glad that the mother decided to take her case to the ACLU. The fight for their rights will demonstrate, to her son, that there are many, many people on his side. I can't imagine how mixed up he must have felt the day when it happened.

School Board reacts to discipline of student
Sebreana Domingue
sdomingue@theadvertiser.com

December 3, 2003

LAFAYETTE — Members of the Lafayette Parish School Board spent much of Tuesday answering e-mails and phone calls about the disciplining of a 7-year-old school boy who told a classmate that his mother is gay.

And with the exception of one member, those contacted by The Daily Advertiser said that they would reserve judgment until a full inquiry is conducted by the administration.

The American Civil Liberties Union made a formal complaint to the district Monday, asking that officials apologize to Sharon Huff and her son, and remove the records from his school files.

“I have been answering e-mails from all over the country,” School Board President David Thibodaux said early Tuesday. “The problem for me is, I don’t know what happened.”

http://www.acadiananow.com/news/html/FF6CD238-73D9-4270-83B1-835C364EF28D.shtml

The black gentleman on the left is the school board president, Dr. Thibodaux, who was kind enough to answer my email about this matter this morning. It seems that school is now trying to claim that, in fact, the child said other things besides explaining to another child that his mother is gay. However, if this thing about the punishment is true, that he had to write sentences saying "I will never say the word 'gay' in school again", then I don't understand how they can claim that the boy wasn't punished for saying the word "gay". I say we keep up the pressure and make sure the whole story is told.

Easton: No apology owed to student
Gay parent fights for son’s rights
Sebreana Domingue
sdomingue@theadvertiser.com

December 3, 2003



LAFAYETTE — The superintendent of the Lafayette Parish School District said Tuesday that a 7-year-old child was not disciplined for using the word “gay” to describe his mother and vowed that the district would not apologize.

“An apology is not due,” Superintendent James Easton said Tuesday. “The child was not singled out because his parent is gay.”

The American Civil Liberties Union publicly demanded in a letter Monday that district officials apologize to the boy and his mother and hinted at filing a lawsuit if the district didn’t comply.

Sharon Huff, the child’s parent, said she contacted the ACLU after her son came home with disciplinary reports stating he was overheard saying “bad words” to another student.

“We have a high regard for freedom of expression, and we value diversity,” Easton said. “It would surprise me if that accusation is accurate.”

He also strongly denied that the child was made to write repeatedly, “I will never use the word ‘gay’ in school again,” as described in the ACLU complaint. The ACLU stood behind its statement.

more>http://www.acadiananow.com/news/html/C66A2A8C-AE09-4350-859A-4DF684C24AC2.shtml

Big mistake on their part I think. ACLU will file a suit if they don't make this right.

I hope the publish it, but since I identified myself as from Pa, probably not.
I told them the schools actions were a result of the south being held hostage by the religious right and I hoped there would be some moderate and liberal people who would come to the aid of the abused child.

One thing I've noticed about the ACLU (of which I'm a proud member) is they sometimes make demands based on allegations that have not yet been proven. It's possible the kid was disciplined for saying some other bad words (fuck, shit, etc.) and lied to his mom. But the original story is also quite possible. I'll reserve judgement for now.

I think the family is getting hosed and I agree with you that it is usually good to wait and see.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29820-2003Dec2.html

the school is trying to make this the child's fault when it is clearly the teachers fault for getting all hyper about the word gay. The note sent home clearly stated that the offending word was GAY.

http://www.aclu.org/LesbianGayRights/LesbianGayRights.cfm?ID=14480&c=104

At the top of the report, someone wrote:

"He explained to another child that you are gay and what being gay means."

The Report (Completed by the Child):

Student Behavior Contract

Date: 11-11-03

Dear: Mom

Today I had a problem in school:

What I did: I sad bad words.

What happened because I did what I did: lineing up fur riyses.

What I should have done: Cep by mouf shut.

What would have happened if I had done what I should have done: I wud be at riyses.


Behavioral Incident Report

"Marcus decided to explain to another child in his group that his mother is gay. He told the other child that being gay is when a girl likes a girl. This kind of discussion is not acceptable in my room. I feel that parents should explain things of this nature to their own children in their own way."

That's all the evidence I need. Crucify the b*tch.

Is it just me or do you feel a stale ham sandwich could successfully prosecute this case?

ridiculous censorship is a big priority with this teacher. Teaching spelling certainly isn't, apparently. I could spell a lot better than that at 7. Then again, if I'd said my mother was gay when I was that age, my teacher would have thought she was just in a good mood.

my ESL kids in second grade in South Korea can spell better than that.

That's appalling behaviour on the part of the teacher. If I ever caught another teacher disciplining a child for that, I would definitely give them a piece of my mind.

That school should be far more worried about what it's teaching in Spelling & Vocabulary class than a 7 year old trying to explain 'gay.'

Please forward this to Marcus's moms.
Thank you.

I can empathize with Marcus. In 1947 I was the only kid in the first grade at Glen Iris School (Birmingham, Alabama) who didn't have a mommy and a daddy. My parents divorced in 1944. My mother got the news that my father planned to divorce her in a letter he sent from his wartime base at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. You're probably not old enough to remember, but to be a divorced woman back then, especially in the South, was to virtually brand her with the Scarlet "A". It was widely accepted that divorcees were women of at least "questionable" morals who had probably brought their own unhappiness upon themselves.

As my classmates and I got to know each other, the inevitable questions came. "Where do you live?" "What does your daddy do?" I had a hard time explaining, because I didn't understand it either. What I DIDN'T have a problem with was teachers who punished me for my mother's situation. Looking back, I think they were kind and loving and did all they could to make me feel like I belonged, just as much as anyone else there.

Marcus, honey...I AM so sorry this happened to you. This may be the first time you see that grownups aren't always right. It can be pretty scarey, I know. Up until now you have probably trusted them implicitly to know right from wrong and to always do the right thing. Sometimes part of our education comes prematurely. All I can tell you is that if you're confused about what is good and what isn't, trust your moms. They love you best and are trying harder than anyone else to do what's best for you.

<signature>

We should keep this one on the front page if at all possible. This is really bugging me.

And it's really, really, REALLY corrupt. I should know - my mom, a former journalist with The Advocate, got blackballed from the profession after breaking one too many crooked higher-ed officials.

Bastards.

Loved this snippy quote:

"The issue shouldn’t have been made public by the mother and the ACLU, said board member Judy Cox, who is a retired principal."

Yeah, right. Like you would've done anything about this if you hadn't been put on the hot seat.

As it is, they're LTAO, digging a deeper hole.

Apology debate delayed
Board to decide on child’s case Dec. 11
Sebreana Domingue
sdomingue@theadvertiser.com

December 4, 2003

LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette Parish School Board will hold a special meeting Dec. 11 to make a decision in the case of a second-grader at Ernest Gallet Elementary who was disciplined after using the word “gay.”

At the regular meeting on Wednesday, the board discussed what will be done to determine if Ernest Gallet Elementary teacher Terry L. Bethea acted appropriately when she disciplined a 7-year-old student, whose mother is gay, for talking to another a student about what being gay means.

The mother, Sharon Huff, contacted the American Civil Liberties Union and filed a complaint Monday against the School Board asking for an apology.

Superintendent James Easton has said that the school system acted correctly and does not need to apologize, but board members will review the facts and could decide to issue an apology.

Easton contends the child was not disciplined for using the word “gay” to describe his mother but for disruptive behavior in the classroom.

http://www.acadiananow.com/news/html/6E2B0EF0-A452-4DF5-AB87-564DD46C8F6B.shtml

I don't think I like this superintendent very much.

"weapons of mass disruption". The mom has a damning letter. Why don't they give up? It's like lipstick marks on your underpants.

The Lafayette Parish School System values diversity, teaches tolerance, and will not abide bigorty of any kind on any of our campuses. We have policies in place which guarantee this. Having said that, it must be granted that sometimes policies are not followed by some employees, but we are not certain at this time whether or not that is the case now.
I have asked everyone who has sent messages to me simply to give us the time we need to get all the facts in this case. Our Board voted unanimously last night to have a special meeting on Dec. 11 at which time we expect to have all the forms, documents, and staff involved on hand for our examination and consideration. Our Superintendent is still involved in the investigation process to make certain that what we have next week will be complete and accurate. After we have a chance to examine all the evidence, the Board will address this issue. If mistakes have been made by this district, I know that the people on this Board have the character to stand up and say that, but we must examine the evidence first.

Thanks for your interest and concern.

Dr. David Thibodaux
President, Laf. Parish Scl. Board

Massey Lambard wrote:

Could you please forward this to Marcus's moms?
Thank you.

from AP News this morning:

"Marcus McLaurin was waiting in line to go to recess on November 11 at Ernest Gallet Elementary School when a classmate asked him about his mother and father. He responded that he didn’t have a mother and father; instead he has two mothers. When the other child asked why, Marcus told him that it was because his mother is gay. The other child then asked what that meant, and Marcus explained, “Gay is when a girl likes another girl.”

Upon hearing this, Marcus’s teacher scolded him in front of his classmates, telling him that “gay” is a bad word and he should never say it at school, then sent him to the principal’s office instead of letting him go to recess.

The following week the school required Marcus to attend a special behavioral clinic at 6:45 in the morning, where he was forced to repeatedly write “I will never use the word ‘gay’ in school again.”

I can empathize with Marcus. In 1947 I was the only kid in the first grade at Glen Iris School (Birmingham, Alabama) who didn't have a mommy and a daddy. My parents divorced in 1944. My mother got the news that my father planned to divorce her in a letter he sent from his wartime base at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. You're probably not old enough to remember, but to be a divorced woman back then, especially in the South, was to virtually brand her with the Scarlet "A". It was widely accepted that divorcees were women of at least "questionable" morals who had probably brought their own unhappiness upon themselves.

As my classmates and I got to know each other, the inevitable questions came. "Where do you live?" "What does your daddy do?" I had a hard time explaining, because I didn't understand it either. What I DIDN'T have a problem with was teachers who punished me for my mother's situation. Looking back, I think they were kind and loving and did all they could to make me feel like I belonged, just as much as anyone else there.

Marcus, honey...I AM so sorry this happened to you. This may be the first time you see that grownups aren't always right. It can be pretty scarey, I know. Up until now you have probably trusted them implicitly to know right from wrong and to always do the right thing. Sometimes part of our education comes prematurely. All I can tell you is that if you're confused about what is good and what isn't, trust your moms. They love you best and are trying harder than anyone else to do what's best for you.

Massey Lambard

Foley, Alabama

its good to know there are soo many of us bitching them out that they had to make a generic reply.

Easton stands firm on actions
On national TV, superintendent faces gay mother.
Sebreana Domingue
sdomingue@theadvertiser.com

December 5, 2003

LAFAYETTE — In the face of a national firestorm and rumblings from the School Board, Superintendent James Easton continues to stand by school employees who reportedly disciplined a student who discussed that his mom is gay with a classmate.

During an early interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday, Easton did admit that there should have been more communication between the district and the mother but still refused to apologize, saying the child’s punishment was not for using the word “gay.”

The American Civil Liberties Union lobbed a complaint at the district Monday because of the punishment. In November, the school informed Sharon Huff that her son had said a word so bad that he had been sent to the principal’s office during recess, then made to attend a behavioral clinic. The paperwork sent home to Huff stated in two different documents that the teacher overheard him talking about his gay mother and that it was unacceptable.

But Ernest Gallet Elementary teacher Terry L. Bethea, Principal Virginia Bonvillan and Assistant Principal Nicholas Thomas told Easton that the boy was not disciplined simply because he used the word gay.

And Easton said he believes them.

more>http://www.acadiananow.com/news/html/8C045228-45E6-4064-B36D-0BCB31E57EDB.shtml

He is going to be sorry. They most likely have no documentation of this additional alleged inappropriate language.

The behavioral report clearly states that the reason for the report was that the boy dared to talk about his family. It says nothing about disruptive behavior and the district is only using that sorry excuse to cover its ass.

It doesn't mention any other words. It has the teachers direct identification of the issue. Marcus did not have to write "I will not disrupt the class." He had to write that he will not use the word gay in school again.

The ACLU should still sue.

If the super continues with his hardline and no proof to back him up that the boy wasn't disciplined for saying "gay", then I'm sure the ACLU will sue.