Openly Gay Student Defends Teacher at School Board Meeting

Run time: 01:44 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3hhefPl6tc   Posted on YouTube: November 14, 2010 By YouTube Member: NowMyButtHurts Views on YouTube: 305   Posted on DU: November 15, 2010 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 1142

 
November 14, 2010

Jay McDowell, a high school teacher in Howell, Michigan, was suspended last month for disciplining an anti-gay student. At a recent school board meeting, openly gay 14-year-old Graeme Taylor came to McDowell's defense with an incredibly articulate/inspiring speech.

Amazing speech for someone of any age.

I thought schools were supposed to be bully-free zones. The teacher removed two kids who were gay-bashing a third... if I understand the situation correctly... in class.

Hilites how full of it some ( most? all?) school districts are. "Zero tolerance for bullying" policies for public consumption but the reality is something else entirely.

this on Perez Hilton. The kid needs to be recognize for standing up and making a great articulate speech.

The original issue dealt with how the teacher responded to an issue in his classroom.

Here is the link to the Administration's discipline of the teacher:

http://www.whmi.com/news/attachment/11143/1

It's a PDF file.

The school is holding a community open house tonight night in order to allow people a chance to air their views.

This is my school district.

I believe the administration is correct on this one.

The belt-buckle was a confederate flag belt buckle.
The teacher made the student remove the belt buckle each day in class.
There was no disruption over the belt buckle until this happened-- it was the teacher's initiative to have the student remove the belt buckle.

The T-shirt was a purple shirt.

Please read the PDF file before deciding.

Turning the action of this teacher into intimidation of the student who wore a belt buckle to promote a hate-based organization. This is the same type of spin that promotes groups like The Ku Klux Klan as a "gentleman's club".

wore purple on October 20. ( One of the issues for which Mr. McDowell was reprimanded.) Hundreds of thousands of students and others did likewise. It was a nationally organized observance to commemorate young suicide victims. ( There's ample information about it still available on the web.)The Howell teacher's behavior in this respect was in no way extraordinary or irresponsible.

Re. Curriculum: It is quite commonplace, and often *necessary*, for classroom teachers to modify the state curriculum ( another issue for which Mr. McDowell was reprimanded) on a given day or days to deal with variables that could not possibly have been contemplated when the curriculum was written and promulgated. Everyone (teachers and administrators ) knows this and the inclusion of this issue in the district's reprimand is inconsequential.

Re. The students religion: while no student's religion should be specifically disrespected, it's unclear from the pdf that Mr. McDowell was guilty of that.



What remains unclear is exactly what happened inside the classroom. Who said what, the actions of the students involved, the actions of the teacher. If you attend the meeting tonite , perhaps you can update us on the specifics.

>>>>The school is holding a community open house tonight night in order to allow people a chance to air their views. >>>>>

I wish that I was as articulate as this young man.