Jan 18, 2012
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A Wisconsin high school is in the middle of a free speech debate after they apologized for publishing a student essay opposing gay families who adopt children. School officials called the essay a form of “bullying and disrespect.”
The column ran on the editorial page of the Shawano High School student newspaper. It was part of an op-ed featuring a student supporting gay families who adopt children and one opposed to the idea.
The student who opposed gay adoptions cited Bible passages that called homosexuality and sin punishable by death.
“If one is a practicing Christian, Jesus states in the Bible that homosexuality is (a) detestable act and sin which makes adopting wrong for homosexuals because you would be raising the child in a sin-filled environment,” the student wrote.
The school district profusely apologized after a gay couple – who has a child at the school – complained.
“This is why kids commit suicide,” Nick Uttecht told the Green Bay Press Gazette. “When I saw this I was in shock.”
The school district released a statement apologizing for the story.
“Offensive articles cultivating a negative environment of disrespect are not appropriate or condoned by the Shawano School District,” the statement read. “We sincerely apologize to anyone we may have offended and are taking steps to prevent items of this nature from happening in the future.”
Todd Carlson, the superintendent of the Shawano School District told Fox News & Commentary he was shocked by the article.
“We do apologize,” Carlson said. “We have a responsibility as a school district to make sure we create a positive school climate and culture. This article probably didn’t go along with the policies and the guidelines and the practices that we have as a school district.”
But the school district only took issue with one of the opinion pieces – the one opposed to gays adopting children. That’s because Carlson said the essay is a form of bullying.
“It is a form of bullying or disrespect to a group of people – that’s right,” he said.
The school district did not comply with a request to read the entire essay – and they declined to say if the student who wrote the essay would be punished.
“Our efforts have been placed to make sure that items of this nature don’t happen in the future,” Carlson told Fox News & Commentary. “We have this responsibility to create a positive environment for all.”
However, critics said removing the opinion piece is a form of censorship.
“I hope they won’t squash any political viewpoints because of this,” David Hudson, of the First Amendment Center told USA Today. “Bullying is a serious concern, and I don’t take it lightly. But I hope it doesn’t lead to squashing different viewpoints. I do think (gay adoption) is an issue people are deeply divided about. Hopefully, student journalists don’t have to fear they’ll be squashed if they take a controversial view.”
Carlson told Fox News & Commentary this is not a case of censorship.
“It is not a freedom of speech issue,” he said. “I know some are trying to make it that. It’s our policy that we are concerned about – not to create disrespect and bullying and harassment.”
At least one university professor believes the school district did the right thing by apologizing for a student’s personal opinion.
“To see something like this debated in the paper could be devastating,” Christine Smith, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay told USA Today. “How would you feel if someone said your family is abnormal, is not acceptable, that your parents never should have been allowed to have you, that they’re not suitable to raise you?”
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Where's my 'buddie' Jeffrey Don Davis? Jeffrey Don Davis, where are you? Did you get a lobotomy or something? Shock therapy? Rolling in the mud screaming your big word 'pervert'? Did someone send you to the hospital again? Probably hiding because I exposed you for the pervert that you are.
I always say what would Jesus do? My God is big enough to love everyone and if you were a true Christian and a Scholar of the bible God never mentions anything about homosexuality. The time period in which the bible was written is misunderstood by most Americans. God would not want me to judge another. That is his job and we should leave it up to him, but I definately know that he would not want some teenager writing a paper that is judgemental and showing hate or bigotry to anyone.
But oh, Mr. Carlson, you are a million percent wrong! It "is" a freedom of speech issue" and the definition of what is "bullying" is not determined by your ignorant, small-brain, liberal thinking "just because YOU say it is." Last time I checked, Mr. Carlson, it is the taxpayers and voters who elect the Schoo Board who are the ultimate boss of you. Once again we have a situation here where those of the "extreme miniority opinion" are trying to dictate to the overwhelming majority what is correct, proper and decent.
The Shawano School District elected members need to immediatley fire Todd Carlson. Perhaps he would be better suited in a position in San Francisco?
While I agree that the first amendment stays in place for all Americans to enjoy if we as christians wish to be God by judging a persons right within the law to adopt whether that prson is straight or gay is not for us as children of God to judge. God said vengence is mine…when people make a judgement on others they are breaking that scripture. so say what you want but don't force your beleifs on others..That's Gods job.