christian grantham
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
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April 07, 2005

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you've likely followed the growing Free Speech thread in which it seems America's public schools are in a crisis over this cherished civil liberty.

Story after story illustrates how uneducated school Administrators are violating the United States Constitution with thuggish suppression of free speech. It's not just suppression of liberal thought. It's suppression of conservative beliefs, as well. We may not agree with either opinion on subject matters, but can we all agree that public school Administrators hiding behind claims that opinions are a disruption to eductation is intellectual hooliganism run amock?

Here is yet another case showing why the United States Constitution ought to be made a mandatory civics class in every American high school. When students are taught our basic rights, including those protecting free speech, an atmosphere of respect for difference is fostered and democracy is invigorated by young leaders.

LaStaysha Myers, 15, said she was sent home twice from Webb City High School for wearing such shirts. She is heterosexual but sported shirts with handwritten phrases including "I support the gay rights!"

"Schools that prevent students from expressing their opinions on gay rights or any other issue are not only failing their duties to teach students how to be good citizens," said Dick Kurtenbach, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri, "they're also violating the United States Constitution."

Controversy erupted at Webb City High last fall over the T-shirts of a young man, Brad Mathewson, that included phrases including "I'm gay and I'm proud."

He was briefly suspended and returned to school only after promising not to wear shirts with such messages. But supporters made T-shirts in his honor and the ACLU said seven had been sent home for refusing to change them.
[ACLU sues school over T-shirts - News-Leader - 04-07-05]

If Administrators have forgotten the basic rights guaranteed in the United States Constitution, including free speech, what more can we expect from the students they are supposed to be educating? You need look no further than the Republican Party's outrageous legislative assaults on the judiciary and basic civil liberties to see how far ignorance is willing to go toward soiling our Constitution and the balance of power in America. How much further do we have to let it go before we figure out where this crisis is born?

Here is a great example of a smart high school administrator.

In a protest organized by the group Gay Marriage No and the school's Conservative Club and its student president and founder, Tim Beuler, about a dozen students from the school wore anti-gay sweat shirts and waved anti-gay signs as trucks drove around town emblazoned anti-gay slogans.

The gathering took place across the street from the school as protestors gave up their lunch hour to send their message to other students and people driving by. Other students from the school who support the April 13th “Day of Silence” observance weren’t quiet about letting the anti-gay protestors know they didn’t support their views.

Though things got a little tense as both sides loudly voiced their beliefs, district superintendent Michael Watenpaugh recognized the need to protect freedom of speech for all students. “It's a delicate situation.We need to preserve the rights of the students and we need to make sure that learning continues in the classroom."
[Anti-Gay Rally Stirs Controversy At High School - KRXI-TV - 04-06-05]