by Don Heinzman
The Anoka-Hennepin School District is under scrutiny for its handling of three policies designed to protect all students, regardless of religion, race and gender.
The district is the target of two lawsuits challenging the district’s handling of complaints about bullying as defined in the school district’s bullying policy.
The lawsuits also focus on a curriculum policy that deals with how a teacher shall conduct discussions related to sexual orientation.This Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy says, “Teachers shall remain neutral on matters regarding sexual orientation including but not limited to student-led discussions.”
Critics of the policy say that teachers being asked to remain neutral in discussions about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) matters are less likely to get involved with enforcing the bullying policy involving those students.
School officials rightfully point out the two policies are not linked and that all staff are required under the bullying policy to enforce it to protect all students. One policy deals with how lessons are taught and the other with how the bullying policy is enforced.
There is no hard data to prove teachers are less likely to enforce bullying of GLBT students simply because another policy asks teachers to be neutral in presenting information about GLBT issues.
It is time, however, for the school board to either consider rescinding or amending the Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy, because it is causing unnecessary confusion and disruption. It threatens to plague staff and students and their education throughout this school year.
The policy evolved after a community group objected to a board directive that homosexuality not be taught/addressed as a normal, valid lifestyle. To correct that, the board adopted a middle ground, requiring teachers to stay neutral on curricular discussions dealing with lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.
No other school district in Minnesota has such a policy. Anoka-Hennepin, however, does have a similar neutrality policy on teaching about religion.
The disputed neutrality curriculum policy has some good provisions.. The board prefers that teaching about sexual orientation be done within individual family homes, churches or community organizations.
The policy also says that teaching about sexual orientation is not a part of the districtadopted curriculum.
The sentence that needs to be deleted is the one requiring the staff to remain neutral when staff chooses to discuss GLBT questions.
Because of the policy, most teachers are likely to refrain from talking about GLBT matters, which may in fact be a disservice to their students who want more information on them.
It can be argued that a more open discussion could change attitudes of students who having a better understanding will be less likely to bully gay students. There are Gay Straight Alliance groups in all middle and senior high schools where students can learn more information about GLBT issues and support those students in the school.
Amending the neutrality policy will do away with the contention that teachers are less likely to enforce the bullying policy when it comes to gays being bullied.
The administration says that the Minnesota Student Survey indicates that more than 90 percent of the students in the district feel safe.
Upon reading two policies, “Harassment Violence and Discrimination” and the “Bullying Prohibition and Cyberbullying,” it’s clear that the policies are meant to keep all students safe.
The policy says “An act of bullying, by either an individual student or a group of students is expressly prohibited on Anoka-Hennepin School district property, at school-related functions or in electronic form otherwise known as cyberbullying.
It says, “No teacher, administrator, other employee of the district, volunteer, contractors or bus driver shall permit, condone or tolerate bullying.”
The school board should reconsider rescinding the neutrality policy, to trust the professionalism of the staff in teaching sexual orientation lessons and erase any doubt by staff that the school board and the administration do affirm that GLBT bullying of any kind will not be tolerated in the school system.
Editor’s note: Don Heinzman is editorial writer for ECM Publishers Inc.
