Post by Bret Walker on Nov 21, 2002 14:26:25 GMT -5
By Jennifer Martikean
Staff writer
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About 60 students from Crete-Monee High School walked out of class Tuesday to protest the school district not giving a senior class award to a lesbian couple.
District 201U officials said they are not making a moral judgment about the girls, who were selected "cutest couple" in a senior class vote.
But officials said the issue is so sensitive they want to obtain the parents' permission before printing the two girls' names in the yearbook as a couple.
"The board of education and the school district administration are in full support of the student body vote," district spokeswoman Sue Rossi said. "We have no moral issues with this."
"I think the students have interpreted (getting the parents' permission) as a refusal to give this award, and it's not," she said.
The senior class annually votes for students in various categories for the yearbook such as "most likely to succeed," "class clown" and "best car." The vote was taken about a month ago, and while the other students were given their awards and will have their names printed in the yearbook, the school has yet to give the award to the girls for cutest couple, Rossi said.
The district does not disclose the sexual orientation of students, and officials want to be careful before permanently printing the names of the girls in the student yearbook, Rossi said.
"We are in the process of obtaining permission from the parents," Rossi said. "This is a highly private matter, and we are in personal contact with the parents."
However, students who protested Tuesday said they voted for the girls, and it should not be up to the parents.
"They were voted cutest couple," senior Nick Renfroe said. "It's the kids' decision to vote for them, and the parents should not be involved. We made the choice."
Renfroe said the students want to see the girls' names in the yearbook, and said students think the administration is excluding them for moral reasons.
Supt. Roberta Berry sent a letter home with all students explaining the school is not opposed to giving the award to a gay couple, but the final decision rests in the hands of the parents, Rossi said.
"This is a unique situation and perhaps in the future, there will be a separate category," Rossi said.
The students did not leave school grounds during the protest. Most of the protesting students joined the walkout for a short time, then returned to class. About a dozen students remained outside until school was dismissed at 1 p.m., Rossi said.
Many of the protesters face unexcused absences or unexcused homework assignments. The students who remained outside for the entire protest will face additional discipline, which will be decided on a case-by-case basis, Rossi said.
"They have the right to stand up for what they believe in and what they think is right," Rossi said.
Renfroe said the students took the protest seriously.
"We wanted to be out there for them," he said. "We weren't out there just to ditch class. We were out there voicing our opinions."
Staff writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About 60 students from Crete-Monee High School walked out of class Tuesday to protest the school district not giving a senior class award to a lesbian couple.
District 201U officials said they are not making a moral judgment about the girls, who were selected "cutest couple" in a senior class vote.
But officials said the issue is so sensitive they want to obtain the parents' permission before printing the two girls' names in the yearbook as a couple.
"The board of education and the school district administration are in full support of the student body vote," district spokeswoman Sue Rossi said. "We have no moral issues with this."
"I think the students have interpreted (getting the parents' permission) as a refusal to give this award, and it's not," she said.
The senior class annually votes for students in various categories for the yearbook such as "most likely to succeed," "class clown" and "best car." The vote was taken about a month ago, and while the other students were given their awards and will have their names printed in the yearbook, the school has yet to give the award to the girls for cutest couple, Rossi said.
The district does not disclose the sexual orientation of students, and officials want to be careful before permanently printing the names of the girls in the student yearbook, Rossi said.
"We are in the process of obtaining permission from the parents," Rossi said. "This is a highly private matter, and we are in personal contact with the parents."
However, students who protested Tuesday said they voted for the girls, and it should not be up to the parents.
"They were voted cutest couple," senior Nick Renfroe said. "It's the kids' decision to vote for them, and the parents should not be involved. We made the choice."
Renfroe said the students want to see the girls' names in the yearbook, and said students think the administration is excluding them for moral reasons.
Supt. Roberta Berry sent a letter home with all students explaining the school is not opposed to giving the award to a gay couple, but the final decision rests in the hands of the parents, Rossi said.
"This is a unique situation and perhaps in the future, there will be a separate category," Rossi said.
The students did not leave school grounds during the protest. Most of the protesting students joined the walkout for a short time, then returned to class. About a dozen students remained outside until school was dismissed at 1 p.m., Rossi said.
Many of the protesters face unexcused absences or unexcused homework assignments. The students who remained outside for the entire protest will face additional discipline, which will be decided on a case-by-case basis, Rossi said.
"They have the right to stand up for what they believe in and what they think is right," Rossi said.
Renfroe said the students took the protest seriously.
"We wanted to be out there for them," he said. "We weren't out there just to ditch class. We were out there voicing our opinions."
