A story to start the New Year: Openly gay teen is begged to return after he drops-out of school due to excessive bullying.
Pennsylvania’s Patriot-News is reporting on a remarkable story in Dauphin County.
An openly gay teen has been harassed in his high school to a point where he dropped-out in the middle of his senior year because he couldn’t withstand the abuse. This prompted a group of classmates to petition for his return. Three hundred students signed the document.
The school’s Gay Straight Alliance – and the boy’s mother – met with the school’s superintendent. Then the group created a committee to examine tolerance within the school, and the possibility of changes in some school policies.
The 15-member group is composed of the superintendent, the high school’s principal, students, teachers, and parents.
Superintendent David Volkman said, “I think the petition speaks volumes about this student and about the majority of students in this school. This is a pretty big issue, and it’s an important one that we need to start talking about.”
Source: Patriot News
Finally, I have lived to the point of seeing any publicity gotten by bigots HELPS GAY people and hurts the bigots cause.
Now THAT IS progress.
This is a remarkable story. In the end the kids in this High School found their courage and stood up to the bullies. Bullies, indeed all tyrants only have the power we give them. They are always the minority, and can always be easily stopped only if they are stood up to.
Perhaps this is the beginning of a cultural shift to courage and a love of justice in this school. Perhaps the next time bullying is witnessed the victim won’t have to quit before he/she is helped by others and the bullying is stopped.
“All that is needed for evil to triumph is for men of good will to do nothing.” Sir Edmond Burke
Every time people stand up to bullying the bully AND the victims may be saved.
Oh, I think it says volumes about the student body alright, but even more about the lame superintendent and teachers who must be shown the way by those they are supposed to be teaching — all the lessons aren’t in the textbooks. Just as true though, all the lessons aren’t taught at school, so this story also says volumes about the parents of these children. What ARE they learning at home? It’s just becoming TOO convenient to blame things like this on the schools and the “other” kids. Look in the mirror, for starters.
I don’t know. As positive as the article is (and the 300 students are), I still see what isn’t written, and apparently wasn’t done:
The photo shows a HUGE 3 story school; probably 1500 students or more, and only 300 students (no teachers?) signed the petition. That doesn’t bode well. ALSO, where were the Superintendent, Principal, teachers, and fellow students when this kid WAS being bullied to the point he felt he had to drop out? (I won’t even hazard a guess as to how many other students are being bullied, but the implication stands.) To me, the picture isn’t rosy; it’s merely indicative of far too many schools where faculty and students turn their back on victims until a small vocal “handful” come to the rescue. How soon do you think it’ll be before the status quo returns?
John
Once again another fine example of children having to teach adults how to act like adults and show how we are all in this thing called life together and need to learn to live as such.
…This is great news. Thanks for sharing a positive story to kick-off the New Year.
My friend you assume a lot about a situation you don’t know much about to draw a depressing conclusion that just isn’t true. For example, how, when, and who was the petition circulated to? Just because “only” 300 students signed the petition doesn’t mean it wasn’t enormously successful. Maybe the students circulating the petition only asked 300 students in the first place?
That such change was affected by these students will surely inspire others to do the same. We could complain and whine about how things aren’t perfect or we can celebrate this clear victory of progress. It’s up to us to choose how we move forward.
Happy New Year!
– Paul
I’m so happy to see what is happening in this school. 300 kids is A LOT of kids willing to sign a petition that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago when I was in high school. I’m sure it’s unthinkable still in many schools around the country. Hopefully other GSA’s will feel inspired to repeat this story.
And perhaps those 300 want him back simply because they miss their accustomed victim.
i don’t know. there really are alot of people who aren’t like that. they may really care, or may know him and want him back. i have alot of gay friends, even though i’m straight. most of my guy friends are gay, and you’d better believe i would rally a group to get a freind back if something like this happened.