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Gay Ads In Student Newspaper
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T O P I C
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Discussion Started: 12-07-2005, 9:37 AM
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Student newspapers are sometimes faced with difficult editorial decisions, just like regular papers. Recently a group in Harrisburg that provides a meeting place for young gays and lesbians ran into trouble when it tried to place ads in student newspapers. The student newspaper at Lampeter Strasburg High School ran the ad for Common Roads in its November issue only to have it pulled. The ad invited gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth to check out the group. Tell us what you think about this story.
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View Messages: [newest first] | [oldest first]
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KST79
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06-21-2006, 1:46 PM
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Uhhh, KS, this was a point of AGREEMENT between Dax and I.
In a sense yes...but I didnt see an agreement on the same thing. Dax was talking about things that happen every day in school, things that have always been accepted...yours was an extreme example of teachers who obviously have other issues of their own. Daxs example was also of situations where students already have been indoctrinated, where as your example only holds the potential. Comments like that DEFINITELY dont belong in the classroom, but I highly doubt many students would agree with their teacher that the victims of 911 deserved to die...
I apologize if I interpreted that wrong.
Given that the group is identified to be pro homosexual, that is not hard to figure out.
Being pro homosexual still doesnt mean they push kids who are unsure about themselves into it. They promote individuality and encourage people to be who THEY feel they are, and that may or may not mean to be gay. Besides, Dax is right...by the time they reach high school kids should be allowed/encouraged to make some (no, not all) of their own decisions...and who they are inside is not a decision their parents (or anyone else) can make for them.
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DaxViggs
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06-21-2006, 10:50 AM
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Oops.
'We must be careful to NOT only single out those with whom we are opposed' is what I meant to say.
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DaxViggs
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06-21-2006, 10:15 AM
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quote:
Uhhh, KS, this was a point of AGREEMENT between Dax and I.
Indeed. However we must be careful to only single out those with whom we are opposed. The fault lies with people on both sides of the political spectrum. My biggest criticism with public education is that its strategy is to teach people what to think, not how to think. And that's bad for everyone- except those who are in power.
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payroll66
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06-20-2006, 4:34 PM
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Payroll said: Sadly some do with teachers painting Bush as Hitler, saying that the victims of 911 deserved to die, etc. The purpose of school is to educate.
KS said: LOL wow...that didnt stray far from Dax s original point at all...
Uhhh, KS, this was a point of AGREEMENT between Dax and I.
Well like I asked you before, what makes you so sure this group (and others like it) steers them into one?
Given that the group is identified to be pro homosexual, that is not hard to figure out.
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DaxViggs
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06-20-2006, 7:35 AM
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quote:
Sadly some do with teachers painting Bush as Hitler, saying that the victims of 911 deserved to die, etc
What? Where did this happen? I'm about as anti-W as they come and have NEVER come across someone who says the victims of 9/11 deserved to die. If there's a teacher out there who did say that, that person obviously has issues, and it is entirely unfair to use such an extreme case as an example.
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I stated the school paper with such and ad creates a potential platform whereby a child could contact this group and be indoctrinated with a pro gay agenda without the parents of the child being aware. That challenges the authority of the parents to raise kids according to the values they deem appropriate, as such, it is better to remove the ad from the paper.
This raises two issues in my mind. One- we're talking about high school students here, not elemenary school students. By high school, kids should be capable of making decisions like these on their own and should be given enough credit to be able to do so. People are treated like children till the moment they are 18, then suddenly they are instantly expected to act like adults. It is faily clear that this strategy has not worked for our society. The second point is if parents are going to so easily find something like this objectionable, then they either need to home school their kids or send them to some sort of private, religious school. How is what you're saying any different than parents from the other side of the fence finding the words 'under God' objectonable?
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Removing the ad does not indicate choosing a side.
I'm sorry but yes, it does. It caters to the people who find it objectionable. When the decision was made to pull the ad, I'm certain the one responsible knew there would be a backlash. There would also be a backlash if it was left in the paper. Whether it was a conscious decision or not, a side was taken. Neutrality would entail including any and all ads or none at all.
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KST79
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06-19-2006, 5:34 PM
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Sadly some do with teachers painting Bush as Hitler, saying that the victims of 911 deserved to die, etc. The purpose of school is to educate.
LOL wow...that didnt stray far from Dax?s original point at all...
Probably not since a support group would help their children stay away from a destructive, immoral lifestyle.
Well like I asked you before, what makes you so sure this group (and others like it) steers them into one? For a lot of youths it is simply a place to talk and get to know themselves...and many discover that it really isnt them. In case you didnt know...not every one who provides the support and counseling in groups like this is gay themselves...
Yes, and guidance counselors (the correct spelling) are also liable for such actions!
Gosh I dont know how I ever made it through university...but perhaps you would find it helpful if I pointed out some of your spelling and grammar mistakes too lol? There is at least one in your last post...you might want to brush up on the use of *an* vs *and*... 
Dax...I agree with your view of what a neutral position in this situation would be. All or nothing. As long as advertising exists you will never please everyone.
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payroll66
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06-19-2006, 2:27 PM
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Indoctrinate? Isn't that what schools do anyway?
Sadly some do with teachers painting Bush as Hitler, saying that the victims of 911 deserved to die, etc. The purpose of school is to educate.
My point is putting an ad for a support group is in no way a means by which to indoctrinate.
I stated the school paper with such and ad creates a potential platform whereby a child could contact this group and be indoctrinated with a pro gay agenda without the parents of the child being aware. That challenges the authority of the parents to raise kids according to the values they deem appropriate, as such, it is better to remove the ad from the paper.
You say that the school should assume a more neutral position. But how exactly is siding with the people who find the ad objectionable and taking it out of the paper (without notifying the newspaper staff if I understand it correctly) assuming a NEUTRAL position?
Removing the ad does not indicate choosing a side. If removing the ad without notifying the staff is a position that is not neutral, than inserting the ad without notifying parents who find it objectionable is also not neutral.
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payroll66
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06-19-2006, 12:29 PM
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parents only find it objectionable because they would rather not believe what their kids really do already know about life in the real world outside their house and control.
LOL!! Maybe some parents, KS, but not the parents I know.
Would parents object to an ad in the school paper for a youth substance abuse support group? Not likely!!
Probably not since a support group would help their children stay away from a destructive, immoral lifestyle.
And by the way...the potential exists for your precious guidance councilors to indoctrinate students with their own beliefs/ideas too ...
Yes, and guidance counselors (the correct spelling) are also liable for such actions!
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KST79
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06-16-2006, 5:37 PM
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And my point was that in this case the potential exists for the ads in the school paper to be a window of indoctrination to a student without the parents knowledge. Many parents would find that objectionable and as such the school should assume a more neutral position.
LOL parents only find it objectionable because they would rather not believe what their kids really do already know about life in the real world outside their house and control.
Would parents object to an ad in the school paper for a youth substance abuse support group? Not likely!!
And by the way...the potential exists for your precious guidance councilors to indoctrinate students with their own beliefs/ideas too...so I guess according to your logic we better ban them too right?? Or pay them to sit there and say *sorry, I cant help you...your parents might not agree with what I have to say*...
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DaxViggs
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06-16-2006, 5:14 PM
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quote:
And my point was that in this case the potential exists for the ads in the school paper to be a window of indoctrination to a student without the parents knowledge. Many parents would find that objectionable and as such the school should assume a more neutral position.
Indoctrinate? Isn't that what schools do anyway? Indoctrination through obedience (Standing for the pledge). Indoctrination through creating social schisms (the amount of importance placed on athletics and competition). Indoctrination through rewritten history (the 'civilized' pilgrims and 'savage' indians were such good friends....). I could go on, but will go too far off topic.
My point is putting an ad for a support group is in no way a means by which to indoctorinate. Would an ad for drug and alcohol addiction be indoctrinating people into drug and alcohol abuse? Would an ad for a Bible study group be indoctrinating people into accepting Christianity? Would an ad for McDonald's be indoctrinating people into clogging their arteries? The answer to all of these is of course "of course not!" but I am certain you would find parents who would find ads for these things objectionable as well.
You say that the school should assume a more neutral position. But how exactly is siding with the people who find the ad objectionable and taking it out of the paper (without notifying the newspaper staff if I understand it correctly) assuming a NEUTRAL position? If they truly wish to remain neutral, they would either allow any and all ads or have no ads whatsoever.
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