LGBT Club in High School

[Misanthrope]

Hey! A friend and I are going to create a club to discourage the use of derogatory terms towards gays, encourage teachers to discipline students for the use of these terms and offer support. We have a sponsor lined up, we just need a list of points. I'm going to edit this post and keep track of a solid list. Feel free to chip in.

1. Our goal is to shed light and to stop discrimination against LGBT people as it is noticeably present in our school.

2. We'll encourage teachers to take disciplinary actions against students who use such words, instead of turning a blind eye (which is the current policy).

3. Offer education through, pamphlets and after school seminars.

4. Sponsor a Day of Silence

tbc

[Misanthrope]

If this is better suited in DIY feel free to move.

[Aspiring Humanist]

disciplinary actions
no
education > punishment

[TheGodlessUtopian]

no
education > punishment

Perhaps instead of disciplining students they should be forced into doing work for your club?

But if by disciplining you mean the teachers actually calling out the students which call gay kids "faggot" than yes,fully demand that the teachers take action and put their foot down.

For points: sponsor a "Day of Silence" at your school, host educational seminars on queer culture.

[Decolonize The Left]

Hey! A friend and I are going to create a club to discourage the use of derogatory terms towards gays, encourage teachers to discipline students for the use of these terms and offer support. We have a sponsor lined up, we just need a list of points. I'm going to edit this post and keep track of a solid list. Feel free to chip in.

1. Our goal is to shed light and to stop discrimination against LGBT people as it is noticeably present in our school.

2. We'll encourage teachers to take disciplinary actions against students who use such words, instead of turning a blind eye (which is the current policy).

tbc

This is a great idea, I'm glad that you're going through with it. If I may, a few suggestions:

1) The point of the group should be to offer a 'safe haven' for GLBTQ folks, or anyone interested in the issues involved. It should not be to 'discipline' or anything like that. Now I get that some sort of involvement by the administration will be necessary in order to curb discrimination, but this should come about as a side-effect of your group's presence at the school.

2) Seek support from the teachers. Most of the teachers will probably be neutral/positive in regards to your organization, so seek out their support. Get a petition for them to sign and see where it goes from there. You may be able to garner enough support from the staff to significantly bolster your student representation. The more teachers you have, the more powerful your organization will be.

3) Plan events/meetings, but not too many. You don't want to over-exhaust your group early on. Keep the meetings consistent and weekly/bi-weekly and one event a month is more than plenty. If you remain consistent your group will appear more mature and enticing to other students.

Your organizational outline could be:
1) To offer a safe haven for GLBTQ students on campus.
2) To raise awareness about GLBTQ issues.
3) To provide a platform for GLBTQ representation.

Hope that helps and best of luck.

- August

[Misanthrope]

Perhaps instead of disciplining students they should be forced into doing work for your club?

Afraid that's highly unrealistic.




But if by disciplining you mean the teachers actually calling out the students which call gay kids "faggot" than yes,fully demand that the teachers take action and put their foot down.

In discipline I mean a one hour detention, the same policy for other derogatory terms.




For points: sponsor a "Day of Silence" at your school, host educational seminars on queer culture.

Added!


no
education > punishment

The system's already in place, why not take advantage of it? And I would consider a disciplinary action in this case educational. It's about making the system fair, it's not like I have any say in eliminating it completely but their hands are tied with this issue, especially since it's a public school. I would expect they have to enforce a rule like this, but this is America and there's a Catholic church across the street from my HS.


Thanks August, for the tips.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

For more tips maybe check out the websites for the Gay-Straight Alliance?

http://www.gsanetwork.org/

Feel free to PM me for any reason in relation to this.Keep us all updated :)