OH NOS
YOU'RE GONNA CATCH THE GHEY
Here's what all the hullaballoo is about. Mr. Salter's email which addresses Day of Silence (http://dayofsilence.org/).
Hello There/A Unique School/A Multicultural Mecca
03/19/2008
Dear Parents,
I have not been typing as much because my brain has been churning and my feet have been moving. I will be sharing with you where my brain and feet have been taking me over the last few weeks. However, before I do that I must address something in this email because for the last couple of weeks I have been receiving emails on a subject and I believe it is important that I address it and for the last two weeks I promised people I would do so.
I must say that I have been very fortunate to land here as a principal. You and your children have spoiled me rotten. I must tell you that I do not believe that I could leave here and be a principal at another school. We truly have a unique school with gifted teachers and really great kids. One of the features of our school that makes us truly unique is our diversity. Our students are from many, many countries from around the globe. Our students represent a multitude of ethnicities that is unique in Orange County and they legitimately get along extremely well with one another. Some of our students are very wealthy, some very poor and some right smack in the middle of the economic continuum. Our students come from different faiths. During my tenure here, I have met with the local rabbi at the synagogue, toured and learned about our local mosque, visited dances of Mormons, and worshipped with Christians and chatted with Buddhists. Walking around our campus, I have heard Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Farsi, Japanese, Russian, Hindi, Italian and there are probably more but I just did not know what I was hearing. Oh, I forgot English. I believe that we probably cover all of the bases when it comes to diversity and multiculturalism.
However, a couple of weeks ago, I began to receive emails from some of you concerned about our school being on a list that stated our school was participating in the National Day of Silence sponsored by the Gay Lesbian and Straight Alliance Network. This day’s purpose is to bring attention to the name calling, harassment and bullying of gay students at schools. It is a national student run organization and some of our students may have placed us on the list.
I want to make it very clear that our school does not and cannot promote a gay lifestyle and there have never been any school sponsored activities scheduled.
However, I must share with you something that I believe is extremely important. I want to take you back to our school’s vision statement http://www.alisoniguel.com/about/viewpage.php/22
This statement which was created by our school community twice mentions a desire for our children to respect the differences in others. In our Expected Schoolwide Learning Results a little further down that page you will see under Positive Contributors to Society it states: “display respect for others and differing opinions - agree to disagree.”
There are two reasons why I am bringing this to your attention. First, I was concerned about the tone of a few of the emails I received on this matter. Our children don’t leave their first amendment rights at the school door. Regardless of what their position is or what they feel their sexual orientation is, my responsibility is to protect all of our kids. You never know what your own child may decide to pursue and I believe you would want for me to have this attitude. I have already lived this with a parent before. There may be some of our children who may wish do something on this day like place tape on their mouths. As long as students are not disrupting classroom learning or creating an unsafe environment on campus, I am fine with it.
Secondly, I bring this to your attention because next week we celebrate our uniqueness with our annual Multicultural Week (March 24 - 28). This is usually a great week at our school. Our kids celebrate their cultures and the cultures of others. It is usually a highlight of the school year. There will be discussions in some classes. There will be songs and scenes from the arts groups that celebrate multiculturalism as well as lunchtime activities. Of course, you will be welcome on campus on Friday in which we will have student groups perform their native dances and share their cultural foods. (I usually gain a few pounds on this day) Make sure you check in at the front office and get a visitors pass first.
Remember, we are a one of a kind type of place with a one of a kind type of community. Let’s continue to celebrate one of the many things that is great about Aliso.
You will hear from me again this weekend with lots of good news!!!
Of course, if you have any concerns, please feel free to click onto my name below and respond.
Your friendly neighborhood principal,
Charles Salter"Regardless of what their position is or what they feel their sexual orientation is, my responsibility is to protect all of our kids. " What they feel their sexual orientation is?!!! Oh my god. That is so disturbing. In this day and age, if I know I like women, and I'm 100% sure I like women, because I am 17 that must mean I'm too young to know myself still, too young and probably so easily swayed and turned gay by participating in Day of Silence.
I can't respond any more. The realities of Orange County hurt.
Here's what all the hullaballoo is about. Mr. Salter's email which addresses Day of Silence (http://dayofsilence.org/).
Hello There/A Unique School/A Multicultural Mecca
03/19/2008
Dear Parents,
I have not been typing as much because my brain has been churning and my feet have been moving. I will be sharing with you where my brain and feet have been taking me over the last few weeks. However, before I do that I must address something in this email because for the last couple of weeks I have been receiving emails on a subject and I believe it is important that I address it and for the last two weeks I promised people I would do so.
I must say that I have been very fortunate to land here as a principal. You and your children have spoiled me rotten. I must tell you that I do not believe that I could leave here and be a principal at another school. We truly have a unique school with gifted teachers and really great kids. One of the features of our school that makes us truly unique is our diversity. Our students are from many, many countries from around the globe. Our students represent a multitude of ethnicities that is unique in Orange County and they legitimately get along extremely well with one another. Some of our students are very wealthy, some very poor and some right smack in the middle of the economic continuum. Our students come from different faiths. During my tenure here, I have met with the local rabbi at the synagogue, toured and learned about our local mosque, visited dances of Mormons, and worshipped with Christians and chatted with Buddhists. Walking around our campus, I have heard Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Farsi, Japanese, Russian, Hindi, Italian and there are probably more but I just did not know what I was hearing. Oh, I forgot English. I believe that we probably cover all of the bases when it comes to diversity and multiculturalism.
However, a couple of weeks ago, I began to receive emails from some of you concerned about our school being on a list that stated our school was participating in the National Day of Silence sponsored by the Gay Lesbian and Straight Alliance Network. This day’s purpose is to bring attention to the name calling, harassment and bullying of gay students at schools. It is a national student run organization and some of our students may have placed us on the list.
I want to make it very clear that our school does not and cannot promote a gay lifestyle and there have never been any school sponsored activities scheduled.
However, I must share with you something that I believe is extremely important. I want to take you back to our school’s vision statement http://www.alisoniguel.com/about/viewpage.php/22
This statement which was created by our school community twice mentions a desire for our children to respect the differences in others. In our Expected Schoolwide Learning Results a little further down that page you will see under Positive Contributors to Society it states: “display respect for others and differing opinions - agree to disagree.”
There are two reasons why I am bringing this to your attention. First, I was concerned about the tone of a few of the emails I received on this matter. Our children don’t leave their first amendment rights at the school door. Regardless of what their position is or what they feel their sexual orientation is, my responsibility is to protect all of our kids. You never know what your own child may decide to pursue and I believe you would want for me to have this attitude. I have already lived this with a parent before. There may be some of our children who may wish do something on this day like place tape on their mouths. As long as students are not disrupting classroom learning or creating an unsafe environment on campus, I am fine with it.
Secondly, I bring this to your attention because next week we celebrate our uniqueness with our annual Multicultural Week (March 24 - 28). This is usually a great week at our school. Our kids celebrate their cultures and the cultures of others. It is usually a highlight of the school year. There will be discussions in some classes. There will be songs and scenes from the arts groups that celebrate multiculturalism as well as lunchtime activities. Of course, you will be welcome on campus on Friday in which we will have student groups perform their native dances and share their cultural foods. (I usually gain a few pounds on this day) Make sure you check in at the front office and get a visitors pass first.
Remember, we are a one of a kind type of place with a one of a kind type of community. Let’s continue to celebrate one of the many things that is great about Aliso.
You will hear from me again this weekend with lots of good news!!!
Of course, if you have any concerns, please feel free to click onto my name below and respond.
Your friendly neighborhood principal,
Charles Salter"Regardless of what their position is or what they feel their sexual orientation is, my responsibility is to protect all of our kids. " What they feel their sexual orientation is?!!! Oh my god. That is so disturbing. In this day and age, if I know I like women, and I'm 100% sure I like women, because I am 17 that must mean I'm too young to know myself still, too young and probably so easily swayed and turned gay by participating in Day of Silence.
I can't respond any more. The realities of Orange County hurt.