In a 4-3 vote during their Board Meeting on Monday, the Platte County School District #1 Board of Trustees voted to remove banners from schools for the “No Place for Hate” program in both the West Elementary and Wheatland High School in Wheatland.

The banners feature a sponsor logo for the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Colorado. PCSD#1 Superintendent Stuart Nelson said the discussion on the banners was brought to the meeting after complaints from parents to the Board.

Although the banners will be removed, Nelson later said in an interview will still be running at the two schools.

“No Place for Hate” is a program run by the Anti-Defamation League. According to a presentation by students at Wheatland High School, the program enhances “diversity, and fosters harmony” among students. Currently, WHS and West Elementary are the only schools in District that participate in this program, and are two of 25 schools throughout Colorado and Wyoming in the program.

WHS has been in the program for a year, according to WHS Principal Maureen Ryff, while West Elementary was first enrolled in the program in fall of 2009, according to West Councilor Lisa Halsey.

During their presentation, students stated that activities through the program include signing a resolution of respect, completion of school activities, and training. The program is for voluntary participation, they added.

At the end of their presentation, the students asked of the Board permission to hang a banner in the commons area of WHS, describing the banner as a symbol of their work towards preventing harassment.

Concern was expressed by the Board about the sponsor logo of the Coalition on the banner for the program.

“I think it may be really difficult to look at that in an objective way,” Ryff said of the sponsor logo.

“You might argue that, Quest [a No Place for Hate sponsor], for example…in terms of financial institutions and the current economic situation…it could be argued that Quest perhaps shouldn’t be on there,” she added.

Board member Joe Fabian said while he agreed with aspects of the program, he had concerns that students who opposed various issues, e.g. abortion or homosexuality, might be “persecuted” and not have protection from the program.

“I agree with the concept [of No Place for Hate], but people have a tendency of going to extremes. And I want to avoid that,” Fabian said.

Member Lee Dunham said his concerns were “much the same,” as Fabian’s, adding that, “When we align ourselves with any organization, whether it be pro or con to our beliefs, we have committed ourselves to the same principles as those individuals, and I’m not sure Wheatland High School or PCSD#1 is [ready].”

Fabian emphasized his concern that, while certain groups would receive protection through the program, other groups would be censured.

“What if someone is of the persuasion that they are an Evangelical, who believes very strongly in witnessing?” Fabian said in response to statements from students about the program’s policies on tolerance for other beliefs. “And that’s a part of their being? You’re saying that they can’t do that. That’s why I have problems with it, because you’re restricting what somebody’s beliefs may be.”

“I don’t think we’re restricting with this request anyone’s beliefs, but what we’re saying is we’re not going to allow students to use those beliefs as a point of harassment and bullying,” Ryff responded.





For the complete article see the 01-20-2010 issue.

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