Unfortunately, Louisiana is yet again the subject of how backwards can a society go. They misogyny in this particular story is sickening. Thank you to Never Contrary for inspiring me to write about these events. Louisiana is proving to be a state not safe for women or the LGBTQ community.
Astonishingly enough. young women attending a public school in Louisiana are being policed and profiled. Female students just suspected of possibly being pregnant must submit to a pregnancy test. Here is the real illegal kicker: if the female students refuse the pregnancy test or prove to be pregnant they are kicked out of school. Yes, you just read that correctly. Refusing to submit to the pregnancy test or being pregnant automatically gets one kicked out of school. What are the consequences for the young men that got them pregnant? Oh, of course, NONE.
The Delhi Charter School, in Delhi, Louisiana, is a school that does not believe its female students have a right to education free from discrimination and is in direct violation of Title IX. I guess the United States Constitution is only valid if you are a heterosexual male in the state of Louisiana. Title IX makes it perfectly clear (for those who can read) that schools cannot exclude any student from an education program or activity, “including any class or extracurricular activity, on the basis of such student’s pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom.” Seems pretty clear to me, but then I don’t have tea bags in my ears or eyes.
One of the many things that I find profoundly dangerous is the message being sent to these young women: you are just an object with no voice, sex is only for men, you must submit to anything men tell you to do or be punished. Thank you Louisiana for bringing us back to the 17th Century. What might be next on your agenda? You certainly have proven this state will support Mitt (I am in control of all vaginas) Romney.
This is sad yes, to make it worse, the school can and probably will be mixed up in a bunch of lawsuits including one from the ACLU and will go broke and have to close. The only other school in the area is Epps High School, 10 miles away with a rating of 4 out of 10. I hope they wake up and fix this before it effects an entire communities education.
Chris,
Thank you for more information here. This ties in perfectly to how Louisiana and many other states in the country are very intentionally trying to gut the public schools system: http://hulshofschmidt.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/louisiana-a-model-for-gutting-public-schools/ We are truly becoming a very classist 1% society. I think we all know who benefits from making education only affordable for the wealthy.
But Michael, this school is a ‘charter’ school, it has a head master and although has to meet state standards regarding testing, it is not a state run school. so they are cutting their own by behaving like this. We don’t have charter schools here that I know of, private yes, but not charter schools with vouchers and such. Good luck down south!
Actually, Chris, Charter Schools ARE Public Schools and receive the exact same public funding. They may offer special programs and offer admission through a lottery system, but they are public schools, thus they legally have to abide by Title IX. I realize that because Charter Schools are still fairly new, most people are not aware that they are in fact public schools.
When I was still married and after I came out to my family, the public school that my children went to, had programs where the kids could learn about homosexuality. Because of this program, my son learned how “bad and dangerous” I was. And that was the beginning of the end for my son and I. Was that really up to the school district to attempt to “educate” children on that topic? It was really none of their business.
Tom,
This absolutely breaks my heart and certainly shows one of the great failings of our educational system.
To this day my son still has nothing to do with me. My daughter is a little better about it. I have tried and i know I have.
Tom, I know it is a great loss for you right now, but wow! What a great loss for your son! Let us hope he is able to start thinking critically and able to see past homophobia. I am honored that you shared this personal story here–you present your authentic self, which allows many to connect with you.
Michael thank your for writing this piece, and Tom thank you for sharing your story. Best Regards.
Chris,
Thank you for chiming in and helping me realize that most people need clarification around what Charter Schools are. You consistently help me grow as a writer. Many thanks!
I have nothing to add other than this breaks my heart and yet again shows the extreme lengths some are willing to go to control those they deem not worthy of their time, compassion or tax dollars, which most of the 1% pay less than the majority, hopefully more and more of these stories can break through to that majority of Americans and help them realize how those who hide behind family values and religion are after nothing more than control, personal and political agendas and financial gain.. I’m sorry for your sons loss Chris and that’s how I see it, his loss of his fathers love… hugs to all …. Daph
Daph,
What a very compassionate and heart felt response! Thank you and thank you for adding your voice to issues of social justice. I know you feel genuine compassion for Tom.
Oh lord, sorry for my mistake it is Tom … Some wonderful quotes for all big HUGS Daph…
It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
Andre Gide (1869 – 1951)
We hate some persons because we do not know them; and we will not know them because we hate them.
Charles Caleb Colton (1780 – 1832)
If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn’t part of ourselves doesn’t disturb us.
Hermann Hesse (1877 – 1962)
Love is the big booming beat which covers up the noise of hate.
Margaret Cho, weblog, 01-15-04
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.
Sophocles (496 BC – 406 BC)
Doubt that the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616), Hamlet, Act II, sc. 2
Beautiful quotes! I especially like Hesse and Cho! Thank you for sharing your wonderful energy here, Daph!
Yeah they sort of go perfectly together shamefully in 2012 and written so far apart …
Very sad, isn’t it?
Reblogged this on LE ARTISTE BOOTS and commented:
Life is so short and when meanness is repeated, i wonder? These girls need compassion.
Bettye
Bettye,
You have so much compassion and such an understanding of the human condition, I wish you would run for President in 2016 after Obama has served out his term.
The school has said they will change the policy in the local news today. They do not want a lawsuit. The worst moral of this story, no parent or student complaints of the policy to date.
Bonnie,
Thank you for the update. I truly hope they change the policy! How sad and disappointing that no parent or student complained–I wonder if this is testament to how powerless people feel going up against a school system?
For some yes, but mostly I think people are so controlled by their religion and lack of education they believe anything that is said so long as a conservative says it. And they do not think pregnant girls should be allowed in school around here. It is what they all believe.
Bonnie,
That makes my heart break and bleed. This is one of the many reasons why I am so against organized religion!
If I could not be professional for a moment….Fuck them! I just feel a rage throughout my entire body!
I’m right there with you on the rage!
Religion has played a part in the way my children see me also and you know why that is….Because the Bible tells them so. My daughter has lectured me so much about how I live and she doesn’t or can not hear what I am trying to say to her. My heart aches because of how my children see me. But, I know that I have tried. And now it’s up to them.
This actually happened to me at the Piney Woods School in Mississippi I had to take a pregnancy test because they suspected I was pregnant because I have PCOS which makes you gain weight in you mid section. I wasn’t pregnant obviously but my school did have a policy to kick both students out male and female. So, I guess that’s something.
Thank you for sharing your personal story, dear heart. It’s sad to hear that other schools in other states behave equally unethically!