Tim Bueler is a high school student who was brave enough or crazy enough (depending on your interpretation) to start a club for conservative Christian students at his northern California high school, Rancho Cotate. He also published an article in the club's newsletter calling for a crackdown on illegal immigration.
The results are about what you'd expect. I suppose we can forgive the students who are making Tim's life a living hell, because they know no better. But there's no excuse for teachers to be making hysterical statements about Nazis and "neoconservative wing-nuts" in response.
One of the science teachers, in particular, makes a damning admission in his zeal to condemn Tim's political beliefs:
Forty school staff members signed a letter to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat calling on the Conservative Club to back up its accusations that students are being indoctrinated.
"They've made all these sweeping statements about liberal teachers warping the curriculum, but as a science teacher, I'd like to see some evidence," said Mr. Alton, who co-authored the letter.
Mr. Alton said he was also disturbed by Tim's article on illegal immigration, which says, "Liberals welcome every Muhammad, Jamul and Jose who wishes to leave his Third World state and come to America."
"No one at the high school opposes the formation of the Conservative Club," Mr. Alton said. "What bothers me is the extreme views that border on racism or homophobia, the negative tone, and the hot line that calls teachers 'traitors.' "
So, Mr. Alton is a teacher who is completely unaware of the fundamental fact that our Bill of Rights protects unpopular speech, such as statements deemed "racist," "homophobic," or "negative" by listeners, and thus by default protects the right to hold those "extreme" views.
Thus, Mr. Alton's statement means that (a) Mr. Alton has never learned the Bill of Rights, (b) the Bill of Rights is not taught at Rancho Cotate, and/or (c) Mr. Alton has complete disdain for the Bill of Rights when the feelings of certain students are at stake. The feelings of white, conservative students are no matter, as these students are not allowed to express an unpopular opinion on criminal acts such as illegal immigration, lest they be labeled "racist" or "homophobic". Instant condemnation is the order of the day for any conservative student who steps out of line.
Yep, no ideological biases there.
I admire Tim's decision not to transfer, but I think the rest of his high school days will be hell. If he gets beaten up on campus, I'm sure the reaction of his oh-so-unbiased teachers will be, "What did you expect?"
Who's up for taking up a contribution to get this boy a blog, so that he can publish in the real world, where the Bill of Rights does apply? (As opposed to Rancho Cotate High?) He could write about all sorts of topics, ranging anywhere from illegal immigration to - gasp! - standardized testing. Who knows what he might say? Unlike his teachers, I'm not afraid to find out.
Posted by kswygert at December 30, 2003 06:09 PM