I have posted this for Joan, a member of a 9-12 group who will soon be joining our group. This is just another example of how we can work together.
Good Morning and Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who have and are still fighting for our freedoms!
I have posted this on my local 9/12 groups message board, but I wanted to reach a larger group of people. Get some more ideas as to handle the "situation". This is a little bit more detailed then what I posted on my local boards based on some of the comments that I have received :)
Some background information: My son is 8 years old, Anthony, goes to the local public school. I live in a rural area of PA, the school system is 'decent' for what it is. I am a single mom (father is dead) of two of limited means. I work a full time job, and I take care of my handicapped mother (who also lived with me up until recently).
I watched the 9/12 show from my home, and parts of it on the internet, and a lot of it hit home, I decided that I needed to be involved. My children saw how excited I was that there were other people who believed the same things that I did, wanted to become involved as well, we went to our local meetings, and they were hooked. They understand the values and the principles of the 9/12 project, and wanted to help! This quickly became a family affair.
At the third meeting of our local chapter, I volunteered to start a membership "focus group". Basically- I get to help be in charge of recruiting :) The kids were excited to help. The next week or two we discussed as a family what the best chances were to get the word out, and started to work on fliers, and recruiting material, based off what the "founder" of our group had already printed out for us.
This past week, I was working on another flyer and my son comes up to me, and says, "Hey mom! Can I take some of these fliers to school, and give them to my teachers, and some of my friends to take to their parents." Totally dumbfounded and full of Pride, I agreed. I was just really excited that Anthony wanted to do this.
I handed him about 10 fliers, asked him to tell me what he thought the pamphlet meant in his own words (in case questioned). He responded, "Ma, it's not about red and blue, it's about doing what's right". After a few more bits and pieces of discussion.... he went on to say, "Because we are doing this, we are trying to help make sure that I have the same freedoms as our founding fathers promised me in the Constitution..." (I did something good!)
Anyway, he got on the bus the next day, handed a flyer to his bus driver.... Hit the school, and handed one to roaming teacher, then got to his homeroom, and handed one to his homeroom teacher. His teacher looked at the brochure and said, "Anthony, don't hand anymore of these out until after I talk to the Principal". About 10 minutes later the teacher came back and told Anthony that he could not hand out the fliers anymore "Because some people DO NOT believe in God."
I got home from work that night and Anthony explained to me what happened. I was in shock! I was mad! I wanted to go up there and litter the campus with the brochure (of course I didn't)! I posted Anthony's plight on our message boards. Someone mentioned something about checking to see if the school has rules about non-curriculum based hand-outs. I went to the school website, and found that I, did indeed screw up! The following is taken directly from the student handbook:
"The Board requires that students who wish to distribute or post nonschool materials on school property shall submit them one (1) school day in advance of planned distribution or posting to the building principal or designee, who shall forward a copy to the district Superintendent.
If the nonschool written materials contain unprotected expression as stated in this policy, the building principal or designee shall notify the students that they may not post or distribute the materials because the materials constitute a violation of Board policy.
If notice is not given during the period between submission and the time for the planned distribution or posting, students may proceed with the planned distribution or posting, provided they comply with written administrative regulations or procedures on time, place and manner of posting or distribution of nonschool materials."
It goes on to say....
"School officials shall not censor or restrict nonschool written materials or other student expression for the sole reason that it is critical of the school or its administration, or because the views espoused are unpopular or may make people uncomfortable.
Student-initiated religious expression is permissible and shall not be prohibited except as to time, place and manner of distribution, or if the expression involved violates some other part of this policy, e.g., because it is independently determined to be unprotected expression under the standards and definitions of this policy."
So I wrote a nice letter to the school principal, sighting the portions of the student handbook, and requesting a response in writing as to why Anthony can not hand out these fliers. This was on Tuesday- it went into the principal on Wed.
I received a voicemail from the principal (which shocked me, as schools were closed yesterday) and I will paraphrase here: "I received your note in regards to the flyer that Anthony wanted to pass out in school, and forwarded it on to the superintendent, who in turn has said that Anthony is NOT allowed, and the superintendent does NOT want those fliers handed out in school. If you have any questions please call me...."
Now, on Tuesday, when school opens- I will be on the phone first thing with the principal, requesting her response in writing, as to what part of the student handbook these fliers violate. In the meantime, I am trying to get a feel as to where next to turn.
People have told me to contact the ACJL, Beck, Hannity and local TV stations (which by the way- are all really really left leaning) and newspapers.
What's YOUR opinion?