American Fork principal cancels meeting over agenda change
The Parent Teacher Student Association meeting had been scheduled for Thursday to discuss same-sex attraction and pornography as "serious social problems."
However, Merrill said Thursday the PTSA board hadn't agreed to add same-sex attraction to the agenda, on which only the topic of pornography had been planned.
"There wasn't a motion made; there wasn't a second," Merrill said. "There was not clear communication."
So, Merrill called the district and the meeting was canceled after a discussion with the state and regional Parent Teacher Associations, said Rhonda Bromley, spokeswoman for the Alpine School District.
Merrill said faculty and staff had made clear during a meeting Thursday, "We love all our students. Whatever their race, religion, gender, or orientation, they're all important."
PTSA President Belinda Jensen did not return phone calls for comment on Thursday. On Wednesday, Jensen had said she scheduled Stephen Graham of the Standard of Liberty to talk on same-gender attraction "to help kids avoid this problem< (same-gender attraction) and also overcome it."
Graham said the cancellation is evidence "the homosexual activist movement is making progress in gaining acceptance of homosexuality." He called Merrill "out of step" with most Utahns.
However, Merrill said she heard from PTSA board members who hadn't voted on the topic of discussion.
"Mrs. Jensen has spoken for herself and has misrepresented the American Fork High School PTSA and all our parents," Merrill said.
She said the school's administration isn't taking a position on the issue, but did say the school's focus should be on education.
"This is distractive to that atmosphere," Merrill said. "We need to get back to focusing on what we need to be focusing on: a caring learning environment where all students can be successful."
The school has had several meetings for parents planned through the National Alliance on Mental Illness that have focused on issues such as eating disorders, Merrill said.
Valerie Larabee, executive director of the Utah Pride Center, had expressed concerns the discussion on same-sex attraction would create an environment that labeled some students as abnormal, potentially leading to depression and suicidal thoughts.
"I have a sense that there are very fair-minded people in this state who don't like this kind of thing," Larabee said. "I'm glad they're speaking up."
Contributing: Amy K. Stewart
E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com
Recent comments
Homosexuality is about a life style. Rape is usually about domination...
RE:Annonymous 6:49 | March 28, 2008 at 4:13 p.m.
The schools job is to educate our kids, not be the "morality...
Chris Plummer | March 28, 2008 at 1:03 p.m.
Sorry Rue but gay/lesbian people are NOT normal. Look up the definition...
Hmmm.. | March 28, 2008 at 10:56 a.m.
