FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2006
Contact: Ginny Apuzzo (845) 339-7963
Jay Blotcher (845) 687-2284
STATEMENT BY CENTER COMMITTEE AFTER MEETING WITH
KINGSTON SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
These days, parents and teachers are highly aware of verbal and physical harassment of students in public schools. Diversity training workshops are a common facet of schooling.
However, many teachers still refuse to deal with anti-LGBT bias. Students bully others perceived as gay and lesbian. They use hurtful words. They intimidate. And often, they use violence.
Too often, teachers do not want to be seen as condoning homosexuality, so they simply do nothing. Incidents are swept under the rugs. Victimized students, some who may not be out in school or at home, also remain silent. And the gaybashing continues.
That is, until now. Members of the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center requested a meeting with Gerard Gretzinger, Superintendent of Kingston City Schools Consolidated. They had heard countless reports of the mental and physical abuse suffered by LGBTQ students. (Or by those simply perceived as LGBTQ or, further, by those students whose parents are LGBTQ). The Center group enlisted the help of Mayor James Sottile, who organized a meeting between Center people and Gerard Gretzinger.
What resulted was an airing of issues that had been suppressed too long. Center members in attendance included: Board President Ginny Apuzzo, who spent 15 years teaching in the School of Education at Brooklyn College and had developed secondary education curriculum for the State. Longtime diversity educators Nicole Ressa of Planned Parenthood and Rob Conlon of the Gay, Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Vanessa Shelmandine, the chair of the Center's Needs and Social Services committee. And Ted Hayes, a retired educator/minister.
“We discussed the importance of a safe environment for LGBTQ kids,” Apuzzo explained. “The importance of educating kids and teachers; providing nondiscrimination to teachers and as a policy for all in the school system; having LGBTQ input into curriculum development. We asked that the Superintendent take a leadership role both in the school system and among the other school districts---Superintendent meetings etc.”
The Center group asked that LGBTQ issues remain in the forefront in curriculum studies and Diversity days. They reminded the Superintendent of the vast number of homophobic slurs a child hears at school (an average of 20 times per day). They warned of the backlash when such bigotry goes unchecked: high absenteeism, early drop-out rates and even suicide among LGBTQ youth.
“We were well-received and the Superintendent agreed to raise these issues with other Superintendents at meetings in the Spring,” Apuzzo continued. “He agreed to set up meetings for us with curriculum developers in the system, and will appoint Nicole Ressa and Rob Conlon to committees dealing with these issues.”
It was agreed that meetings between Center people and Mr. Gretzinger would be ongoing, to address a complex issue that will take time to correct. There is a school survey currently being created, to measure student attitudes on a variety of issues. The Superintendent agreed that questions about LGBTQ issues should be included in the survey.
“Our goal as tax-paying members of the community is to work within the structure of the system on issues related to the education and well-being of LGBTQ kids, their parents, siblings and teachers,” Apuzzo concluded.