LEAD, S.D. – An emotional meeting for the Lead-Deadwood School District this week, as they discuss limiting classroom displays.
This follows the posting of signs by some Lead-Deadwood High School teachers that say ‘safe zone.’ That indicates their classrooms show support for LGBTQ students.
One teacher stated the sign is to show every single student that her room is a safe place to learn and grow.
However, it was argued by others that school isn’t the place to have these signs and schools should be free from political and religious propaganda.
Some teachers, though, don’t see LGBTQ people as religious or political propaganda.
A frequently discussed topic was the higher suicide rate within the LGBTQ community. According to the Centers for Disease Control, youth in grades 7-12 that are lesbian, gay, or bisexual were twice as likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.
While critics say that this policy would effectively erase acknowledgement and support for marginalized students, Superintendent Dr. Erik Person said the goal of this potential policy would be to address the issue in a way that is view-point neutral.
