Lesbian mom starts petition to keep politics out of classroom

BY Chris Sullivan  on November 19, 2012 @ 5:43 am (Updated: 7:04 am - 11/19/12 )

A lesbian mom in Port Angeles has started an online petition to prevent teachers from wearing political buttons in class after her daughter's middle school teacher wore a "No on 74" button before the election.

Cynthia Deford says her daughter doesn't feel comfortable in class anymore, now that she knows her teacher does not support same sex marriage.

The Peninsula Daily News reports the teacher at Stevens Middle School wore a button reading "No on 74: one man plus one woman equals marriage."

Deford believes teachers should not be allowed to have political speech in class, unless it relates to their subject. She wants an apology and sensitivity training.

The district says its policy does not allow employees to campaign for any issue during school hours on school property, and it has dealt with the issue.

More than 200 people have signed the petition so far.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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Comments (39)


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  • spuddog wrote...
    I'm a retired social studies teacher...
    November 19, 2012 9:31 am
    and it is my belief that teachers should keep their political opinions to themselves regardless of which way they lean. Teaching kids to think is not the same as trying to sway the way they think.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Typical
    November 19, 2012 9:56 am
    They won and still are angry. They will always be angry because deep down they know what they are doing is wrong. Initiatives will pass, people will march in parades, characters on TV shows will portray them but it will never validate what they themselves know is wrong. I'm not one tell them not to do what they are doing. God and/or nature if you don't believe have already done that. Do what you want to do and frankly I don't give a dang. Just don't expect us to accept your lifestyle. 100% of society could one day approve of your lifestyle. You'd still be angry.
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  • Moondoggie wrote...
    She is right
    November 19, 2012 10:25 am
    And she may look back on this day as the moment she realized she was a closet Republican.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    The hypocrisy of the left has no end.
    November 19, 2012 10:35 am
    ...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    This will never end; we gave them a finger and now they are taking the whole hand.
    November 19, 2012 10:40 am
    Indeed. It's the SOP for the left. Crack the door and they force it open by any means necessary.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GoldFish wrote...
    Not surprising
    November 19, 2012 11:00 am
    I've been saying it for years, if you go against Liberal America's views, Liberal America throws a temper tantrum like intellectual 5 year olds they are.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • GoldFish wrote...
    Sensitivity training?
    November 19, 2012 11:02 am
    Thats also a total BS idea dreamed up by the left to reform us "heathens" on the right. Liberals are a bunch of emotional cry babies.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Let us follow this to it's logical ending.
    November 19, 2012 11:32 am
    If a teacher can't wear a button on school grounds then they should not have a bumper sticker on their car in the parking lot. And their union should not have a say in politics as well because we all know that the teachers are forced to be in that union so a button or bumper sticker is not required for us to know what they stand for anyway. Lady, don't open that can of worms unless you are willing to pay for it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • theboss wrote...
    Free Money?
    November 19, 2012 11:33 am
    Looks like someone is setting the stage for a payday. Lawyers get your ducks in a row. This could be multi millions.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mike Hunt wrote...
    Why not just as him to remove the button?
    November 19, 2012 12:46 pm
    Why not just as him to remove the button while at work since it was already the policy? Nowhere did it say he was dicussing the issue in class. Seems to be making a big deal out of what could have been an oversight by the teacher. This story only propagates the stereotype image of the 'angry lesbian'

    Also agree with a previous poster- if this applies to the classroom, it should apply to all school property (including parking lots) where I've seen only stickers on the other side of this issue

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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