This is getting out of hand.
The Knoxville News Sentinel also published a story last night about the debacle at the high school. This article reveals that a county school board member (not even the school system that includes the high school!) is calling for the teacher advisers of the yearbook to be brought up on criminal charges! That is ridiculous.
First, on what grounds? They have done nothing wrong, much less illegal. Seriously? I am so glad I did not vote for this board member.
Secondly, is this really what we want to teach our future journalists? People rant and rage against bias in the media, but if it matches their own personal bias, it's okay. Is that it then?
Third, the article in question was a paragraph. That's it. Just one student's story. It's not a multi-page story, or a dissertation, or propaganda piece. It's an example of one person being true to himself.
 |
| The offending article, photo posted on Facebook |
My own daughter wants to explore journalism and was excited to have the opportunity in high school. Now I'm not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I'm glad the advisers allowed this to be published. It is a very open and accepting thing to do, especially in "the Bible belt" we live in. On the other hand, I hate to think of her being raked across the coals like this because something done to support a friend offends someone's backwards sensibilities.
Your title is so right on! Intolerance. People are becoming more and more intolerant of people whose beliefs are different from their own. As a Christian, I can say that I believe Heavenly Father loves one just as much as the other. And so should we. Shame on her.
ReplyDeleteWow. Sometimes it's tough to remember it is 2012. I spent 11 wonderful years in Louisville, KY, but it opened my eyes to the bias that still exist, biases that try to hide behind a cloak of religion. It was--is--sad.
ReplyDeleteIntolereance is a terrible thing and if people really knew God it wouldn't exist. Thanks for telling us about this.
ReplyDeletePatti
If your daughter wants to be a journalist, this is a perfect place to learn about it. I went from LCHS on to a top journalism university and graduated with top honors. The advisers are preparing students to be real journalists, with an obligation to tell stories that not everyone wants to hear. That is the highest role of journalism in our democratic society: to be a voice for the people and issues that would otherwise be swept under the rug by those in power. That doesn't make you very popular, but it is empowering. Fearlessness is the first thing she would need to learn.
ReplyDelete