Why aren't GSA groups required in every school???

[blackpo]

shouldn't it be required in every school to idk...lessen discrimination in schools

[LuckyLuke]

Few reasons:

- They're not free to the school, unfortunately, and that means the school has to make a conscience decision over whether or not it wants its money going towards a homosexual-based program and whether or not it wants to be represented by that rather than another club or sport.

-Some schools simply disagree with homosexuality. Whether it be a private school (who's free to do completely as they wish) or a public school in a less accepting town, it's up to the school rather than the governing body.

- Parents may start an uproar. I'm friends with some people who's parents are deadset against homosexuality. They will not listen, under any circumstance, to reason and will do nothing but hate. They may see the school offering a GSA as a way of saying, "There's nothing wrong with homosexuality" (and there isn't, but they don't believe that) and in their narrow minds, that's wrong.

- Students may not feel comfortable enough to join due to possible prosecution from fellow classmates which would result in significantly lowered participation rates which would thereby result a waste of taxpayer money (that's where the school receives the majority of its funds).

Luckily, my school has a thriving GSA and, albeit I'm not a member due to other clubs overlapping it, it's a great addition to our schools extra-curricular life.

[Sosaku]

no, there shouldn't be a requirement for a GSA, like Luke said mainly. BUt despite the curent discrimination, think of the bullying after everyone finds out who all is in the GSA....it'll be worse, and not only will gay kids commit suicide(for being called gay), straight kids may commit suicides(for being called gay, or a "gay lover" or a "fag hag" or a "punk" or accused of going to hell, like the preacher's kid told the president of my school's GSA last year...)

[blackpo]

at the sametime most of the people that would join are already known for those things... they would be just there to support those who struggle with keeping themselves up through the bullying...

but on the same token suicides would more than likely decline because the students have other people that can relate to the versus some old, strange guidance councilor

[LuckyLuke]

at the sametime most of the people that would join are already known for those things... they would be just there to support those who struggle with keeping themselves up through the bullying...

but on the same token suicides would more than likely decline because the students have other people that can relate to the versus some old, strange guidance councilor

My guidance councilor is actually quite young.. regardless,


I feel you're right that it would decrease suicides because it'd allow people to voice who they are in a safe environment with a wide system of support (other members) but at the same time, you must also consider the repercussions I've listed above.

[Fruit_Tart.]

no, there shouldn't be a requirement for a GSA, like Luke said mainly. BUt despite the curent discrimination, think of the bullying after everyone finds out who all is in the GSA....it'll be worse, and not only will gay kids commit suicide(for being called gay), straight kids may commit suicides(for being called gay, or a "gay lover" or a "fag hag" or a "punk" or accused of going to hell, like the preacher's kid told the president of my school's GSA last year...)
What?
GSA is there to create a protection over anyone and everyone that joins the club. No matter what there will be people who go against everything gay and whatever they don't like. GSA just makes people aware of the type of people there are and the dangers everybody faces. If there are GSAs at schools, more kids will be aware of common bully against any type of person and hopefully realize there is a way to have a safe school.

GSA at my school isn't runned on money, but it would help fund and make things function smoothly for the club. Some schools only require participants and at least a teacher advisor to run the school. I think it'd be great if more schools have GSA, especially if it started in middle school so more of the younger people will be aware and want to do something to stop discrimination against gays.

[LuckyLuke]

GSA at my school isn't runned on money, but it would help fund and make things function smoothly for the club. Some schools only require participants and at least a teacher advisor to run the school.

Cost to pay the teacher over-time, cost of whatever events are involved with the club (realistically, you're going to do SOMETHING. If not, why have a club?). Cost of keeping the school running afterschool for your club to be held. Cost of angry and bigoted parents screaming about how "homosexuality is wrong and shouldn't be encouraged"...

It's more costly than you'd think.

[Fruit_Tart.]

Teachers are asked to stay afterschool at my school. Their salaries aren't increased because of the club, but they do it because they believe it's something worth their time (as well as the other twenty+ other clubs).

I'm sure it doesn't cost much to keep the school running, especially since the janitors need the time to clean up and for other teachers to grade and get classwork scheduled.

You are going to do something, but that is up to your club members to have fundraisers and try and get money.

Parents yelling at your face... yeahhh... that's possible, but i don't think much but one or two families wouldn't want their kid in GSA. If parents don't want their kids in the club, then I'm sure they'll find a more civil way of expressing their oppinion, and if they can't then they're just embarrassing theirselves.

[blackpo]

Teachers are asked to stay afterschool at my school. Their salaries aren't increased because of the club, but they do it because they believe it's something worth their time (as well as the other twenty+ other clubs).

I'm sure it doesn't cost much to keep the school running, especially since the janitors need the time to clean up and for other teachers to grade and get classwork scheduled.

You are going to do something, but that is up to your club members to have fundraisers and try and get money.

Parents yelling at your face... yeahhh... that's possible, but i don't think much but one or two families wouldn't want their kid in GSA. If parents don't want their kids in the club, then I'm sure they'll find a more civil way of expressing their oppinion, and if they can't then they're just embarrassing theirselves.



theoretically with my school the cost of holding the school open is not an issue because all clubs meet on the same day Thursdays and Tuesdays

[LuckyLuke]

That's strange to hear from where I'm from,

At my school they're required to pay all extra-curricular teachers because it'd be "unfair" to just pay the sports coaches and it'd be seen as weighing sports over the arts.

Also, our school holds multiple clubs every day of the week but some, the GSA especially, tends to hold meetings longer than most others so the cost of holding that wing of the school open is a bit much.

[Fruit_Tart.]

theoretically with my school the cost of holding the school open is not an issue because all clubs meet on the same day Thursdays and Tuesdays
Yeah. I think our school's clubs only run on a few days, but there are a lot.

That's strange to hear from where I'm from,

At my school they're required to pay all extra-curricular teachers because it'd be "unfair" to just pay the sports coaches and it'd be seen as weighing sports over the arts.

Also, our school holds multiple clubs every day of the week but some, the GSA especially, tends to hold meetings longer than most others so the cost of holding that wing of the school open is a bit much.
That makes sense, but sports is a whole other thing. Uniforms, equipment, and the time they spent on the weekends and other times that teachers usually don't run at. Like I said before, a teacher should actually want to run the club, otherwise there's really no reason to run it.

[blackpo]

yeah sports are different from clubs seeing the cost of things like equipment but clubs are dealt with be teachers that opt to do it for free the majority of the time

[LuckyLuke]

I understand that I'm just saying that they're now required to pay the teachers who run clubs.

[blackpo]

oh... is it me or is this like a crazy n confusing thing/ topic

[LuckyLuke]

oh... is it me or is this like a crazy n confusing thing/ topic

I don't think so..

[blackpo]

im a over thinker so its probly just me

[AlexTorkin]

Honestly my school doesn't have a GSA, and I'd really like it. But I can understand why schools don't require it. I bet only a fourth of the population at my school who would want to go would actually end up attending. We have such a small town (and extremely conservative) that many are against it.