Rejecting school clubs on "moral well being" grounds in Utah

[Jaymes]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/031007utah.htm

(Salt Lake City, Utah) A day after Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. asked advisors for a legal opinion on a controversial bill governing student organizations the governor announced he was signing the measure into law.
The law gives schools the right to reject student clubs that threaten the "moral well-being" of students.
Critics of the measure say the legislation could be used to block the formation of Gay-Straight Alliances, although the bill carefully avoids mentioning any specific group - an attempt to prevent a constitutional challenge.


From the bill itself:


53A-11-1206. Clubs -- Limitations and denials.
(1) A school shall limit or deny authorization or school building use to a club or require changes prior to granting authorization or school building use as the school determines it to be necessary to:
(i) protect the physical, emotional, psychological, or moral well-being of students and faculty;

It later mentions human sexuality. I do hope if there are any abstinence clubs in Utah they're being shut down. :areyoucra

 

[PureX]

It's a sad day when politicians think they are (or even could be) in charge of America's moral well-being. Any politicians that ignorant of the fundamentals of American civil rights and liberties should be thrown out of office.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Cheerleading threatens my moral well-being. :areyoucra

(No offense to any cheerleaders.)

 

[Comprehend]

Don't worry, this law will be used against the white-Christian-male every way possible by the education system. I am sure it will be used by schools to remove any religious clubs...

 

[Jaymes]

Don't worry, this law will be used against the white-Christian-male every way possible by the education system. I am sure it will be used by schools to remove any religious clubs...

Somehow I strongly doubt it. Though it would serve them right if it did... making bills to reject clubs to protect the "moral well being" of students is absurd.

 

[MaddLlama]

Why not just do away with after school programs and sports altogether?? Those tennis skirts might affect the moral well-being of pubescent boys.

 

[Comprehend]

Somehow I strongly doubt it. Though it would serve them right if it did... making bills to reject clubs to protect the "moral well being" of students is absurd.

I don't see why not, that is how the schools usually work already.

You do not think that schools should make rules based upon morals? Then would you support students being able to use profanity in class? Should girls be allowed to wear bikini's to class? How about wearing pornographic t-shirts?

 

[Comprehend]

Why not just do away with after school programs and sports altogether?? Those tennis skirts might affect the moral well-being of pubescent boys.

If you think they don't, you don't know any pubescent boys.

 

[Jaymes]

I don't see why not, that is how the schools usually work already.

You do not think that schools should make rules based upon morals? Then would you support students being able to use profanity in class? Should girls be allowed to wear bikini's to class? How about wearing pornographic t-shirts?

That has nothing to do with morals and everything to do with social norms and teachers being able to control teens and preteens. They're already a godawful bunch without cursing and dressing in next to nothing... I don't want to consider what it'd be like if we let them do that. :areyoucra

 

[Comprehend]

That has nothing to do with morals and everything to do with social norms and teachers being able to control teens and preteens. They're already a godawful bunch without cursing and dressing in next to nothing... I don't want to consider what it'd be like if we let them do that. :areyoucra

Just because they are social norms doesn't mean that the reasons aren't moral ones. I do agree that the kids are wild enough already.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

The problem with rejecting gay-straight alliance clubs on the grounds of "moral well-being" is that it's ignoring the "physical, emotional, psychological well-being" part. Gay-straight alliance clubs are vital to adolescents who need the support of peers.

After all, they aren't just there to corrupt the youth of America with their immorality.

 

[standing_alone]

You do not think that schools should make rules based upon morals? Then would you support students being able to use profanity in class? Should girls be allowed to wear bikini's to class? How about wearing pornographic t-shirts?

The reason that profane language and certain modes of dress are not allowed in class is because it serves as an imediate distraction or hindrance to the education process. An after-school club would not automatically distract or hinder the education process. Profanities and certain items of clothing are a completely seperate issue from after-school clubs, therefore I think it quite "pracitcal" to deem this particular rule on clubs as absurd.

 

[Aeiralo]

*sighs*

I'm a teenager in one of these schools.

I was hoping to start up a GSA, but nooooo. I can't anymore.

 

[michel]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/03/031007utah.htm

(Salt Lake City, Utah) A day after Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. asked advisors for a legal opinion on a controversial bill governing student organizations the governor announced he was signing the measure into law.
The law gives schools the right to reject student clubs that threaten the "moral well-being" of students.
Critics of the measure say the legislation could be used to block the formation of Gay-Straight Alliances, although the bill carefully avoids mentioning any specific group - an attempt to prevent a constitutional challenge.


From the bill itself:


53A-11-1206. Clubs -- Limitations and denials.
(1) A school shall limit or deny authorization or school building use to a club or require changes prior to granting authorization or school building use as the school determines it to be necessary to:
(i) protect the physical, emotional, psychological, or moral well-being of students and faculty;

It later mentions human sexuality. I do hope if there are any abstinence clubs in Utah they're being shut down. :areyoucra

It sounds like the thin edge of the wedge - an excuse to use the rule in whatever contexts anyone cares to do so - nasty and dangerous.

 

[Bishka]

*sighs*

I'm a teenager in one of these schools.

I was hoping to start up a GSA, but nooooo. I can't anymore.

My opinion on the matter is, either the schools allow ALL clubs, or no clubs; it's really not a hard concept to understand, but apparently those schools are having a hard time understanding that.

 

[Aeiralo]

My opinion on the matter is, either the schools allow ALL clubs, or no clubs; it's really not a hard concept to understand, but apparently those schools are having a hard time understanding that.

I know, same here. I wouldn't mind Bible, Muslim, or even Wiccan clubs, as long as I could also attend a GSA.

Also, the guy who orginally came up with the idea (the one who tried to pass it first), Buttars, is from West Jordan.

 

[Radio Frequency X]

Don't worry, this law will be used against the white-Christian-male every way possible by the education system. I am sure it will be used by schools to remove any religious clubs...

Well, as we all know, white, christian, males threaten everyone's moral well-being and must therefore be put in their proper place.

 

[kiwimac]

Oh please!

White, middle-class males have all the power in society. Stop being so damn precious.