FARMINGTON, NM – The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights
groups are protesting an essay contest at Farmington's Piedra Vista High School
that asked students to explain why preserving marriage between men and women is
vital society and why unborn children merit respect and
protection.
The ACLU of New Mexico, Equality New Mexico, and NARAL
Pro-Choice New Mexico said the contest violates state regulations banning sexual
orientation discrimination by teachers. They also object to the
ideological slant of such an assignment.
"The contest had nothing
to do with encouraging critical thinking," said ACLU of New Mexico staff
sttorney George Bach. "It was a tactic to shape students' political views
in the guise of an objective school assignment."
The parent of a
student who is a sophomore at Piedra Vista High School contacted the ACLU last
month to complain about the contest. The assignment was issued in
connection with an essay contest sponsored by United Families International, a
non-profit established in 1978, whose primary mission is "to strengthen the
family by promoting marriage between one man and woman and the protection of
human life, including unborn children." The students were given the option
of either writing a response to two questions about preserving marriage and the
protection of the “unborn” or submitting a personal narrative.
The
ACLU contacted Donny Ortiz, Piedra Vista High School Principal, outlining its
concerns and proposing an essay contest that would prompt students to write
about alternative viewpoints.
In his response letter to the ACLU,
Ortiz declined the offer of a competing essay contest. He also explained
that New Mexico Secretary of Education Veronica Garcia distributed the original
essay contest school districts for interested students only.
"Piedra Vista High School's apparent lack of respect for diversity in thought
is troubling," said Alexis Blizman, Executive Director of Equality New Mexico,
an organization committed to full equality and justice for the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender community. "Students in taxpayer-funded public
schools simply shouldn't be forced to accept one viewpoint over another,
regardless of the issue."
The Executive Director of NARAL
Pro-Choice New Mexico, Giovanna Rossi, said, "Our schools should put education
before ideology. Teachers should present factual, unbiased information
about health and sexuality -- values are taught at home, but the facts should be
taught at school."