Fraters Libertas

Is Our Children Learning?

The Pioneer Press alerts us to the latest effort by the public school system to educate our children. In an article entitled: Fitting in, finding focus: Safe Space aims to boost academic performance among gay, lesbian students we learn of yet another crisis crippling our ability to teach the children well:

It is common in education circles to speak of the "achievement gap" between racial groups, but "there's also an achievement gap with [gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender] students," said Michael Fridgen, a Hastings teacher and trainer on GLBT issues.

What often happens with GLBT students, [student Jen Winston] said, is "school work gets put on the back burner" as they struggle with the stress of coming out to themselves and others, as well as possibly facing harassment. "They have a lot more going on than just school," she said.

And what better place to deal with the stress of coming out of the closet than in a small, enclosed space isolated from the mainstream culture? Yes, taxpayers, it's the Safe Space Closet.

Actually, they're calling it the Safe Space Lab. From the triumphant press release from the St. Paul Public Schools:

The Saint Paul Safe Space Lab, which is co-sponsored by the City of Saint Paul and the school district, offers academic tutoring, the opportunity to take classes for credit, mentoring, support services, arts opportunities and athletic activities. According to Alan Horowitz, who leads Out for Equity, the Lab is the first after-school site that combines academic, social and support services for GLBT youth.

According to the Pioneer Press, the key to closing the gay gap is the following rigorous curriculum:

The lab will be open after school and by appointment. It will offer two classes - one on interior design and another on human relationships - starting next week.

I don't know who the curriculum director is, but I bet he also serves as the district's Director of Stereotype Reinforcement. What's next at the Safe Space Lab, advance placement courses in flower arranging and the collected works of Judy Garland?

Sure, we can all laugh at the misdirected priorities and political correctness run amok. Until we realize this behavior, like all excesses, has a cost.

It cost about $40,000 to prepare the space, which had been sitting empty, said Pat Quinn, the district's director of school services. The district used to rent the space to a day care center - for about $45,000 a year - until the center ended the lease in the summer of 2004, Quinn said.

Staffing consists of 2.5 full-time equivalent positions, Horowitz said, plus three interns and the class instructors, who are regular St. Paul Public Schools teachers.

$85,000 out of pocket this year for facilities, plus labor costs for 2.5 full-time unionized employees. Not a bad chunk of change for a district whose schools are "burning!" (if you can believe journalists from the Star Tribune).

But the frivolous use of that hefty sum isn't cause for circumspection by the folks we've placed in trust of the public treasury and our children. No, it's the cause for celebration - and you're all invited.

The free, public open house will begin at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m. two popular teen authors, James Howe and Alex Sanchez, will read from and sign copies of their new books. Howe is a children's author who has published more than 12 books. He is best known for the comical "Bunnicula" series, "The Misfits" and "The Watcher." His latest book, "Totally Joe," chronicles a teen romance. Alex Sanchez is the Lambda Award-winning author of the "Rainbow Boys" series.

In case you're not able to make it downtown for tonight's reading, here's a summary review of "Totally Joe" (if only because I am afraid to Google for "Bunnicula"):

Howe has created a character that lives and breathes with all of the inconsistencies, fears and longings of your normal average seventh-grade homosexual.

Normal and average, I suppose, only because he sits in at the Safe Space Lab.

And what better place to learn about all of this than your local public school? By the way, the Safe Space Lab in not located in just any public school:

It opens today in the basement of Wellstone Elementary School.

The legacy continues.