Qsa

[marshlander]

Hey thanks guy for your stuff just reading up now. We went to the office and asked the office lady is she could put the notice in full. She said she would run it by the principle of the school because she said it was "implying that the school wasn't safe." In the notice we wrote that the QSA was a safe place for the queer students of our school to come and be them selfs.

Sad that the school admin has bought into the school self-image. Anyone who believes a school environment is without risk is delusional. I'm wondering what you think you are offering when you declare that your QSA is a "safe place".

[colinmackay]

Sad that the school admin has bought into the school self-image. Anyone who believes a school environment is without risk is delusional. I'm wondering what you think you are offering when you declare that your QSA is a "safe place".

I would imagine that by "safe place" is means with regard to freedom of ideas and expression.

[Kiid]

Sad that the school admin has bought into the school self-image. Anyone who believes a school environment is without risk is delusional. I'm wondering what you think you are offering when you declare that your QSA is a "safe place".

I'm thinking that the QSA is a place where the queer kids of our school can just be themselves without the judgement of the entire hetero community of our school.

I would imagine that by "safe place" is means with regard to freedom of ideas and expression.

Kinda. But being different at school can be unsafe because people are scared of 'different' people. And bullying is more than likely to occur.

[Kiid]

Oh yeah the office people didn't put in my the notice today apparently the principle has to see it. Because it is implying that the school is unsafe... Well maybe it is a little.

[colinmackay]

I'm thinking that the QSA is a place where the queer kids of our school can just be themselves without the judgement of the entire hetero community of our school.

Kinda. But being different at school can be unsafe because people are scared of 'different' people. And bullying is more than likely to occur.

Bullying can also be through words, not just physical violence.

I remember as a child being told "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" - I eventually figured out that was a load of utter rubbish. Words can hurt much more because it takes much longer to heal those sort of wounds.

What I meant by freedom of expression and ideas is to be in a non-judgemental environment - just as you are creating.

Keep up the good work by the way.

[colinmackay]

Oh yeah the office people didn't put in my the notice today apparently the principle has to see it. Because it is implying that the school is unsafe... Well maybe it is a little.

The problem is that there is no place that is 100% safe - so they are fretting about something they can't control. Sure they can make it "safer", but not 100%.

I also want to add that I really wish there was someone like you at my school when I was there. Once again, keep up the excellent work.

[princealbertofb]

For the time being Joshyboi maybe you could leave out the expression "safe place" and just leave the idea that people can be themselves. On the other hand heteros can still be completely themselves too, and barge into your group and make an utter nuisance of themselves, if they felt so inclined, so maybe you need to imply that it would be a place where people can talk about their concerns without feeling they have to censor their thoughts to fit standardised patterns?
It's rather difficult to know what people can do and not do in your group. Why don't you sit down, as a group, and think of a few ground rules for how you want the group to operate... (what to allow and what not to allow, in terms of word use and behaviour)? Mind, though, that you follow school rules and don't break the law either.
If some of the rules of the school are not fitted to your kind of thinking and being and seem to heterosexist, then maybe you should work towards improving that particular rule to be acceptable by all, and followed by all equally, by suggesting some form of positive change? (for example what would school policy be about two young men or youg women dancing together in a school dance? Also if straight couples are allowed to be seen kissing or holding hands in public, even though not making a spectacle of themselves and not misbehaving outrageously, would it be equally possible for two sex partners to do the same?)
Good luck with the foundations of the group's existence.

[Kiid]

Bullying can also be through words, not just physical violence.

I remember as a child being told "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" - I eventually figured out that was a load of utter rubbish. Words can hurt much more because it takes much longer to heal those sort of wounds.

What I meant by freedom of expression and ideas is to be in a non-judgemental environment - just as you are creating.

Keep up the good work by the way.

Well I don't judge people on what others say. I have a couple of friends that my closer friends hate but I don't care.

And words can be VERY VERY hurtful. Well I'v decided that the only people that matter are the ones who care. I like to skip around schools. I admit I can be a bit feminine at times.

[Kiid]

For the time being Joshyboi maybe you could leave out the expression "safe place" and just leave the idea that people can be themselves. On the other hand heteros can still be completely themselves too, and barge into your group and make an utter nuisance of themselves, if they felt so inclined, so maybe you need to imply that it would be a place where people can talk about their concerns without feeling they have to censor their thoughts to fit standardised patterns?
It's rather difficult to know what people can do and not do in your group. Why don't you sit down, as a group, and think of a few ground rules for how you want the group to operate... (what to allow and what not to allow, in terms of word use and behaviour)? Mind, though, that you follow school rules and don't break the law either.
If some of the rules of the school are not fitted to your kind of thinking and being and seem to heterosexist, then maybe you should work towards improving that particular rule to be acceptable by all, and followed by all equally, by suggesting some form of positive change? (for example what would school policy be about two young men or youg women dancing together in a school dance? Also if straight couples are allowed to be seen kissing or holding hands in public, even though not making a spectacle of themselves and not misbehaving outrageously, would it be equally possible for two sex partners to do the same?)
Good luck with the foundations of the group's existence.

The school let people take same sex people to the school ball. and the school ans a no "PDA" rule (public display of affection) in school. but the school wouldn't care if I bought a guy to the ball. After all the schools motto this year is P.R.I.D.E

The D is Diversity so yeah this works well with out group.

And we intend on changing that notice and reword it so that it can fit for my school.
we also have written rules up. that was one of the first things I did

[Genersis]

Call me Mr Negative, but I can't see such a system being effective.

I feel people will be deterd due to the fact that it will make them a target if other classmate found out they went to these gatherings.
So it seems these QSAs would only be usefull to those who are out and do not care what other think, then again, if they didnt care, then why would they come to these gatherings.:confused:

Which leads me to point two.
I also feel that a large number of the young adults there, will be at these gatherings just to find a boyfriend, or even just to "arange Extra curicular(sp?) activities" with eatch other, rather than to "feel safe to be them selves". Maybe I view 15-25 year old behaivoir a little too sterotypicly.:frown:

I still think its a great idea, don't get me wrong.:biggrin: I just feel it wouldn't have a very high success rate.:frown: