Tomorrow at Keene High School, students and teachers will be taking part in an event called “Hold your color” to show solidarity behind students who have been allegedly harassed and threatened for wearing rainbow clothing by school administrator Thomas Burke (is he related to Keene district court judge Edward Burke?). People at school will be wearing rainbow to show support. Here’s a guest blog by KHS student Renee LeBlanc with detail on what is happening:
The Mission of Keene High School is to provide each student with the tools to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world. However, one administrator finds it necessary to restrict diversity in the form of rainbow clothing.
Back in December, a senior at Keene High school was in his house office on school business. He happened to be gay, and sporting a rainbow shirt. While in the office, Mr. Thomas Burke asked to speak with him about the shirt he was wearing. It read “Can’t think straight” and a rainbow was featured under it. The shirt was not revealing, obscene, or in bad condition. Burke demanded that he not wear it again, claiming it was “bad for the school environment.” He then wrote him up for a “dress code violation” yet gave no detail on the slip. From there, Burke proceeded to threaten the student with suspension. This student and his friends were very offended by this.A freshman girl, who is straight, was in the same house office about a month earlier. She had been absent the day before and needed an admit slip. However, while the secretary was writing, she informed the student that she had been reported for her low cut shirt. Mr. Burke then appeared and asked to speak with her. Burke asked her to pull up the shirt, and then noticed her belt, which was rainbow. Burke insisted she take off the belt, again claiming it was “bad for the school environment.” While her shirt may have broken a rule, her belt broke no dress code policy whatsoever. When she refused to remove her belt, Burke eventually gave up, but she felt Burke began watching her too closely. She also happened to be reported for different, false violations for the next three days.
Due to these ridiculous claims, another freshman girl, along with a little help from her friends, created an event that would counter the over authoritative behavior of the administrator. Renee LeBlanc decided to clad in rainbow this Friday, and encourage her peers to as well. The “Hold Your Color” event has gathered an overall positive response from fellow students. Teachers and administrators are in favor as well. Many teachers are encouraging their students to dress out in rainbow this Friday, and are not happy with the stripping of color in KHS. In fact, a green house administrator claimed she’d find it “disrespectful” perhaps “a form of bullying” if this were the case.
“2.9 Nondiscrimination Statement
The Keene School District does not discriminate in the administration of its admissions and educational programs, activities or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. This statement is a reflection of the Keene School District and refers to, but is not limited to, the provisions of the following laws:
-Title VI and VII or the Civil Rights Act of 1964
– The Age Discrimination Act of 1967
– Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
– Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
– The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1975
– N.H. Law against Discrimination (RSA 354-A)
– State Rule: Ed. 303.01 (i), (j), and (k)
See full handbook at http://keene.k12.nh.us/documents/Handbook.pdf
Any person having inquiries concerning the Keene School District’s compliance with the above mentioned laws may contact Paul Cooper, Personnel Manager, Supervisory Union 29, 34 West Street, Keene, New Hampshire 03431, telephone (603) 357-9007. Inquiries may also be directed to the:
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Region I, J. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse Building, Room 222, Boston, MA 02109-4557, (617) 223-9696.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, JFK Federal Building, Room 475, Government Center, Boston, MA 02201
NH Commission for Human Rights, 2 Chennell Drive, Concord, NH 03301, (603) 271-2767.”Burke is the only one enforcing his no rainbow policy. The KHS handbook (policies listed below) says nothing of rainbow clothing, and do these clothes break any rules? You can decide for yourself. In the meantime, Burke has denied these allegations, and most likely did not detail these students’ write ups for a reason. No action has been taken against him, nor has anything been proven. Yet no accountability has been taken. If these authoritarians were considered equal to students:
“8.11 Pupil Harassment/Bullying/Hazing
Bullying is a pattern of conduct which subjects a pupil to insults, taunts, or challenges, whether verbal or physical in nature, which are likely to intimidate or provoke a violent or disorderly response from the pupil. Keene High School is committed to providing a safe school environment in which the members of the school community are treated with respect. ‘Bullying’ interferes with this proper school environment. Accordingly, Keene High School follows a procedure intended to minimize and prevent bullying by dealing with such acts of verbal or physical abuse. See Keene School District Policy and Procedure #4125/5148.
“Hazing” is defined as any conduct or method of initiating students onto any student team or organization, which subjects a student to physical or mental abuse
Racist, Discriminatory, Hateful Remarks Directly/Indirectly to Individual/Group
1st offense – Admin. detention/Investigate harassment
2nd offense – Sat. detention/Investigate harassment
3rd offense – OSS/Investigate harassment”Hold Your Color will be held at the high school tomorrow, Friday 3/ 9/ 12. The goal is to get as many students as possible to dress out in rainbow clothing to develop the high schools diversity, encourage students to be individuals, and support the ideas of peaceful evolution.
