Faith In America released the following statement in response to a South Carolina high school principal who has announced his intention to resign because he says allowing a gay/straight club apparently conflicts with his religious beliefs.
”It is a shame that the principal at Irmo High School in South Carolina decided to place religion-based bigotry and discrimination over his former commitment to his students and staff,” said Faith In America Executive Director Brent Childers.
“We truly believe it is unfortunate that this principal cannot see the immense harm that is caused when a social climate of rejection, condemnation and violence is justified with misguided religious belief. To make such a choice over simply allowing gay youth a forum to meet and talk, alludes to the apparent deep-seated prejudice that must exist in the religious mindset of this person.
“It is unfortunately very similar to the time in our history when segregation in schools was once allowed to flourish because of the deep-seated prejudice that existed in our institutions and the religious mindset of many people during that period.”
The following text is from a South Carolina television station covering the event which posted the principal’s letter on its web site. The newscast can be seen at here.
IRMO, SC (WIS) – The principal of Irmo High School will announce his resignation Wednesday after being asked to allow the creation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at the school.
Principal Eddie Walker confirmed to WIS News 10 he intends to announce his resignation over the intercom Wednesday morning. The resignation won’t take effect until June, 2009 – the end of the 2008-2009 school year.
He wouldn’t talk on camera with us, but we did receive a letter he wrote to the school, in which he tells his side of the story, which involves a controversial student group:
“Dear Irmo Nation,
In March I told our faculty and staff, PTSO Board, and SIC that I would be remaining at Irmo High school for two more years. I was committed to stay through the 2009-2010 school year. I am currently in good health, am excited about the future of Irmo High school, am making new friends every day, and continuing to learn from my student heroes on a daily basis. In short I am excited about coming to work every day.
However due to a recent conflict involving my professional and religious beliefs I sent Dr. Angela Bain a letter of resignation effective June 30, 2009. On May 14, 2008, I was instructed by email to allow the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High School. On May 15, 2008 I told Ms. Ann Pilat to allow the formation of this club for the 2008-2009 school year.
Allowing the formation of this club on our campus conflicts with my professional beliefs and religious convictions. I considered resigning this year but reconsidered because to not fulfill my written contract for the 2008-2009 school year would also conflict with my professional beliefs and religious convictions. In my opinion failure to fulfill my contract would constitute a breach of trust with School District Five of Lexington and Richland County, my student heroes, returning Irmo High School employees, and new employees who have chosen to work at Irmo High school for the 2008-2009 school year.
The formation of this club conflicts with my professional beliefs in that we do not have other clubs at Irmo High school based on sexual orientation, sexual preference, or sexual activity. In fact our sex education curriculum is abstinence based. I feel the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High school implies that students joining the club will have chosen to or will choose to engage in sexual activity with members of the same sex, opposite sex, or members of both sexes.
I plan to tell our students via the intercom on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 that 2008-2009 will be my last year as Principal of Irmo High School. I don’t plan to go into detail but simply plan to let them know that I will be graduating with the class of 2008-2009 next year. I don’t intend to make a big deal out of this. Let’s get it over quick so we can close this year and have a great 2008-2009 school year. I intend to work with you and our students to make 2008-2009 the best year in our illustrious history. It is very important to me that the club sponsor and all students who join this club receive Golden Rule treatment from everyone.
My decision to resign is a personal choice based on my professional beliefs and religious convictions. I have prayed about the decision for a period of time and I have a peace about it. I would ask that you respect my choice as I respect your choice to disagree with me on this issue. I bear no malice towards anyone involved. If the people involved at the district level had chosen not to allow the club to form I am sure the district would have been sued and the current legal opinions and precedents indicate that in all likelihood the district would have lost.
Sincerely, Eddie Walker”
Lexington School District Five issued a statement through Director of Community Services Buddy Price. It says, “The federal law known as the Equal Access Act does not permit the school to discriminate against a club based on the club’s purpose and viewpoint by not allowing it to form unless the purpose of the club is unlawful.”
Lexington Five officials have not announced when they will begin searching for a new principal for the 2009-2010 school year.
5 responses so far ↓
1 SchoolFinder Blog » South Carolina Principal Resigsn Over Gay Club // May 22, 2008 at 3:44 pm
[...] people from bigotry disguised as religious truth, has issued the following statement on their blog to address this [...]
2 hend01 // May 22, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I fail to see how Principle Walker’s decision harms anyone at all. In fact, it’s his right to work in a professional setting without having to worry about lawsuits from families who’s children have been molested by homosexuals. Have you ever considered that children have a right to keep their innocence? What happens when a parent decides to sue the school because it cannot protect their child from the pervert on the school field trip?
Additionally, I find it hard to believe that so called “Religious based Bigotry” has created a social climate of rejection and condemnation over the past 25 years. If anything, there has been less rejection and condemnation over the past 25 years that the first 150 years of this country’s existence.
But press on you misguided bretheren who refuse to repent. Soon the only people interested in attending public schools will be gay. And then when the schools close because cannot collect enough taxes to pay the lawsiuts incurred and since everyone else who owns property in the school disctrict has left, what will you do?
You cannot force someone to accept your lifestyle any more that you refuse to repent.
Children have the right to keep their innocence. They should not be exposed to the harmful behaviour.
The Gay agenda is to recruit children in our schools because they cannot produce children of their own. What will happen when you cannot out procreate the same people you insult by labelling them “Bigots”?
Go ahead, call me Biggoted. It’s assinine. Gay and Lesbian people are likewise just as Bigotted towards good people who have a healthy respect towards their reproductive organs.
Just because you want to do something wrong doesn’t mean we have to join you in the behaviour and condone the continued semination of your ideas with the innocent.
That we love you doesn’t mean that we have to approve of the behaviour. We can love you and still tell you you that your behaviour is unacceptable to God.
I applaud Principle Walker for being a man who stands up for his principles.
You’re supporting feeding on the souls of the innocent. Do you honestly think there is no harm in what you do?
3 Susan Paige // May 22, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Announcing his departure two weeks before the end of school is ludicrous. The teachers and students should be thinking about FINALS and the death of one of their classmates, not the departure of a bigot. Finals? Suicide? Forget about it – it’s all about me!!!
4 darwin // May 23, 2008 at 1:39 am
Susan standing up for what is TRUE and Right must be done. Even though “you” say what they should focus on like Suicide because “you” say so. It’s all about ME right Susie.
5 Susan Paige // May 23, 2008 at 10:12 am
No, Darwin, that’s not the case. I work in that district and a student committed suicide, the school is mourning, but it is being overshadowed by the principal’s decision to let everyone know he is quitting A YEAR BEFORE HE QUITS.
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