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from Gay Activism in the Schools
'No Name Calling Week' Cited
As Misguided Gay Activism
January 19, 2005 - Dr. Warren Throckmorton and Brenda High, executive
director of Bully Police USA have publicly questioned the usefulness of "No Name
Calling Week," created by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
(GLSEN) in association with Simon & Shuster, publishers of The Misfits, written
by gay author James Howe. His book tells the fictional story about a gay student
in a middle school.
"No Name Calling Week" in public schools is scheduled for January 24-28. The
alleged purpose of this week is to protect children from being harassed or
called derogatory names.
Dr. Throckmorton and Mrs. High, however, question the motives behind "No Name
Calling Week." According to High, "It is not the job of the school to
desensitize students concerning moral values. Strategies such as No Name Calling
Week that focus on social advocacy do nothing to keep schools safe for ALL
students."
Dr. Throckmorton agrees. "'No Name Calling Week' has an admirable objective but
a dubious methodology. By basing the event around a book that has its purpose to
change beliefs about the controversial issue of homosexuality, the organizers
are asking schools to become involved in social advocacy first and education
second, if at all. Furthermore, the book, The Misfits is developmentally
inappropriate for children targeted by the No Name Calling Week, grades 5
through 8," said Throckmorton.
Dr. Throckmorton notes that the No Name Calling Week sponsors are using name
calling as a tactic to meet social advocacy objectives.
Updated: 8 February 2008
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