Parents’, Educators’ Rights and Responsibilities
- Aug 26, 2008 - comment
This past May, one of our own, former Lt. Gov. Walter Bradley, was quoted widely by media across the state expressing his concern about the publication of photographs of and interviews with two same-sex student couples in the Clovis High School yearbook. While many applauded the yearbook staff and the students for what they considered to be a courageous and groundbreaking move, many others, including many New Mexico Baptists, courageously insisted that there was good reason that such photographs had not been published in past yearbooks, nor should they have been in the current or any future yearbooks.
Bradley, who is a member of Central Baptist Church in Clovis and a member of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s Christian Life Committee, has had plenty of experience through the years of having microphones stuck in his face, so his words were the ones most people across the state saw and heard. In a letter to the editor that was published in the June 6 Albuquerque Journal, though, he sought to set the record straight about what he said and did not say about the issue. Bradley pointed out:
- “… I raised the issue of protecting our children from public exposure of current thoughts that may harm their future.”
- “I never mentioned the orientation of the students …”
- He had told reporters that he thought “… all the pictures on those pages violated the school code regarding public display of affection.”
- A yearbook that is supposed to highlight children’s academic year is not the appropriate venue for such photographs and comments.
- The most important point he made was, “These students are minors and by law are protected,” and allowing such images and comments to be published amounted to “negligent exploitation” of the children.
Indeed, our society does not grant children full constitutional rights and responsibilities until they reach the age of 18. Until then, “we, the adults, parents and school officials are responsible,” Bradley correctly noted. There is good reason that children are almost never treated as adults when they break the law, nor can they be sued.
The responsibility is given to adult teachers, in Bradley’s words, “to assure no school policies or codes are violated and no laws are broken.” He commented that it was a good thing that the teacher who had been entrusted with that responsibility in relation to the yearbook no longer held that position, because she had not made the minor children aware of the policies and had allowed them to violate them.
Furthermore, some of the children’s parents knew nothing about the questionable material until it had been printed. “One student and mother who did not know objected and asked several people in the school to not publish the picture. They were denied,” Bradley said. “This mother and student were obviously distraught over, as she said ‘the labeling’ of her child. One parent said legal remedies are being explored.”
Since her child is her responsibility, there’s not a thing in the world wrong with that.
The superintendent of Clovis schools said in a meeting with pastors that “school policies will be reviewed, and, if necessary, rewritten to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” Bradley added.
Since that is the responsibility of school officials, that, too, is a good thing.
The issue is the right and responsibility of both parents and school officials to protect minor children from being used and exploited by groups or individuals who want to make a point. Parents have had, and should continue to have, that important right, and teachers and administrators have had, and should continue to have, that important responsibility.
A hearty “Well done” to all those who took that courageous stand and made that important point. Many of the families of New Mexico thank you!
This article is reprinted from the August 2, 2008, issue of the Baptist New Mexican, the newsjournal of Baptist Convention of New Mexico.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Children, Education, Sexual Purity, Homosexuality