Shanafelt

HOLLIDAYSBURG — When Hollidaysburg Area High School senior Madeline Shanafelt decided to voice her concerns over a proposed policy that would limit teacher expression, she didn’t expect to be greeted by a chorus of hecklers and disgruntled parents.

Shanafelt, who stood before the school board during its Nov. 16 meeting, was disappointed with the way the school was handling the fallout after a junior high teacher had the controversial “Gender Queer” graphic novel in her classroom.

An amendment to Policy 824, which deals with maintaining adult/student boundaries, was in the works before the graphic novel debate, as the same teacher allegedly had a gay pride flag in her classroom and asked students what pronouns they used.

Shanafelt said she had to speak out after seeing the changes members of the board were proposing.

“I wanted to because I feel very sad that the school I have gone to since kindergarten is starting to push through ignorant policies that promote hatred and don’t promote inclusivity,” Shanafelt said. “It breaks my heart that that’s how our school is going.”

The proposed change was voted down 5-4.

The board will meet at 7 tonight in the junior high auditorium. Discussion on a revised version of the policy is on the agenda.

The proposal, under prohibited conduct, reads “initiating conversations with students, whether in public or private, on gender identity, asking students for their preferred pronoun usage or sexual orientation. If a student initiates such discussion, the student shall be referred to the appropriate school resource.”

Speaking out

When the two-time Rotary Four-Way Speech Contest participant initially decided to make a public comment, she found encouragement from friends and family.

Her mother, Colleen, was also supportive, but encouraged Madeline to wait a week from Nov.7 to 16 to gather her thoughts and do more research.

“I didn’t tell her she couldn’t, but I told her it might be in her best interest to wait and listen,” Colleen said. “And I think that did serve you well,” she told Madeline.

A week would also allow tempers to die down, or so the duo hoped, as the Nov. 7 meeting, where the policy was first discussed, was filled with parents and community members outraged over the “Gender Queer” situation.

Colleen said she was pleasantly surprised at the start of the Nov. 16 meeting, as the crowd seemed a lot tamer and not as rowdy.

A handful of other students sharing similar thoughts and feelings were met with mild or hushed reactions, Madeline said.

When she got the opportunity to speak, Madeline told the board there was no reason a teacher shouldn’t be allowed to ask students for their preferred pronouns in an effort to make students who felt uncomfortable sharing their preference more comfortable.

“This question is not going to ruin your child’s innocence,” Madeline told the board.

But after someone in the crowd responded with “Yes, it is,” murmuring and disgruntled voices rose from around the auditorium.

Madeline broke down in tears and was unable to continue her comments.

“I really didn’t think I was going to be heckled,” Madeline said. “The first meeting I went to, a lot of people were getting heckled, but I’m a student, so I really didn’t think a group of adults would heckle me.”

Colleen said the controversy over the book, flag and pronouns seems to be coming from parents. The “parents are the ones who have more problems with this happening than students do,” she said.

Madeline’s father, Mike, said Madeline doesn’t cry often and that it takes a lot for her to break down the way she did at the meeting.

Madeline said she was upset at being yelled at, but frustrated, too, that the board is likely to pass a policy that isn’t kind or good for the school.

“Whenever I did start to get yelled at, I started thinking about the people in my life who would be directly impacted by this and how people booing me were just full of hatred,” she said.

Support from family, friends

Colleen was angry at how her daughter was treated by the crowd of adults, but the outpouring of support the family has received has softened her demeanor.

“Some teachers have reached out, my classmates have reached out,” Madeline said.

Colleen said, “One of the friends who reached out to me said I have to remind myself that the loudest people aren’t always in the majority. I made sure I told Maddy that, too.”

Mike said it is discouraging to see how difficult it is to have civil disagreements, but debate is still healthy and necessary in society.

“You don’t need to attack people — especially a student — for saying what they’re saying,” Mike said. “They have just as much right to speak as anyone else.”

Colleen said it’s important to listen and try to understand people rather than always being on the offensive.

Uptick in unruliness

Mike said he was surprised by the recent uptick in unruliness at the board meetings.

“I’ve been to several school board meetings,” Mike said. “They generally let the people talk.”

District Superintendent Robert Gildea said Madeline showed maturity and respect in her composure at the meeting — a stark contrast to the behavior of some of the parents and community members.

“I am very proud of the way that Maddy and her fellow classmates handled themselves with poise, class and respect for all speakers, regardless of their views,” Gildea said. “Regardless of their position on the issue, our students have always presented their opinions civilly and respectfully, something that is apparently lost on some of our adults.”

While Madeline will graduate in the spring and go on to attend Penn State at University Park, she remains concerned about Hollidaysburg school and the students.

She encourages more students to stand up and speak out about unfair policies and practices.

“I think it’s really important for students to speak up at these kinds of meetings, because it is directly affecting us,” Madeline said. “The majority of people speaking are parents and not actual students.”

Mirror Staff Writer Nate Powles is at 814-946-7466.