Anoka-Hennepin ISD#11 Magazine Article in Rolling Stone. (Coon Rapids, Blaine: school district, income)

[mn55110]

While reading this weeks issue of "Rolling Stone" magazine over the weekend (the one with the cover story about NBC's show "The Voice"), One of the major articles focussed exclusively on Minnesota's largest school district, the Anoka-Hennepin School District #11, up in the Twin Cities northern suburbs of Anoka County and Hennepin County.

The article is an in-depth look at the record number of GLBT students in the Anoka-Hennepin School District committing suicide along with school district official response, or lack thereof, and stating that the suburban communities served by the Anoka-Hennepin School District are allegedly very hostile to members of the GLBT community.

I was wondering if anyone else has read the Rolling Stone article, and what any thoughts maybe of anyone living within the school district, either presently or past residents?

How about anything from past alumni from District #11. I would also llike to hear from any teaching faculty or staff in the Anoka-Hennepin School District?

[Camden Northsider]

I don't have any direct experience with the Anoka-Hennepin school district, but the article was heart-breaking and created a response of anger in me (and I'm not easily upset by things) towards the school board, administration, some teachers, students, and others that knowingly allowed things to go on so long because of the neutrality rule, etc. I was also pretty surprised to read of the crazy conservatist politics that seem to have a stronghold on the district/local politics- I knew it was conservative there, but stories about the Day of Truth and kids calling other kids sinners?

I have a friend that's a teacher in the district, and he's spoken about the awkardness/arbitrary nature of the neutrality policy, and how no one knew how to explain and/or interpret it.

But I would be curious to hear from others that both read the article and have worked in and/or went to school in Anoka-Hennepin in recent years. Was the story prone to exaggeration for dramatic effect in your opinion? Are things really that crazily conservative, homophobic, etc. in the district?

I know at least a couple of forum regulars went to Anoka-Hennepin, if you haven't seen the article it can be found here:

One Town's War on Gay Teens | Politics News | Rolling Stone

[iNviNciBL3]

One of my old girlfriends back in high school went to Blaine and she had many unfortunate stories of kids who took there lives, i can't even type these stories because how extreme and graphic they are.

[Minnesota Spring]

The article makes the Northern Burbs seem like backwoods Arkansas. I had no idea the economy hit this area so hard (I rarely ever have a reason to go to the area). I'm not saying that I disagree with the arcticle at all because I am not real familiar with the area, but the discriptions of the school board and the area just kind of supprised me.

If the arcticle is accurate, how sad - to be in such a large and progressive metro - yet be so backwards (than again, it is Bachman territory and I could never understand the logic up there).
I sincerly hope that GLB kids are able to get the help they need, I know how hard it can be and the discribed situation definately does not help matters.

[knke0204]

Originally Posted by BobMarley_1LOVE

One of my old girlfriends back in high school went to Blaine and she had many unfortunate stories of kids who took there lives, i can't even type these stories because how extreme and graphic they are.

Yeah I've heard plenty of these Blaine stories.

Pretty odd.

High School is vicious. I feel like this issue gets patronized in today's media (take Glee for ex.) There were openly gay, and non-openly gay students in HS, but nobody ever bullied or made an issue of it. Maybe I am forgetting or had blinders on, but in my school that stuff just wasn't tolerated.

Yet again, im from a small-town that's very religious and we were taught early on that you better treat people the way you would want to be treated, or else you'd get a backhand from your old man.

These stories are disgusting to me and as humans we should be ashamed of our society. I just hope my generation can enstill these ideals into our children, because i know i am.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

We live in Andover.

1.) The North metro is pretty conservative. There are a lot of churches in a small area. In Ham Lake they just built a couple massive churches over the past few years. If it matters, I am agnostic.

2.) There is a lot of wealth in the North Metro. Ham Lake's average family income is $86K, Andover $87K, Ramsey $78K. Coon Rapids ($61K) and Anoka ($47K) are bluer collar areas. Anoka High School takes students from Anoka, parts of Andover, and Ramsey. So the area is FISCALLY conservative 1st and morally conservative 2nd.

3.) I voted for Michelle Bachmann because she is fiscally conservative. As a bonus, she is HOT! So if you are following, Bachmann's is successful because the religious right is active at the primary level. ANY articulate conservative Congressman would be voted in the North metro. I think Rolling Stone wanted to make the connection to "sell" their point that the area is full of Bachmann ideology supporters relating to gays. I don't see that. Fiscally responsible DFL candidates can easily be voted in. The DFL gave us Patty Wetterling. She admitted she didn't know squat.

4.) The article quoted teachers being afraid of being fired. Really? Mary Jo Merrick-Lockett was quoted. I had Ms. Lockett for a teacher in 1981. She cannot be fired. If she didn't speak up when she heard bullying and was afraid, shame on her! She should of grabbed that brat by the ear and had a nose to nose intense chat explaining how wrong they were.

5.) I personally know two people on the school board. I've talked with them many times at great length. They are not "anti-gay" or afraid to speak their mind. There is a VERY active religious group that is not a fan of promoting the gay lifestyle. The bottom line is that out spoken group doesn't want pro-gay teachings which is a lot different than an "anti-gay policy. I also know that person who is sending out the emails. She is attempting to persuade the school board not to allow pro gay teachings. I would never say she is a gay basher or "racist". I think she takes it too far (why spend your energy) but at the end of the day, she doesn't want the district teaching religion or pro-gay material. Hence, "neutrality".

6.) As I said earlier, no one is going to get fired for STRICTLY disciplining Kid's for bullying especially calling someone a "f_g" or other terrible names. It seems Rolling Stone found some coward teachers. There is absolutely no district culture that suggest that it is somewhat o.k. to allow gay bullying no matter how the Rolling Stone article presents it. If my 6'3 180 pound straight Kid heard a bully say something like that, he is firmly taught to correct that person to show how stupid they are behaving. In fact, just last week he explained to a group of students who were complaining about the article on how silly they sounded by denying some of the obvious problems that do exist.

7.) I predict that gays are sadly harassed in about every single school in America to varying degrees. Kid's are cruel and their (sometimes worthless) parents plant that seed all across the country. I do know that the North Metro students on average have more anti-gay sentiment than other areas but NOT to an extreme that is painted; not even close.

To be clear, there is obviously something going wrong in the district. But if you read the RS piece and think that it is accurate, you are sadly mistaken. I'm all out of time because I have to go to my banjo lesson.

[golfgal]

I really feel for the Anoka School board. I would not want to have to be in the position they are being forced to take. Unfortunately you cannot legislate morality because there are just too many interpretations and "your" side of the issue is no more right or wrong than someone else's side of the issue...

[audadvnc]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Unfortunately you cannot legislate morality because there are just too many interpretations and "your" side of the issue is no more right or wrong than someone else's side of the issue...

That is so true. Unfortunately we humans have a tribal instinct that tells us that our side is the right side, no matter if it's true or not.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by audadvnc

That is so true. Unfortunately we humans have a tribal instinct that tells us that our side is the right side, no matter if it's true or not.

Interesting that you said that.

The district made the RS article mandatory reading. Just yesterday, my son was debating 10 junior and senior boys who thought the "gays should suck it up". In short, they were blaming the bad press on gay students. He didn't have anybody backing him up so the problem might be worse than I thought. A short senior explained to my son that he gets teased all of the time and it's just-the-way-it is (a part of high school). 20 minutes later I think he started coming around. My son who is a polished debater explained that being hated is a lot different than being made fun of for being short. The short students counter argument was "that's what my religion teaches me". My Kid's response: WWJD??

In talking with him this morning, this theme has come up 10 or more times and other more open minded students are making progress but not many will challenge there classmates. One teammate student a year ago said "they can kill themselves, what do I care" and he got an earful from my son. Yesterday he reduced his rhetoric to "Do boys really need to bring purses to school" (referencing someone being outwardly gay perceived as in-your-face gay). Progress.

To your point: Religion is very tribal.

[danielle_pal]

I worked in an E.R. in that neck of the woods and I have to say, it is a whole other world up and over there in Anoka don't cha know. And not in a progressive way!