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DIVERSITY POLICY
Kanawha County Possibly Including Sexual Orientation in Policy

Reported by: Send eMail Rudi Raynes
Videographer: Aaron Smeltzer, Jerry Criner
Web Producer: Rudi Raynes
June 29, 2009 10:52pm

EYEWITNESS NEWS ONLINE VIDEO
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A new addition to the Kanawha County Schools Diversity Policy has some up in arms.

Jeremy Dys of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia says, "We are concerned that the Kanawha County Board of Education is going to be holding hostage the paychecks of teachers simply for them abiding by their religious convictions."

The board will soon be voting on whether or not teachers have to complete training that encourages tolerance of homosexuality. And Dys thinks that's wrong.

"Forcing teachers to be indoctrinated on issues of sexual orienation against their religious convictions is unconstitutional." says Dys.

But school board member Pete Thaw says they're simply refining the policy to eliminate bullying.

"It's much more about diveristy of cultures than to hang your hat on one little item called sexuality." says Thaw.

St. Albans High graduate Clayton Stover says he hopes the new policy passes and becomes widely accepted.

"Hopefully it'll go through the state after it passes because Kanawha County policy usually comes first and then the rest of the state follows." says Stover.

But Nitro graduate Sierra Hedrick says bullying is bound to happen and homosexual tolerance shouldn't be singled out.

"Bullying happens to eveyone. If you do that for one group you'll have to do it for boys, girls, homosexual girls, homosexual boys, black homosexual girls, there are all different types of groups you can have." says Hedrick.

But Thaw says there's only one goal with the policy change.

"There will be NO bullying tolerated at all in our schools."

You can learn more about the Family Policy Council of West Virginia's stance on the issue by visiting their website at www.familypolicywv.com.

And if you want to tell us what you think about whether or not sexual orienation should be added into the diversity policy you can email us your thoughts at news@wchstv.com.

The school board meeting to vote on this issue will be held July 16th at 6 P.M. and is open to the public.



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