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NEW YORK — The city is opening a full-fledged high school for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students -- the first of its kind in the nation, The Post has learned.
Operating for two decades as a small alternative program with just two classrooms, the new Harvey Milk High School officially opens as a stand-alone public school with 100 students in September.
The school is undergoing a $3.2 million in city-funded renovations approved by the old Board of Education in June of last year. It will eventually take in 170 students by September 2004, more than tripling last year's enrollment.
The Hetrick-Martin Institute -- the gay-rights youth-advocacy group that manages and helps finance the school in conjunction with New York's Department of Education -- has hired the school's first principal.
In the past, Harvey Milk High School -- named after the slain gay San Francisco politician -- was assigned an "off-site" supervisor who also oversaw several other schools.
Principal William Salzman said Harvey Milk will be an academically rigorous school that will specialize in computer technology, arts and a culinary program.
"This school will be a model for the country and possibly the world," Salzman said.
"This is a not a touchy-feely situation. We intend to have 95 percent of our students go on to college. We have a lot of talent coming into the school. We want to steer these kids in the right direction."
But New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long blasted the school as "social engineering" that wastes tax dollars.
"Is there a different way to teach homosexuals? Is there gay math? This is wrong. This makes absolutely no sense," Long said. "There's no reason these children should be treated separately."
Long said there are city and state discrimination laws on the books and that authorities should enforce them to stop gay-bashing.
"What next? Maybe we should have schools for chubby kids who get picked on. Maybe all kids who wear glasses should have special schools. It's ridiculous," he said.
What burns Long most is the $3 million spent on renovations. "Maybe this is one of the reasons the city has no money," he said.
Arthur Larsen, who graduated from the program last month as valedictorian, is thrilled with its expansion into a full-fledged school. "I'm now an alumnus of a real school!" he said. "There's going to be more students. In four years, I want to work here."
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"Is there a different way to teach homosexuals? Is there gay math? This is wrong. This makes absolutely no sense," Long said. "There's no reason these children should be treated separately."
Long said there are city and state discrimination laws on the books and that authorities should enforce them to stop gay-bashing.
"What next? Maybe we should have schools for chubby kids who get picked on. Maybe all kids who wear glasses should have special schools. It's ridiculous," he said.
What burns Long most is the $3 million spent on renovations. "Maybe this is one of the reasons the city has no money," he said.
Couldn't agree more.
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I figured someone would post this, and I figured I would see the same comments.
My take on this: Mixed.
In general, I think this is bad. Separate but equal (or inequal) is not a good policy. The more that society is exposed to gays, the more acceptance there will be. Segregating them into one place gives less chance for interaction with others.
On the other hand, I understand why this is being done. I could guarantee the students that will attend here will be the more "feminine gays" and the more "butch" lesbians - the very ones that get teased/beat up/killed in regular high schools.
The suicide rate among gay teens is astronomical, and much of it stems from rejection by peers. A safe and comfortable place will help alleviate some of that.
Overall, if the school can save one teen from committing suicide (which I think it will), then it is money well spent!
Originally posted by Strong Bad The school is undergoing a $3.2 million in city-funded renovations approved by the old Board of Education in June of last year.
Over $3 million in renovations just to make it a "gay" school?
Was it <i>too hetero?</i>
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Originally posted by Dback Jon I figured someone would post this, and I figured I would see the same comments.
My take on this: Mixed.
In general, I think this is bad. Separate but equal (or inequal) is not a good policy. The more that society is exposed to gays, the more acceptance there will be. Segregating them into one place gives less chance for interaction with others.
On the other hand, I understand why this is being done. I could guarantee the students that will attend here will be the more "feminine gays" and the more "butch" lesbians - the very ones that get teased/beat up/killed in regular high schools.
The suicide rate among gay teens is astronomical, and much of it stems from rejection by peers. A safe and comfortable place will help alleviate some of that.
Overall, if the school can save one teen from committing suicide (which I think it will), then it is money well spent!
The guy in the article said it best, fat kids get teased too ... I am sure some of them commit suicide because of the teasing. I sure hope they start a school for fat teens to save a life or two.
Principal William Salzman said Harvey Milk will be an academically rigorous school that will specialize in computer technology, arts and a culinary program.
You have got to be kidding me. What kind of gay school doesn't have interior design or fashion?
Is this really the best place to dump 3 million dollars?
I was teased and rejected by most of my peers in school because I wore glasses and was (am) very short. I attempted suicide when I was 13. Too bad there wasn't an alternative school I could've gone to... Gay kids are not teased any more than other kids who are different than the "norm".
What's next??? A school that teaches black kids in the vernacular claiming that ebonics is a viable language??? What a farce.
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