Silent Halls at Cranford High School

1. Silent Halls at Cranford High School

2. ...On the National Day of Silence hundreds of thousands of students nationwide take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools…

3. What Does LGBT mean? • LGBT (or GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to: • lesbian • gay • bisexual • transgender people

4. ABOUT THE DAY OF SILENCE • Sponsored by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, the National Day of Silence is a day of action in which students across the country take some form of a vow of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools • Through their activities students can speak out against harassment and organize for change for their schools and communities

5. The Day of Silence: A Tool for Change • Organizing a Day of Silence (DOS) activity or event can be a positive tool for change-both personally and community-wide • By taking a vow of silence, you're making a powerful statement about the important issue of anti-LGBT bullying • When you organize others to join you that message becomes louder and louder

6. Your Rights during the Day of Silence • While you DO have a right to participate in the Day of Silence between classes and before and after school, you may NOT have the right to stay silent during instructional time if a teacher requests for you to speak • According to Lambda Legal, “Under the Constitution, public schools must respect students' right to free speech. The right to speak includes the right not to speak, as well as the right to wear buttons or T-shirts expressing support for a cause."

7. Your Rights during the Day of Silence • However, this right to free speech doesn't extend to classroom time • "If a teacher tells a student to answer a question during class, the student generally doesn't have a constitutional right to refuse to answer." • We remind participants that students who talk with their teachers ahead of time are more likely to be able to remain silent during class

8. The Truth about the Day of Silence • As the day’s popularity and exposure have increased, many misperceptions have spread about what the Day of Silence is, why the day exists and what participating in it means • Following, are 4 truths that address common misinformation about the Day of Silence

9. The Truth about the Day of Silence • The Day of Silence’s purpose is to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment and effective responses • The goal of the Day of Silence is to make schools safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression • Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment at school

10. The Truth about the Day of Silence • Hundreds of thousands of students of all beliefs, backgrounds and sexual orientations participate in the Day of Silence • Slurs such as "faggot" and "dyke" are commonplace in school • The Day of Silence is an example of students, from middle school to college, including all races, working together proactively to bring attention to the anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment

11. The Truth about the Day of Silence • Day of Silence participants encourage schools to implement proven solutions to address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment • Adopt an anti-bullying policy that outlines categories such as race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender expression/identity • Provide staff trainings to enable school staff to identify and address anti-LGBT harassment effectively and in a timely manner • In our school, we practice the Olweus Bullying Program

12. The Truth about the Day of Silence • The day is a positive educational experience • The Day of Silence is an opportunity for students to work toward improving school climate for all students • The day is most successful when schools and students work together to show their commitment to ensuring safe schools for all students • There is no single way to participate, and students are encouraged to take part in the way that is the most positive and uplifting for their school

13. What is GLSEN®? • GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students • Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression

14. Who started the Day of Silence? • In 1996, students at the University of Virginia organized the first Day of Silence in response to a class assignment on non-violent protests • Over 150 students participated • In 1997, organizers took their effort nationally and nearly 100 colleges and universities participated • In 2001, GLSEN became the official organizational sponsor for the event

15. Has the Day of Silence been successful? • In 2008, students from more than 8,000 K-12 schools, colleges and universities organized Day of Silence events These numbers make the Day of Silence one of the largest student-led actions in the United States

16. I'm in middle school. Can I organize a Day of Silence at my school? • The Day of Silence can logistically be organized in any school, public or private, middle school, high school or college • However, in middle and high schools, getting support from the school administration is critical • Students should not assume that administrators would not support their efforts - even if they have not supported LGBT issues in the past

17. What other things can I do to create an effective Day of Silence? • Many people will be affected by this event, and will want to know more about the silence LGBT people and their allies face • Good follow-up events include: workshops, speakers, entertainment, or any other venue for evaluation, education, and discussion

18. What happens if my school doesn't support the effort? • GLSEN advises all students to secure school permission for the event • We encourage students in those schools where support is unlikely to build campaigns to try and secure that support or work with their administration on compromises of activities the school will allow

19. What do you have to say about potential opponents to the Day of Silence? • Some individuals and groups organize events in opposition to the Day of Silence • These events grossly mischaracterize or simply misunderstand the basic purpose of the Day of Silence • If you face hostile students or organizations in your school on the Day of Silence remember to remain calm • We encourage you to not get into a debate, make gestures, and certainly not to get into a physical altercation.

20. Silent Halls at Cranford High School • In our school, Student Council organizes the Day of Silence • We prepare for the DOS by making students aware with flyers, posters, t-shirts and announcements • Students that participate receive stickers • To further their support, students often buy pins and ribbons sold during lunch periods

21. SAVE THE DATE Day of Silence April 20th, 2012 What are you going to do to end the silence?