I am writing to express my dissatisfaction at a letter published in Sunday's edition of the Deseret News. The writer, Kent Fetzer, wrote that students were pawns of organizations like the ACLU when they staged walkouts and participated in rallies.
His letter was degrading to the self-identity of students. He implied that students did not have the ability to think for themselves, and their recent actions were simply suggestive of an adult organization, the ACLU, influencing students to get what they want. Unfortunately, he is quite mistaken in that regard. I am a West High student, and I can tell you I didn't even hear about the ACLU's involvement in the club issue until I read his letter. The student body of both East and West high schools protested by their own choice, not one of an organization like the ACLU.Mr. Fetzer also stated that he considered it a small price to pay to have noncurricular clubs banned in order to keep homosexuality out of public schools. Is it really a small price? In a world where competition is high and scholarships difficult to obtain, having clubs simply keeps us competitive. Without them, we lose that edge over other students.
I hope that Mr. Fetzer will ponder the fact that high school students are sentient human beings just like himself. We do indeed have the ability to act on our own decisions. We do indeed have self-identities. We do indeed have to have parents and community leaders who care enough about kids to act on this violation of our rights.
Michael Owen
West High student
Salt Lake City