REEDSBURG, Wis., April 7, 2008
Kids' Cross-Dressing Event Draws Ire
Wisconsin Grade School's Costume Tradition Enrages Christian Radio Network
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Students at Pineview Elementary had been dressing in costume all last week as part of an annual school tradition called Wacky Week. On Friday, students were encouraged to dress either as senior citizens or as members of the opposite sex.
A local resident informed the Voice of Christian Youth America on Friday. The Milwaukee-based radio network responded by interrupting its morning programming for a special broadcast that aired on nine radio stations throughout Wisconsin. The broadcast criticized the dress-up day and accused the district of promoting alternative lifestyles.
"We believe it's the wrong message to send to elementary students," said Jim Schneider, the network's program director. "Our station is one that promotes traditional family values. It concerns us when a school district strikes at the heart and core of the Biblical values. To promote this to elementary-school students is a great error."
Schneider co-hosts "Crosstalk," a nationally syndicated call-in Christian radio show, along with Vic Eliason and Ingrid Schlueter.
"We became aware of this from constituents in your area. Anything that concerns the populace is important enough to talk about," Eliason said. "This is tax-funded - this is not a dress-up party in somebody's house. There are parents, taxpayers who do not appreciate the imposition of a particular lifestyle being portrayed as a normal lifestyle for the kids."
After the program aired, both the school and Reedsburg School District office were flooded with calls complaining about the event.
The response surprised Principal Tammy Hayes, who said no one had raised any objections beforehand. She said a flier detailing Wacky Week had been sent home with children the prior week, and an announcement was also included in teacher newsletters.
"Nobody contacted me," Hayes said.
"The promotion of transgenderism - that was not our purpose," Benson said. "Our purpose was to have a Wacky Week, mixing in a bit of silliness with our reading, writing and arithmetic."
The theme for Friday's dress-up day came from students, Hayes said. The Wacky Week schedule was created by Pineview's Student Senate with the guidance of secretary Shari Miller.
"It's different every year. They basically present the ideas, and they vote on what they would like from Monday through Friday," Hayes said. "I feel awful for the kids and Shari. They did not mean anything by this day. They were trying to have fun and come up with a fun dress-up day."
About 40 percent of the student body dressed up Friday, Hayes estimated, with half portraying senior citizens and half dressing as the opposite sex.
"I can assure you we will not be having this day (again)," Hayes said.
Schneider said VCY America had no plans to rebroadcast its news special.
Reedsburg is in southern Wisconsin, about 60 miles northwest of Madison.
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See all 117 CommentsIt''s a basic fact of human psychology that the things that people condemn are often things that are wrong with THEM to begin with... i.e. the homophobe who is a closet homosexual and can''t accept it.
Get a life people, and stop messing with our kids'' minds. You''re the ones causing the most damage.
And they enjoy tax exempt status. Outrageous.
Posted by exCoachKen
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To this I say AMEN!
Have a nice day.
Hey! Great thought! Now end the mandatory pledge of allegiance with the words "under God" imposed by rightwingers in the ''50s, and we''ll be square.
I am also concerned that children wearing Spiderman costumes on Halloween may become convinced that they are cartoons and may not breed appropriately.
even sadder is when the parents explain to this kids why they can''t have this activity next year...their silly reading, writing and arithmatic activity perverse? there''s gonna be a lot of confused, sad children...but oh well, if the christians tweak it just a little, maybe next year they can just stone these little children to death...
To them even kids having simple fun is bad. The kids did not think about "crossdressing" in the way the Christian Right makes it sound. It''s a shame people use the name of God to enforce their views on others.
Ban divorce!
I guess next will be the powderpuff football game. Where the cheerleaders dress in football uniforms and the players dress up as cheerleaders.
A: They are worth it.
Posted by dragonwagon5
That''s hilarious.
Kids being kids.
Posted by jh6379
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You are a good little socialist.
Religion must be ban for the future of Mankind.
For an atheist who is always being silenced by those evil Christians, you sure are expressing quite a few opinions.
I think the teachers should dress up like teachers and the students should dress up like students and both should get back to the business of education.
Yes I''m for real.
That''s why they call it a school. Schools are for education. Notice they don''t call them houses of recess.
Its a public school, that what kind of school it is. If you don''t want your children to participate in such activities, may I suggest you send them to private school and pay for it yourself. Then you will be informed of any and all activities in school including sneezing and taking bathroom breaks.
And watch the entire world go to Hell, not just half of it...
I wonder what kind of an education you had?
Posted by kbut1945
Is this the kind of rudeness you learned while you were playing at getting an education?
Welcome to the american taliban--they should consult with the Iranian mullahs
Posted by marcpcbs
No, in theory we teach tolerance of others..if you can''t be tolerant then take your game board and go home
Posted by lfitts1
You sound like you should be defending the little boy chasing catholic priests, drug dealers or the tobacco companies.
I wonder what kind of an education you had?
Posted by marcpcbs
Clearly, by that remark, I had a better one then you did. Thanks for playing.
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