The school board is attempting to ban stickers promoting all races and any group of people. This is attempting to ban the safe place stickers that mean that the room is a safe place for people of color and people in other communities such as the LGBTQIA+ Community. Although they are fine with flags or Promotion of america or Wisconsin or other such things promoting them. They think these stickers make it an unsafe place for people who are not in any special community and think it makes it unfair for them. This means they think the stickers are demoting Caucasians.

The document exactly states...

Public school safety and the feeling of belonging are important aspects in the lives of all students and all backgrounds at Arrowhead Union High School. Specifying certain areas as safe zones for some, as well as signage that promotes one group over others, can create a feeling of isolation, division, and estrangement. This can also create the sense that all areas of our school are not equal, with some areas being safer or more tolerant than others.

In the efforts to create safe, even, and fair environments for the academic achievement of all students, no signage, or other wording implying that a certain area is a "safe space" (or anything similar to this) are permitted, as all areas of AHS are, and should be considered safe spaces.

Additionally, any flags, signage, stickers or similar item for display denoting a division of race, ideology, sexual orientation, gender preference, or political affiliations are not permitted to be displayed in any room, hall, office, classroom, any part of the learning environment, buildings, or school grounds. This ban does include, but is not limited to: Flags of any kind (excluding the American flag and any iteration thereof, excluding the Wisconsin state flag, and excluding any flag specific to a foreign language being taught in that room), race dividing signage (such as: Black Lives Matter or anything denoting one specific race), anti racist classroom notations, rainbows, or any signage of any type promoting a sexual or gender preference, political signage promoting one party or candidate over another.

(This policy does not include or encompass any student attire or any student owned items or vehicles {as long as clothing is not in conflict with the AHS dress code)

After Interpreting this is what was found

Specifying certain areas as safe zones for some, as well as signage that promotes one group over others, can create a feeling of isolation, division, and estrangement. [sentence 2, lines 2-4]

• In the 2021-2022 school year, GSA made available to all staff stickers that state “Safe Space for All.”
  • These stickers do not denote that it is a safe space only for some, as the stickers explicitly state that it is a safe space for all students.
• Signs that promote one group over others could also be read to mean that any and all signage specifically related to one group, which would include sports teams, clubs, department, school, etc.
  • This should then mean that no signage related to any club or activity should be allowed to be posted at Arrowhead, including but not limited to locker signs denoting being a member of a club or activity, team awards or trophies, or curricular subject.
• Any sort of sports team display, including Arrowhead itself, would also be prohibited.

This can also create the sense that all areas of our school are not equal, with some areas being safer or more tolerant than others. [sentence 3, lines 4-5]

• Not all teachers or settings are as tolerant of various subgroups of individuals, hence the fact that the school board has specifically created school policies that treat trans or nonbinary students differently from their cisgendered peers.
• The reality is that some places in our school are not as safe from bullying and harassment as others.
  • Study Halls should be a safe place for all, right? i..e. a student in study hall this year was told they were going to hell for being gay.
  • Lunch seems like it should be a safe place, right? I.e. Well this year somone was called slurs for just looking gay.
  • Hallways should be a safe place for all. Students currently have passes to leave early/late from class to avoid students in the hallways.

In the efforts to create safe, even, and fair environments for the academic achievement of all students, no signage, or other wording implying that a certain area is a “safe space” (or anything similar to this) are permitted, as all areas of AHS are, and should be considered safe spaces. [sentence 4, lines 6-8]

• What is meant by “anything similar to ‘safe space’?”
  • Does this only include stating that a room or space is safe?
  • How do our signs related to fire and weather safety which state where our shelters are located fit into this policy?
  • As worded, there are many common life-saving practices that would fall under the broad category of “safe space.”

Additionally, any flags, signage, stickers or similar item for display denoting a division of race, ideology, sexual orientation, gender preference, or political affiliations are not permitted to be displayed in any room, hall, office, classroom, any part of the learning environment, buildings or school grounds. [sentence 5, lines 9-12]

• How will this policy define the following words/terms:
  • Flag
    • A usually rectangular piece of fabric of distinctive design that is used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or as a decoration
    • Something used like a flag to signal or attract attention
  • Signage
    • A display used to identify or advertise a place of business or a product
  • Division of race
  • Ideology
    • A manner or the content of thinking characteristic of an individual, group, or culture
      • This should include any and all clubs or activities at Arrowhead
    • The integrated assertions, theories, and aims that constitute a sociopolitical program
    • A systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture
  • Division of sexual orientation
    • How do “pride” flags or signs fall within this as they are not denoting a division of sexual orientation, but indicate a pride various orientations
  • Division of gender preference
• The way this is written would also prohibit gendered sports or promoting those sports
• Gender preference would also relate to signage outside of restrooms denoting “Men” and “Women.”
• Is the wording suggesting a “division of sexual orientation…” or simply “sexual orientation”
  • If the latter, this ban should then include any and all displays of any materials related to sexual orientation (i.e., personal family photos depicting romantic partners, anything related to romantic relationships or gender)

This ban does include, but is not limited to: Flags of any kind (excluding the American flag and any iteration thereof, excluding the Wisconsin state flag, and excluding any flag specific to a foreign language being taught in that room), race dividing signage (such as: Black Lives Matter or anything denoting one specific race), anti racist classroom notations, rainbows, or any signage of any type promoting a sexual or gender preference, political signage promoting one party or candidate over another. [sentence 6, lines 12-17]

• Again, what is defined as a flag?
• How is a rainbow defined?
  • An arc or circle that exhibits concentric bands the colors of the spectrum and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun’s rays in raindrops, spray, or mist
    • Spectrum - a continuum of color arranged in order
  • A multicolored array
  • (adj) Having many colors
  • Definitions of a rainbow would include a physical representation of the scientific phenomenon of a rainbow, including all colors of the spectrum, but would also include any item or object that includes more than one color
• How do pride flags or signs fall within this as they are not promoting a sexual or gender preference but indicating pride in a sexual or gender orientation?
• Similar to above, the wording of this language suggests that any and all displays of sexual orientation, gender preference, and/or race/ethnicity would be prohibiting
  • This should then include any and all personal family photos depicting romantic relationships
  • Truthfully, this language should then mean that any and all discussions or depictions of race would be prohibited
• How does this affect Girl Up?
• The language in this policy would also prohibit TARS from ever starting back up since it is specifically a one-sided politically-minded club
• How might this affect JSA, Model UN?
• How will this policy work along with curricular standards that address these same topics?
  • Sociology - Units covered include personality development, the family, social institutions, social class, race relations, crime, and the problems of the cities.
    • Given that they address race relations, the current wording seems to suggest that any visuals regarding race would be prohibited
  • Social Studies 9 - Semester one explores the ideas of democracy, separation of powers, federalism and political ideals while asking students to critically evaluate and connect political, economic and social themes to current events at the state and national levels of government.
    • It is likely that there would be discussion of political parties. Currently, there are teachers that do include signs from various candidates for political office
  • AP U.S. Government - The class will examine the following aspects of government and politics: Constitutional underpinnings of United States government, political beliefs and behavior, political parties, interest groups and mass media, institutions of national government, public policy and civil rights and liberties.
    • See above regarding Social Studies 9
  • Global Relations - Global Relations focuses on issues pertaining to human rights, conflict and war, environmental stability, and politics in all regions of the world.
    • Is there any discussion of sexual orientation in the human rights portion?
  • Political Science - Subject areas covered in the class will include the foundations of American government, political ideologies, political parties, interest groups, elections, civil rights, civil liberties, Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court, as well as current events
    • Are there discussions regarding sexual orientation and race in the portion regarding civil rights and civil liberties?
  • Parenting - Included will be units on: reproductive systems, conception, infertility, prenatal growth, pregnancy, heredity, birth defects, labor, delivery, newborn through toddler development, guidance of children’s behavior, roles of parents, parenting styles, and healthy family functions.
    • It seems implausible to have a conversation regarding reproduction without any sort of denotation regarding sexual orientation.
  • Consumer Auto - female only sections are offered
    • Any sort of indication that this is a female only section should be prohibited given the gender preference ban
  • Intro to Engineering & Manufacturing - female only sections are offered
    • Any sort of indication that this is a female only section should be prohibited given the gender preference ban
  • Manufacturing and Engineering with Materials - female only sections are offered
    • Any sort of indication that this is a female only section should be prohibited given the gender preference ban
  • Baritone Chorale - boys only
    • Any sort of indication that this is a female only section should be prohibited given the gender preference ban
  • Treble Choir - girls only
    • Any sort of indication that this is a female only section should be prohibited given the gender preference ban
  • Health - Human sexuality, reproduction, contraception, HIV/AIDS, prenatal development, childbirth, adoption, available prenatal and postnatal support, and male responsibility; sex stereotypes and provocative behavior
    • Current units discuss sexual orientation and gender identity, which would then be in conflict with this policy
  • AP Biology - All aspects of the course, including lectures, lab experiments, homework assignments, class discussion, and tests, focus on integrating the immense amount of factual material with the following analytical themes: molecules and cells, heredity and evolution, and organisms and populations
    • Given the discussion regarding genetics, any discussion of reproduction which would then include sexual orientation would be prohibited
  • Anatomy & Physiology - Students taking this course will develop the ability to use anatomical language while studying the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, and reproductive systems.
    • Any information related to reproductive systems would have to ensure that sexual orientation is in no way shown
  • Biology - Biology is devoted to the study of life, its molecular and cellular structure, energy requirements, reproduction, genetics and ecological relationships.
    • Any information related to reproductive systems would have to ensure that sexual orientation is in no way shown