A week from today is GLSEN’s national Day of Silence, where students across the country will take a sticker and a vow to remain silent all day long in an attempt to call attention to the silence forced upon LGTBQ students out of fear of bullies. But how far does the silence go when speaking out against the bullies?
As someone who participated in three Days of Silence, I do understand what rights the students do and do not have when vowing to their silence. I knew of other students keeping their sexuality under wraps out of fear of harassment. While it is an effective demonstration, I don’t know if I think simply pledging and showing your vow is enough, even if a majority of the students get involved.
What most schools overlook is that the event goes past the school day. GLSEN provides a handout that explains different ways to “Break the Silence.” Whether it’s a festive event or a chance for participants to sit down and share their experiences, thoughts, and feelings, it is something that I think is an important part of the Day of Silence. It feels almost as if it just tapers off as students head home, stickers tossed in the trash and the day forgotten. It seems to lose its effect.
A handful of students take the pledge not because they stand by their classmates, but in order to “avoid answering questions in class.” On GLSEN’s Day of Silence page, they say that while a student does have the Constitutional right to vow not to speak in school, they can’t refuse to answer a teacher due to their choice. Some teachers are willing to provide alternatives, or ask participating students questions that do not need lengthy answers, but overall, they expect students to participate in class.
I think the Day of Silence is a strong, valid idea as a day of action to draw attention to the problem, but there needs to be a step after where they actually address the issue and work towards solving it.
