Message from:
The Coalition for Safer Schools of NYS, PO Box 2345, Malta, NY 12020
John Myers, Director of Operations and Programs
Email to: SARATOGANY@aol.com
The Real or Perceived Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Protection Project

FYI
San Leandro High School
2200 Bancroft AVE.
San Leandro, CA 94577-6108
(510) 667-3540
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Daily Review
Oakland, CA
Monday, July 29, 2002

http://www.dailyreviewonline.com/Stories/0,1413,88%257E10975%257E761384,00.html?search=filter or click>>>Daily Review

Teacher suing for right to speak out
Reprimanded for discussions of homophobia, racism

By Elizabeth Schainbaum
STAFF WRITER

HAYWARD -- In what could be a landmark case, veteran San Leandro High School English teacher Karl Debro is fighting for teachers' rights to speak out against homophobia and racism. In 1999, the 18- year teacher filed a civil rights lawsuit against Superintendent Thomas Himmelberg and the San Leandro Unified School District because he believed the school district had violated his freedom of speech and unjustly punished him, according to court documents.

The trial for Debro's 3-year-old case began last week in Alameda County Superior Court. Debro, who was disciplined for breaking district policy, contends he was targeted because he's African American and outspoken about supporting gay rights and racial diversity, according to his lawsuit.

Debro was reprimanded in the 1997-1998 school year, after parents had complained about his classroom discussions. Citing the district's "Controversial Issues Policy," administrators argued that Debro should have sought the school principal's permission before launching into "controversial" topics. Debro, who still works at San Leandro High, countered that the policy is too broad, and therefore violated his freedom of speech.

Parents of Jason Godkin, a student in Debro's 11th-grade honors English class in 1997-1998, filed a lawsuit against Debro. They claimed that Debro, who has a wife and children, was trying to indoctrinate their son in his gay agenda.

That suit was thrown out of federal court in October 1999. Debro's current trial left off with the cross-examination of Leigh Akins, San Leandro High's principal at the time. She is the fifth plaintiff witness to take the stand. Himmelberg is expected to testify next. Like the other witnesses, Akins testified that racial tensions at San Leandro High were high and homophobia rampant, prompting teachers to discuss social issues with their students.

She told the jury that Debro was not the only teacher raising these topics. Akins said talking about homophobia, racism and oppression fit in with the curriculum. "They hadn't been doing anything wrong," she said. Akins, who now works as assistant principal at Arroyo High in San Lorenzo, even sat in on one of Debro's discussions in question and commended his handling of the topic.

"Debro had not done anything seriously wrong," she said. Another witness, Terry Minton, who is still a drama teacher at San Leandro High, said the action against Debro created an atmosphere of fear.

If Debro wins, he hopes to receive money from the district and to have the controversial policy revoked and his letters of discipline removed from his personnel file.

For more information, please contact:

The Daily Review
401 13th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
Email: ADDRESSTK

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