GJ Teacher Admits Skit on Lesbians oversight'

By Ted Taylor, The Daily Sentinel

A high school class skit about two married women entertaining the idea of a lesbian affair has a parent asking if the "moral decay" of society has entered the classroom.

The Grand Junction High School teacher who allowed students to perform the skit in class in November has apologized, saying the presentation was an "oversight" on her part.

Donald Pacini, a local cardiologist and father of past and present Grand Junction High School students, is upset with a skit called "Anything for You," which was performed in his son's introductory forensics class taught by Anna Goetz.

The class, consisting of freshmen through seniors, introduces students to competitive speech events. The elective language arts course requires students to perform speeches and skits.

"Anything for You" features two married women, Gail and Lynette, talking at an urban cafe.

In the course of the discussion, Lynette confides to Gail that she desperately needs to sleep with someone other than her husband and she'd like that person to be Gail.

Gail, astonished by this revelation, passes Lynette's request off, reminding her friend that she is completely heterosexual and happily married.

But as the two continue talking, vividly remembering a New Year's kiss they shared, Gail ultimately admits that she is in love with Lynette.

The plan ends simply with the two women getting ready to order.

The issue was made public Tuesday night during an informal community chat at Bookcliff Middle School.

Before presenting to board the letter he wrote to Grand Junction High Principal Virginia Settle, Pacini said the issue was especially bothersome considering, for example, how schools have gone as far as to eliminate the use of the word Christmas in school hallways.

In the letter, Pacini said he "had no idea the moral decay of modern society had crept so far into our own high school."

He continued to say that the skit would have been inappropriate even if it had involved only heterosexuals, " but the implied acceptance of homosexuality as normal behavior turns it from bad to repugnant."

Goetz said in a letter to Pacini that the skit was a "piece of literature which was inappropriate for the classroom," and its presentation was an "oversight."

In an interview, Goetz said she did not feel comfortable expressing an opinion on the subject matter in the play.

She also would not comment on the situation, other than to say that "it's been something that Mrs. Settle has spoken with me about."

"Basically it's been dealt with and is pretty much over," Goetz said.

Pacini said in an interview that he was "very pleased" with how the situation was handled.

"My intention was to keep this pretty quiet, but it just bothered me enough to make sure the school board knew about it. It turns out they knew."

Goetz added that she believes some good has come from the situation.

"Every experience in education, you apply it to the next scenario," she said. "I feel confident that the class will be fine and the kids will benefit."

Settle, who would not comment on discussions she had with Goetz or if she had any discussions with students in the class, also said the skit was inappropriate for the classroom.

School board member Dan Robinson said he was impressed by the swiftness with which the situation was handled.

"It's important that people bring up issues that are offensive or they have concerns about," Robinson said.

"It's the school and the district's responsibility to act quickly. Nobody ignored this."

(Ted Taylor can be reached via e-mail at ttaylor@gjds.com)

Daily Sentinel, Jan 19, 2000

Letter:Where is concern about children learning intolerance?

I am writing in response to Donald Pacini's comments in The Daily Sentinel article about the lesbian skit which recently occurred in a Mesa County classroom.

Granted, a high-school class is probably not an appropriate venue for material dealing with extramarital affairs, be they gay or straight. However, I find it ironic that Mr. Pacini is concerned about what children are being taught, yet he finds it appropriate to teach children that it is OK to judge others and find them "repugnant" without knowing anything other than their sexual orientation.

I would rather my child see a controversial play in an educational environment than learn that it is OK to be judgmental and hateful without reason. Perhaps before Dr. Pacini fixes hearts, he should get one.

-- Cheryl Van Houten, Grand Junction

Letter:Teacher showed courage to discuss controversial issue

I would bet Dr. Donald Pacini is "very pleased with how the situation was handled" regarding the reading from "Anything for You," a play with lesbian content. He got the opportunity to reveal his position on homosexuality to the whole community, while those of us who work in real service programs to end violence, illness, discrimination and misinformation are not included in the discussions that affect our communities.

I actually agree that the subject matter of sex outside marriage was inappropriate for the students, but I believe had it been a heterosexual situation, nothing would have been said or done. The lesbian content that inspired Dr. Pacini to comment that it went from bad to repugnant speaks loudly for his attitude toward much of what is different for him, I suppose. Dr. Pacini should know homosexuality is recognized as normal behavior for medical and psychological institutions. Also, many of our faith organizations are reaching out to homosexual men and women, including the most discriminated against and marginalized segment of our societies.

Taking time to "unlearn bias" isn't for everyone. School District 51 is notorious for its exclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students' information and safety. I support teachers who have the courage to include difficult and controversial materials in their classes.

-- Jeffrey Basinger, Grand Junction.

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