'Anti-bias' group, PTA members angrily disagree
Parent group is new battleground

By K.C. MYERS
STAFF WRITER

PROVINCETOWN - Last night the power struggle that has emerged in this town over the discussion of homosexuality in the classroom found its way into the most benign of places, the Parent-Teacher Association.

A meeting of the group held last night included a heated confrontation between PTA members who recently joined, making a new majority, and members of the Anti-Bias School and Community Group.

The meeting was held for reorganization after an apparent insurgency at a previous PTA meeting two weeks ago when 12 parents joined, raising membership in the small group from three to 15. No sooner had they paid their dues than they voted that Diane Racine, then PTA president, sign a letter stating the PTA does not want sexual content mentioned in the classroom.

Racine, a lesbian mother, refused to sign and later resigned, saying the new members were not just talking about sexual content but opposed the school's anti-bias program.

The new PTA members deny that.

"The anti-bias program is fine with us," Cindy Lambrou said.

Lambrou said she became active because she is worried the anti-bias group has a hidden agenda. She said she wants to be as active in the schools as the anti-bias supporters are.

Lambrou said right now teachers are afraid to open their mouths during meetings for fear of offending the anti-bias group.

"Rightfully so," said PTA member Maryellen Spingler. "(The anti-bias) group is very politically active and vindictive. I'm fearless, but I recognize a threat."

Some members of the anti-bias group appeared briefly last night to ask PTA members to attend Tuesday's school committee meeting. They said the anti-bias plan would be on the agenda.

John Perry Ryan, a member of the anti-bias group, and Spingler exchanged barbed insults.

Spingler said members of the anti-bias group display the same sort of bullying behavior toward their political enemies as they try to eliminate with their anti-bias plan.

School Committee member Bill Rogers said the anti-bias group has been attending school committee meetings regularly.

"They've been in my face for the last six months," he said.

The school doesn't need an anti-bias curriculum so much as an education curriculum - period, Lambrou said.

Rogers agreed. "Thank you," he said to members of the new PTA. "I'm very pleased with what's going on here. New lines of communication are opening up."

New PTA member Donna Joseph tried to explain the hostility between the groups after the meeting. She complained that longtime residents like herself had welcomed the gay influx and now are being accused of homophobia.

"They have the numbers," she said, "except in the schools."