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Tell Haralson County Schools: Teachers Should Not Be Fired for Fighting Anti-Gay Bullying
  1. Signatures
    653 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Principal (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Principal (Charles Needham)
      • Superintendent (Brett Stanton)
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Teachers are supposed to keep their classrooms safe, and make sure that all students are treated with respect and dignity. In fact, nothing was more important to Dave Dixon, a drama teacher at Haralson County High School in Tallapoosa, Georgia. Dixon was personally responsible for talking three kids down from suicide, and dozens of other students stayed in school because of the mentoring and support that Dixon gave them.

But today, Dave Dixon is out of a job. Why? Because his school didn't like the fact that he was trying to combat anti-gay bullying. Moral of the story? A quality teacher gets canned, because school administrators don't want any mention of homosexuality in the classroom.

How unacceptable is that? During a time where LGBT suicide and anti-gay bullying are pervasive in nearly every corner of the country, Haralson County High School sends a respected and admired teacher packing because he had the audacity to say that gay students shouldn't get harassed or beat up.

Send the Superintendent of the Haralson County schools, as well as the Principal of Haralson County High School, a message that Dave Dixon deserves to be reinstated. Fighting anti-gay bullying and violence should be every teacher's business; no teacher should be fired for trying to make their classroom safer for all students.

Why People Are Signing
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Reinstate Dave Dixon

Dear Superintendent Stanton and Principal Needham

I received word today that your school has decided to fire a teacher, Dave Dixon, for teaching his students a lesson that dealt with the reality of anti-gay violence. I am outraged that your school would decide to fire this teacher for trying to discuss the subject of violence based on sexual orientation.

Today, when stories of suicide and bullying by young people on the basis of their sexual orientation are pervasive, every effort should be made to make sure classrooms are safe for all students. That's exactly what Dixon, a celebrated teacher, was trying to do. But instead of rewarding him for tackling the subject, your school district decided to fire him. That's unacceptable.

I demand that Dave Dixon have his job reinstated. Firing a teacher for trying to combat anti-gay violence and bullying is deplorable, and leaves the Haralson County school system with a reputation that it values intolerance over student safety.

Thank you for your time.

[Your name]

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