Closely Align With? Which Components Would You

¶ … closely align with? Which components would you take from them to make your own process -- why? Seven Step Decision-Making Process would have been the best strategy: It appears that the principal -- John Short -- did not follow the seven step decision-making process, and he should have. Short should have stopped to think about what he was doing before insisting the bulletin board should be changed.

He then should have "clarified goals" and thought about why the teachers (Frank and Smart) made their decisions to bring attention to gay history month (step 2). After gathering information (step 3) and "determining facts" by interviewing the teachers involved and other faculty on campus that might be pro-or con; indeed, he could have brought several faculty members into a meeting and brainstormed possible responses (step 4) in order to develop options, so the school would be on solid footing in terms of consensus.

Alternatives could have been presented (step 5) that included the consideration of the consequences. For example, the school could have allowed the bulletin board materials to remain and could have defended the decision based on the recent Supreme Court rulings that preventing same-sex marriage was against the Civil Rights legislation and hence it is legal for people of the same sex to marry. And the best alternative choice (step 6) could have been arrived at after calm, responsible discussion.

Step 7 involves the need to modify and monitor the responses following the execution of that decision. The heuristic decision-making process is not likely to have been the proper one in this scenario. There is not likely to have been a precedent at this school for recognition of gay history or gay rights. No random process fits well in this context.

As to the rational decision making process, it is quite similar to the seven-step process, because everything must be put on the table when decisions are being made that impact students, faculty, parents and the community. Logic is a big part of the rational decision-making process, and it is apparent that the principal did not follow a logical series of steps. He seemed to have a knee-jerk reaction as soon as he was told "…some of the parents had complained" to more than one teacher.

Had he been more rational, he might have realized that only a minority of parents objected and they could have been reached and assured that the school was only trying to be fair to all groups within the U.S. Society.

Does a principal have a right to approve materials posted on school bulletin boards, particularly if parents and community members find them objectionable? The answer is yes; a principal does indeed have that right, especially if he believes that the material on the board could lead to controversy and put his school in a spotlight that is not entirely positive or favorable.

But on the other hand, it is likely that people in the community and some parents would fully support Smart and Frank's right as educators to promote gay history month. That is because, education isn't all about things that are pleasant and agreeable to all. Educators should be willing to stand up for minority opinions and should be willing to take the heat when a controversy comes along.

That said, gay rights in America are still on shaky ground, even though a slight majority of the public agrees that gays have a right to be married. Many conservatives and conservative churches are very much opposed to any "rights" for gay people; and some evangelical faiths truly believe that God is against gays, based on Old Testament quotes. Does the observance of gay rights history month fall into the same.