Students in Johnston were encouraged to participate in the Day of Silence on Friday, April 23. The purpose of the day, per communications sent from the district to the families, “is to bring awareness to the silenced voices of LGBTQ+ students in public schools.”
“To be clear, straight students are more than welcome to participate as allies,” the communication said. “Students who choose to participate will pick up tags from the counselor’s office that show that they are choosing to participate.”
Students who participated would not communicate verbally, but they would via writing or any other way they saw fit.
“It will not be used as an excuse to not participate in class work or discussion, but rather to bring awareness to the silenced voices of LGBTQ+ students in schools.”
Students were to stop at the counselor’s office to pick up their tag — with an exclamation point.
According to one parent, most of the teachers participated at the Johnston middle school. However, they said nobody was aware of what spurred the need for the day.
