Grand Field Teacher 01

MARCH 15, 2009

Students upset over resignation Grandfield ethics teacher

THE SOURCE FOR INFORMATION IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA

GRANDFIELD — A group of students at Grandfield High School and at least one of parent say they are angry with school administration for how it handled a recent dispute over controversial literature. In recent weeks the school canceled the ethics and street law classes mid-semester and suspended the teacher, Debra Taylor, after a series of events concerning an inclass production of “The Laramie Project.” The true-story play is about a gay Wyoming college student who was murdered and about hate crimes, speech issues and life in rural communities. On Friday, Taylor resigned — and school officials insist it was not because she wanted to teach “The Laramie Project.” “I think it’s a classic ‘tempest in a teapot,’” said school attorney John Moyer. “I can’t tell you what was in a confidential document ... but the fact that the superintenTAYLOR dent and employee were able to resolve this would tend to tell you that people’s rights weren’t being violated.” “But we just want a voice in the school,” said Matt Ebner, 18, a senior. “We don’t TURLINGTON like that it got into a ‘gay’ issue, and we don’t like that an ethics class was canceled over an ethical issue.” “And we lost a fantastic teacher over a silly issue,” said Elizabeth Squires, the parent of a sophomore.

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Brittany Martin and Tina Reese prepare their balloons and signs for their friends returning with the 69th Forward Support Company Saturday at Goldner Gym on Fort Sill.

Tears of joy were shed at Fort Sill Saturday as 320 troops from the 69th Forward Support Company and Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery arrived after 15 months in Iraq. Families and friends packed the bleachers at the Goldner Gym around 4:30 p.m. waiting for the soldiers to be dismissed. Lt. Col. Steven Wertz, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery, threw his speech out the window to give everyone more time to spend with their loved ones. “I had a speech written out, that I was going to give these guys. But I realized, the only thing between you and them is SEE TROOPS, 2A

The Lady Cache Bulldogs made their first appearance in the State basketball title game Saturday against No. 3 Vinita.

THE INSIDER • 3A

Park enhanced Grass won't be the only thing springing up in Elmer Thomas Park in April. City Council members agreed last week to allow entities in the community to make some changes in the park.

Wings clipped

It was known as the "Starlifter" for its ability to haul cargo and troops worldwide, but this weekend contractors are doing some "Starlifting" of their own.

LPS, teen get awards

The Lawton Public Schools District and an area teenager will receive “Friends of Children” awards next month.

BUSINESS • 1B

Homeowners may get tax break STEVE MILLER/STAFF

Jacob McKenzie, a student at Park Lane Elementary School, prepares to fire an arrow Thursday afternoon. Physical education teacher Ken Gray routinely teaches a segment on archery to students as part of their regular PE classes. But this year, he will be taking the 13 best archers from the school tournament to the state archery championship April 1 in Oklahoma City, with regulation equipment borrowed from Cameron University.

Students let fly Kids take aim at competition BY TYRELL ALBIN STAFF WRITER [email protected]

hey are a baker’s dozen of the best archers at Park Lane Elementary School — and on April 1, they will be loosing flights of arrows against some of the largest schools in the state. Park Lane physical education teacher Ken Gray, known for his innovate PE classes, has been teaching his students archery for five years. But this year, he will be taking the 13 best archers from last month’s school archery tournament to Oklahoma City’s Cox Center where they will compete as a team in the Oklahoma Archery in the Schools state championship tournament for grades 3-12. “It’s an all-day event,” Gray said. “There will be 1,200-plus kids there.” The kids from Park Lane will be the first students from the Lawton area to compete in the state tournament, where they will mainly be going head-to-head with students from Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The students will get the day off from school for the trip, which will be made in a van borrowed from the

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STEVE MILLER/STAFF

Park Lane Elementary student Dawson Brush adds up his score at archery practice Thursday afternoon with the help of his line coach, who happens to be his grandfather, Tom Brush. A number of adults volunteer their time to help Physical Education teacher Ken Gray operate special PE programs like archery, unicycling and water safety.

Homeowners who felt a cold draft inside their house this past winter and who want to prevent the cool air from escaping through their windows and doors this summer will get a little help from the stimulus package passed by Congress last month.

Magazine gives ‘birth’

Red River Family magazine now has an offspring — Red River Kids.

SPORTS • 1C

Big 12 title decided The surprising Baylor Bears found themselves in the most unlikely of places — playing No. 15 Missouri for the Big 12 title on Saturday.

OU women play

Courtney Paris spent way too long on the bench in foul trouble for No. 3 Oklahoma to feel comfortable about its chances of advancing to the Big 12 championship game.

STYLES • 1D

Leaders hope to be biggest losers

For many women — and even some men — swimsuit season is a looming threat on the horizon. Thankfully, Kate Hicks has a plan to help us all out.

Stallions to perform

"World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions will perform this week in Lawton.

Vets day events set

SEE ARCHERY, 4A

Dan Tucker wants to make sure that the truth is told — or at least his version of it.

SEE GRANDFIELD, 5A

INDEX Book reviews 6D Bowling 10C Bridge 3D Classifieds 1E College basketball 2C-5C Couples 4D Crossword 6B Dear Abby 3D Golf 7C Horoscope 3D Lottery 8D Menus 10A Movies 7D Obituaries 8D Opinion 4B Outdoor column 9C People’s Pharmacy 3D

BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

Cache goes for title

STAFF WRITER [email protected]

Students say they have been intimidated In the two weeks since the issue boiled over on campus, the students who continued to complain about the administration’s actions say they’ve been intimidated by other teachers; now students are calling out each other, and some faculty members, by name on an online blog — and groups both supportive of and against gay rights are getting involved. A controversial anti-gay group from Kansas, Westboro Baptist Church, has scheduled a demonstration for later this week and on Saturday the Norman chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) issued a statement saying school administrators should embrace ‘The Laramie Project’ and other controversial literature as a way “to create a culture where everyone is welcomed, embraced and valued.” “It is not only sensible, but imperative,” read the statement. “This is absurd,” said Ed Turlington, the school’s superintendent. “I run the school, and I’m not going to allow obscenity, and that’s what it boils down to.” Turlington has received the

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Families welcome home 320 troops

submits resignation over ‘The Laramie Project’ STAFF WRITER [email protected]

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COMING THIS WEEK Monday Out of about 55,000 calls to the Oklahoma Poison Control Center in 2008, almost 60 percent of them involved children under 5. See Health

Tuesday A group of Cub Scouts are in for a unique lesson in Comanche culture with a visit to the Comanche National Museum to meet Buffy Lo. See Neighbors

Thursday WEATHER Warmer Scottish pride will be on the line in Yukon Saturday for the Iron Thistle games. See Travel

Today’s high: 68 Tonight’s low: 42

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Vol. 35 No. 33 2009 Lawton Publishing Co. Inc.