Grade 5 student’s abortion speech subject to ‘intimidated censorship’ says mother

[Pax_et_Bonum]

Grade 5 student’s abortion speech subject to ‘intimidated censorship’ says mother
BY REBECCA MILLETTE
Fri Jun 17, 2011 21:42 ESTComments (22)Tags: Abortion

FALKLAND, British Columbia, June 2, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - “Did you know that from the moment of conception, every distinctive characteristic of this new human being is programmed into this single initial cell?” asks Calise Jontz.

Young, bright-eyed and articulate, 10-year-old Calise lives with her parents and seven siblings on a cattle ranch in rural British Columbia. An avid Justin Bieber fan, she also loves horses, reading, singing and dancing. Most recently, she has become a pro-life advocate.

“Today I will be speaking to you about abortion,” continues the confident, self-assured Grade 5 student from rural Falkland, B.C. “Is this a controversial issue? Yes, but like all controversial issues it requires urgent attention and education.”

The statements come from a speech that the young girl delivered as part of a school speech contest. When Calise first delivered it at her local school, it “didn’t seem to be bothered by this topic,” says Calise’s mom, Yolanda Jontz, “although the Principal did request to hear her speech initially, I guess to make sure it was appropriate for elementary school aged children.”

But all that changed when Calise went to the regional speech competition at a nearby host school, where Jontz says her daughter encountered what she called “intimidated censorship.”

According to Jontz, her daughter’s speech deliberately did not include any graphic details about abortion, such as descriptions of partial birth abortions, instead sticking to the facts and results of abortion in a manner appropriate for a young audience.

Nevertheless, upon arriving at the host school for the speech competition, Yolanda and her daughter found the gymnasium nearly empty, where Yolanda says usually the entire school, as well as competitors and parents, would attend. A handful of competitors, parents, and the judges were present for Calise’s speech, but only after her speech, as well as few others, did both younger and older students come.

Yolanda says that Calise’s speech was singled out and boycotted by other schools, with students and their parents being forewarned about its content.

LifeSiteNews contacted the principal at the school that hosted the competition. Principal Denise Brown was reluctant to discuss the issue, saying no letter about the speech had been sent to parents at her school; she directed all other questions to Wendy Woodhurst, School District Director of Instruction.

In response to inquiries about what actions the school took in reference to Calise’s speech, Woodhurst refused to comment unless a face-to-face interview could be conducted, which was impossible for the reporter.

Yolanda told LSN, however, that at least one parent that she knows of received a warning letter about the abortion speech, while no mention was made of other controversial and even gory topics.

“We weren’t informed that one speech was going to be about dolphin slaughter, or that another was about how great Lady Gaga is. This seemed unfair,” she said. “Maybe people can be offered the chance to hear it for themselves and decide if it is offensive or not.”

However, Yolanda says that one adult male approached her following her daughter’s presentation and, with tears in his eyes, commended Calise for her speech and her bravery.
lifesitenews.com/news/grade-5-students-abortion-speech-subject-to-intimidated-censorship-says-mot

 

[SouthCatholic]

Grade 5 student’s abortion speech subject to ‘intimidated censorship’ says mother
BY REBECCA MILLETTE
Fri Jun 17, 2011 21:42 ESTComments (22)Tags: Abortion

FALKLAND, British Columbia, June 2, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - “Did you know that from the moment of conception, every distinctive characteristic of this new human being is programmed into this single initial cell?” asks Calise Jontz.

Young, bright-eyed and articulate, 10-year-old Calise lives with her parents and seven siblings on a cattle ranch in rural British Columbia. An avid Justin Bieber fan, she also loves horses, reading, singing and dancing. Most recently, she has become a pro-life advocate.

“Today I will be speaking to you about abortion,” continues the confident, self-assured Grade 5 student from rural Falkland, B.C. “Is this a controversial issue? Yes, but like all controversial issues it requires urgent attention and education.”

The statements come from a speech that the young girl delivered as part of a school speech contest. When Calise first delivered it at her local school, it “didn’t seem to be bothered by this topic,” says Calise’s mom, Yolanda Jontz, “although the Principal did request to hear her speech initially, I guess to make sure it was appropriate for elementary school aged children.”

But all that changed when Calise went to the regional speech competition at a nearby host school, where Jontz says her daughter encountered what she called “intimidated censorship.”

According to Jontz, her daughter’s speech deliberately did not include any graphic details about abortion, such as descriptions of partial birth abortions, instead sticking to the facts and results of abortion in a manner appropriate for a young audience.

Nevertheless, upon arriving at the host school for the speech competition, Yolanda and her daughter found the gymnasium nearly empty, where Yolanda says usually the entire school, as well as competitors and parents, would attend. A handful of competitors, parents, and the judges were present for Calise’s speech, but only after her speech, as well as few others, did both younger and older students come.

Yolanda says that Calise’s speech was singled out and boycotted by other schools, with students and their parents being forewarned about its content.

LifeSiteNews contacted the principal at the school that hosted the competition. Principal Denise Brown was reluctant to discuss the issue, saying no letter about the speech had been sent to parents at her school; she directed all other questions to Wendy Woodhurst, School District Director of Instruction.

In response to inquiries about what actions the school took in reference to Calise’s speech, Woodhurst refused to comment unless a face-to-face interview could be conducted, which was impossible for the reporter.

Yolanda told LSN, however, that at least one parent that she knows of received a warning letter about the abortion speech, while no mention was made of other controversial and even gory topics.

“We weren’t informed that one speech was going to be about dolphin slaughter, or that another was about how great Lady Gaga is. This seemed unfair,” she said. “Maybe people can be offered the chance to hear it for themselves and decide if it is offensive or not.”

However, Yolanda says that one adult male approached her following her daughter’s presentation and, with tears in his eyes, commended Calise for her speech and her bravery.
lifesitenews.com/news/grade-5-students-abortion-speech-subject-to-intimidated-censorship-says-mot

I don’t disagree with the letters being sent. As a parent, I want the option of choosing what my child is exposed to. Also, I would like to know why the speech was changed between competitions. Did someone force her to change her speech? If so, that was wrong.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I don’t disagree with the letters being sent. As a parent, I want the option of choosing what my child is exposed to. Also, I would like to know why the speech was changed between competitions. Did someone force her to change her speech? If so, that was wrong.

Would you ALSO want a letter warning you about a proposed speech about how “great” Lady Gaga is?

 

[Phemie]

I don’t disagree with the letters being sent. As a parent, I want the option of choosing what my child is exposed to. Also, I would like to know why the speech was changed between competitions. Did someone force her to change her speech? If so, that was wrong.

She didn’t change her speech, she had deliberately kept it non-graphic from the onset because her original audience were elementary school students. The censorship came in the form of avoidance. People were somehow warned not to be there for her speech. It wasn’t just children but parents who stayed out until after she had finished.

 

[JimG]

Could it be that some parents did not want their kids to hear the truth about abortion?

 

[Pax_et_Bonum]

Could it be that some parents did not want their kids to hear the truth about abortion?

More than likely.Not it was obviously orchestrated by the girl’s own principal who came herself to hear this ONE speech before it was given at the other school and she did not have the decency to inform the child or her parents.Truly disgusting,and she walked into an almost empty auditorium to give her speech .The speech was deliberately not graphic but a speech on the absolute horror of a dolphin slaughter no doubt with horrific details was allowed to proceed.Thought Crime Agenda.

 

[SouthCatholic]

She didn’t change her speech, she had deliberately kept it non-graphic from the onset because her original audience were elementary school students. The censorship came in the form of avoidance. People were somehow warned not to be there for her speech. It wasn’t just children but parents who stayed out until after she had finished.

OK… this is where I am confused. The mother called it “intimidated censorship.” Using the word censorship implies that the speaker was intimidated/bullied into changing the content of the speech. That does not appear to be the case. She was able to exercise her right to give the speech and other parents exercised their rights to not have their kids hear the speech. It seems that everyone’s rights were protected in this case.

 

[markomalley]

Grade 5 student’s abortion speech subject to ‘intimidated censorship’ says mother
BY REBECCA MILLETTE
Fri Jun 17, 2011 21:42 ESTComments (22)Tags: Abortion

FALKLAND, British Columbia, June 2, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - “Did you know that from the moment of conception, every distinctive characteristic of this new human being is programmed into this single initial cell?” asks Calise Jontz.

Young, bright-eyed and articulate, 10-year-old Calise lives with her parents and seven siblings on a cattle ranch in rural British Columbia. An avid Justin Bieber fan, she also loves horses, reading, singing and dancing. Most recently, she has become a pro-life advocate.

“Today I will be speaking to you about abortion,” continues the confident, self-assured Grade 5 student from rural Falkland, B.C. “Is this a controversial issue? Yes, but like all controversial issues it requires urgent attention and education.”

The statements come from a speech that the young girl delivered as part of a school speech contest. When Calise first delivered it at her local school, it “didn’t seem to be bothered by this topic,” says Calise’s mom, Yolanda Jontz, “although the Principal did request to hear her speech initially, I guess to make sure it was appropriate for elementary school aged children.”

But all that changed when Calise went to the regional speech competition at a nearby host school, where Jontz says her daughter encountered what she called “intimidated censorship.”

According to Jontz, her daughter’s speech deliberately did not include any graphic details about abortion, such as descriptions of partial birth abortions, instead sticking to the facts and results of abortion in a manner appropriate for a young audience.

Nevertheless, upon arriving at the host school for the speech competition, Yolanda and her daughter found the gymnasium nearly empty, where Yolanda says usually the entire school, as well as competitors and parents, would attend. A handful of competitors, parents, and the judges were present for Calise’s speech, but only after her speech, as well as few others, did both younger and older students come.

Yolanda says that Calise’s speech was singled out and boycotted by other schools, with students and their parents being forewarned about its content.

LifeSiteNews contacted the principal at the school that hosted the competition. Principal Denise Brown was reluctant to discuss the issue, saying no letter about the speech had been sent to parents at her school; she directed all other questions to Wendy Woodhurst, School District Director of Instruction.

In response to inquiries about what actions the school took in reference to Calise’s speech, Woodhurst refused to comment unless a face-to-face interview could be conducted, which was impossible for the reporter.

Yolanda told LSN, however, that at least one parent that she knows of received a warning letter about the abortion speech, while no mention was made of other controversial and even gory topics.

“We weren’t informed that one speech was going to be about dolphin slaughter, or that another was about how great Lady Gaga is. This seemed unfair,” she said. “Maybe people can be offered the chance to hear it for themselves and decide if it is offensive or not.”

However, Yolanda says that one adult male approached her following her daughter’s presentation and, with tears in his eyes, commended Calise for her speech and her bravery.
lifesitenews.com/news/grade-5-students-abortion-speech-subject-to-intimidated-censorship-says-mot

The speech can be seen here.

 

[Phemie]

OK… this is where I am confused. The mother called it “intimidated censorship.” Using the word censorship implies that the speaker was intimidated/bullied into changing the content of the speech. That does not appear to be the case. She was able to exercise her right to give the speech and other parents exercised their rights to not have their kids hear the speech. It seems that everyone’s rights were protected in this case.

I think the mother feels that pressure was put on other schools and participants to not attend her speech, it was not the daughter who was intimidated into changing her speech but the audience that was intimidated into not attending. I’m inclined to believe that certain school principals decided not to let their students hear the speech and that is censorship based solely on the topic, not the content of the speech. This was obviously well orchestrated and IMNSHO was a totally disgusting thing to do that to a 10 year old kid.

 

[Pax_et_Bonum]

I think the mother feels that pressure was put on other schools and participants to not attend her speech, it was not the daughter who was intimidated into changing her speech but the audience that was intimidated into not attending. I’m inclined to believe that certain school principals decided not to let their students hear the speech and that is censorship based solely on the topic, not the content of the speech. This was obviously well orchestrated and IMNSHO was a totally disgusting thing to do that to a 10 year old kid.