Apr 22, 2015 2 min read

Imagine my surprise when sitting down with my morning coffee and discovering headlines about Washington County. It didn’t stop there. Friends in other parts of Pennsylvania, friends in other U.S. states, and even friends overseas were commenting online about student behavior and organized bullying related to a school I knew by name. McGuffey High School made international news.

It may turn out to be a small group of simple-minded bullies. Or, it may be a far more widespread and well-organized event. In either case, students should be able to learn without fear.

Questions about sexuality, marriage, free speech, religion and so on are entirely appropriate in the context of mature discussions in science, health and social studies classes. Coordinating clothing in an effort to show opposition or support for a political issue is also appropriate. However, disrupting the learning environment through organized intimidation that includes targeting students’ lockers or students themselves is not free speech, it is bullying.

The McGuffey incident offers Pennsylvania a clear example of why the state needs legislation banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodation, legislation supported by former Gov. Tom Corbett and current Gov. Tom Wolf. In 2015, it remains legal in Pennsylvania to fire an employee solely on the basis of their sexuality. Maybe Reps. Pete Daley and Brandon Neuman, along with Sen. Camera Bartolotta, will use this McGuffey mess as an opportunity to lobby for a safer, wiser and more welcoming Pennsylvania.

McGuffey can do better, so can the commonwealth.

Samuel J. Richards

Zurich, Switzerland

Richards is a native of Washington County.