School clubs may require parent permission

ATLANTA, March 18 (UPI) -- The Georgia state Board of Education is considering a measure that would require written permission from parents for students wishing to join school clubs.

Supporters of the measure, proposed by Superintendent Kathy Cox, say it is a way for parents to know what their children are doing. Opponents claim it is a way to keep children from joining clubs for gay students, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday.

School principals are not pleased with the measure, either, saying the extra paper work would keep some teachers from sponsoring extra-curricular clubs.

But most of the attention is on gay clubs and the possible dampening effect on membership. About a dozen schools in Georgia have such clubs, the newspaper said.

Cox said: "I don't think it will be used punitively at all. It's just a precautionary thing that makes common sense."

Abby Farrar, a 15-year-old student from White County seeking to start a gay rights advocacy group in her school, told the Journal-Constitution: "I know kids, they've told things to their parents and they've pretty much kicked them out of the house. Some people won't say anything to their parents."

The measure should be voted on next month.