Upperclassmen in a Seattle high school who wish to serve as mentors to freshmen must agree to be kind, have a positive attitude — and support Black Lives Matter, abortion, and other left-wing causes.
Eastlake High School operates a “Link Crew” program, which “pairs juniors and seniors with incoming freshmen to help them navigate the demands of high school,” according to KTTH talk-show host Jason Rantz, who broke the story. “Students are chosen to participate for being ‘kind, responsible, a positive role model, has blossoming leadership qualities’ in addition to wanting to give back to the school.”
In order to participate in the program, students must agree to abide by a code of conduct supplied by faculty advisors Jason Wessels and Michelle Okroy. Students must initial each statement in the code and then sign the document. “Students who do not follow through with their promises will be removed,” noted Rantz.
The two-page code consists of four categories, three of which are noncontroversial, asking students to be good role models, show a positive attitude, and so forth.
The fourth one, however, consists of a litany of political statements, most of which clearly fall on the left side of the ideological spectrum. Students who want to be members of the Link Crew are forced to pledge fealty to such assertions as “Black Lives Matter,” “Love is Love,” “No Human is Illegal,” “Women’s rights are human rights,” and “Kindness is everything.”
Those very statements — plus the equally vacuous “Science is real” — adorn signs posted on virtue-signaling progressives’ lawns across the fruited plain, announcing to passersby that the inhabitants of these often-pricey abodes favor “mostly peaceful” protests that destroy black neighborhoods, unlimited sexual gratification of any kind, open borders, and abortion on demand (not to mention liberty- and livelihood-killing Covid and climate mandates).
“This Code of Conduct is so wildly and obviously inappropriate that it strains credulity to think Wessels and Okroy thought it wise to demand fidelity to these political causes,” observed Rantz. “And it’s hard to believe any non-partisan parent — or student — would allow their kid to sign this document.”
Of course, given Seattle’s prevailing political persuasion, it’s quite possible that the teachers and many students and parents found those statements innocuous since they and all their acquaintances agree with them.
However, reported LifeNews.com, “Rantz said students have contacted him about this and other leftist political actions at the school, and some are afraid to express their conservative views.”
“That means they’re not in a healthy environment,” he said.
Rantz highlighted other incidents at Eastlake High School that demonstrate the faculty and administrators’ left-wing bias.
“Last year, students planned to wear red, white, and blue at a high school football game on September 11. It was meant to honor the lives lost during the terrorist attacks,” he wrote. “But the principal pulled the plug after some staff claimed wearing those colors could ‘unintentionally cause offense to some who see [them] differently.’”
Former social-studies teacher Crystal Visperas’ classroom was festooned with displays “decrying capitalism as a ‘death cult,’ demanding an end to borders and supporting Black Lives Matter,” he penned.
Then there’s humanities teacher Shila Hodgins. In a December interview with the podcast Indy on Air, Hodgins said she and her colleagues “always bring in our politics.”
“I do my best to teach through the lens of justice in a way that centers a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds,” she said. “I want my students to see … that they are valued, heard, and supported. And I want them to know that I stand with them and the continued fight for equal rights in a more equitable world.”
“It’s been said that it’s too liberal. Right? What is controversial about talking about systems of oppression? What is controversial about talking about race and equal rights?” she asked.
Rantz contacted the school district for comment on the Link Crew code of conduct. The response was rather noncommittal: “Thank you for your questions and for bringing this to our attention. We will address this matter with the school and the Link Crew advisors.”
Knowing the school’s recent history, though, one doubts Rantz is holding his breath in anticipation of any significant changes.
