The Winston-Salem Journal published an article today concerning a good friend and colleague of mine, Ms. Susan Wiseman.
Ms. Wiseman has been a teacher at East Forsyth High School for four years and I knew her as a student at R.J. Reynolds High School through our mutual work in the LGBT community. Ms. Wiseman has been one of the most supportive and caring teachers in the system. As an advocate for students who have historically been overlooked and even called “sinners” by members of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education, Ms. Wiseman is now taking the brunt of false allegations fueled by hatred and bigotry based on her sexual orientation and advocacy for LGBT students.
Since my first few months as a freshman at R.J. Reynolds High School in 2000, I have worked diligently to curb anti-LGBT harassment and discrimination within the Winston-Salem/Foryth County School System. I have seen and been personally witness to the hatred and bigotry exhibited by certain members of the Board of Education as well as other employees within the System.
Throughout my experiences going to class, learning, growing and working for change I dealt with nothing but harassment and a bureaucracy which has become complacent and un-caring toward the issue of protecting all students regardless of sexual orientation.
I must say that it is quite sad that the System would listen to the blatantly false allegations being thrown at Ms. Wiseman, one of very, very few advocates which LGBT students had within the system. It is not difficult to see what is fueling this “investigation” of and the false allegations toward Ms. Wiseman. Bigotry, ignorance and prejudice are, once again, ruling the day within the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System (which is, in my opinion, one of the most anti-gay governmental bodies in the entire state).
There is no way on earth that she wouild do something like this and she is being paid with grief and lies for the good work she has done in our community and for our students.
I urge all of my fellow Winston-Salem citizens to look more deeply into this issue, which is significantly more complex than what The Winston-Salem Journal, the District Attorney and the Board of Education will admit or realize.
Ms. Wiseman has become the victim of anti-gay bigotry and hatred. She has become a victim of the long-running, never-ceasing ignorance of our Board of Education.
For all of the students, parents and co-workers who know or knew Ms. Wiseman: Please, Please, Please… contact the school system and let them know how much of a great person Ms. Wiseman is. She does not deserve to lose her job and have her name drug through the mud because of someone’s ignorant, bigoted scheme to get rid of LGBT people.
Once again…. I have to say… I am ashamed to be a native of Winston-Salem.
EDIT: The most up to date information regarding this issue can be found at: http://www.onlinegreensboro.com/~matthillnc/?s=susan+wiseman
Technorati Tags: gay youth, gay, lgbt, gay rights, winston-salem schools, board of education, east forsyth high school, susan wiseman, winston-salem, north carolina
February 11th, 2006 at 8:44 am
I can say that i do have to agree with you on this issue. Because I as a former student of Susan Wiseman and a senior at East Forstyh high school and know of the situation and have known of the situation do believe that the accuser (not going to say who this would be) should go to jail for slandering of Susan Wisemans name. Everyone and anyone who knows Susan Wiseman knows that she would not do this and that this is completely and totally out of her character. She is a teacher who cared for her students, one who wanted them to succeed in everything that do and in every class they had whether it was her class or not, she was also a voice for any student who didnt have one, she was one of few teachers that students had that they can go to and actually talk to when having a problem or just need someone to listen to. I know this all for a fact because Susan was my ear and helped me through a lot of troubling times in my life and was someone I could talk to and she wouldn’t judge or turn away. She actually was concerned and listened. It is not right that she has to go through this all because of someone’s allegations. It was not a student who made the allegations either! It was not a joke. But it is not true. The DA even said in the winston salem journal that the Gag Order was put into place so he “could build his case” so obviously he doesn’t have a case to begin with!
February 22nd, 2006 at 12:13 pm
[...] The Winston-Salem Journal published a letter to the editor today regarding the investigation of Susan Wiseman, an East Forsyth High School teacher who, in my opinion, has been falsely accused of sexual misconduct with a student. [...]
February 23rd, 2006 at 10:02 am
[...] Susan Wiseman, a teacher at East Forsyth High School, is taking the brunt of anti-gay prejudice and bias in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System. As stated in an earlier post (”Susan Wiseman is innocent; victim of WS/FCS anti-gay scheme“), the allegations thrown at Ms. Wiseman are blatantly false and motivated only the the anti-gay biases and prejudices of the Board of Education and other School System administrators and personnel (see the first “Anti-Gay Politicians Watch” for examples) [...]
February 24th, 2006 at 1:14 am
[...] From the very beginning of this controversy I have done nothing but speak out to say that the allegations against Ms. Wiseman were false. It is my belief that the allegations and investigation were fueled only be the rampant and blatantly obvious anti-LGBT bias, prejudice and bigotry within the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System which can be traced as far back as six years or more (ever since the beginnings of gay-straight student organizing within the System). [...]
February 24th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Matt – the student is not pressing charges, but the school board is investigating. Does this mean Ms Wiseman had a consentual relationship with the student? I just heard a blurb on WSJS.
February 24th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
[...] A radical, right-wing Christian press organization has published an article concerning Susan Wiseman and situations involving both the false allegations of sexual misconduct and the controversial “New Gay Teenager” seminar at the NC Governor’s School. [...]
February 24th, 2006 at 8:42 pm
[...] As first reported to the public by my blog, no charges will be made in the situation involving Susan Wiseman and allegations of misconduct with a student. Forsyth County District Attorney Tom Keith will not be pursuing the case. [...]
March 1st, 2006 at 3:52 pm
Last night I was on this website and read two comments that brought out some very interesting points. They were not really pro-Wiseman but not completely against her either. I just wonder why those comments are not here today. I thought they presented more information and helped to balance out this website. Are you only posting those comments that are 100% pro-Wiseman?! That seems biased–shouldn’t you rise above that?!
March 1st, 2006 at 5:14 pm
Maybe you looked at another post. I have not deleted any comments, although there is one comment that was made yesterday I have not yet approved. I am trying to find out some more information about some of the claims made in the comment not yet posted. I did approve, however, two comments on other posts besides this one made by the same commenter. I’m trying to remain as unbiased as possible when it comes to comments.
Maybe you saw the comments you are referring to on another post concerning Ms. Wiseman. I have many posts on the issue and, again, I have not deleted any comments. Try searching my site for “Wiseman” and you should find all (or at least 95%) of the posts I have made on the subject.
Also let me say that the comment moderation only includes approval of those comments left by those commenters who have not commented before. If a commenter has commented before (and uses the same name, email address, etc) then they do not have to be approved the next time they comment. I do this to cut down on spammed comments.
March 2nd, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Please note, that charges are not being pursued because the plaintiff’s side decided not to pursue pressing charges. It was not because the DA felt there was not enough evidence. I think it’s sad that this plaintiff started something and did not finish it. If Susan could have proven her innocence she would be better off than having someone not pursue a case. The question will always hang over her. That is a shame.
Comment by wsteacher —
March 16th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Hey Matt, About this Wiseman situation… this is such a perfectly clear example of how scary the WSFC School System is. Susan Wiseman loses her career in an effort to ensure she doesn’t go to jail – not that she ‘did anything’ but who could guarantee her she WOULDN’T go to jail given that she lost her job and teaching certificate because of shameful lies. It isn’t supposed to happen in America… but then THIS isn’t the America I grew up in, either. I can only hold faith in my firm belief that what you ’send around’ always ‘comes around’.
March 21st, 2006 at 2:41 pm
I think it is outragous what they did to Miss. Wiseman…We all know what it really comes down to. Its ok for people to be homophobic but we all know if it didnt deal with homosexulity she would have her jjob back. She is a awesome person, wonderful teacher and a understanding person. I never really like W-S and now i know why. Will will this end…? It makes me feel unsafe in my own school. What can they do to be because im gay? I dont know but i dont want to find out
March 26th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
[...] Ever since this controversy began I have stood by Ms. Wiseman. I just don’t think she did anything. I have known Ms. Wiseman for about four years now. I first met her while working with the now-defunct GLSEN Winston-Salem and through my own activist and advocacy work as a student at R.J. Reynolds High School. When I became a graduate of the school in 2004, I continued to work with and keep in touch with Ms. Wiseman. Knowing her personally and knowing her character I have a firm belief that she is innocent. [...]
August 19th, 2006 at 10:29 am
I woke up this am and beforing reading above, turned on the tv and coincidentally found one of my favorite movies being shown-Lillian Hellman’s-The Children’s Hour. Maybe more of should read or see the play. A lot to be learned. Thanks Lillian you’re a wonderful gal!
August 19th, 2006 at 10:33 am
This am I woke up and turned TV on before reading above. Coincidentally the movie being shown was The Children’s Hour by the great late Lillian Hellman. Maybe if more of us either read the play or saw the movie the above story would never have come to pass. Thanks Ms. Hellman for making us aware of the bigotry and prejudices around us.
September 14th, 2006 at 10:02 pm
I am a close friend of the student whom you are speaking of. She did it, Ms. Wiseman did it.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:01 am
[...] organization has published an article concerning Susan Wiseman and situations involving both the false allegations of sexual misconduct and the controversial “New Gay Teenager” seminar at the NC Governor’s [...]