Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

The head of an anti-bullying group has applauded the decision of an Arkansas school board member to resign after posting on Facebook that he thinks gay youths should kill themselves.

Clint McCance, a member of the Midland school board in Pleasant Plains, about 70 miles northeast of Little Rock, announced his resignation Oct. 28 on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.” He said he was quitting “to help my school, my community,” though he added that he might run again for the board at some point.

“The only thing I can do is extend my apologies for my poor speech,” he said. “I don’t wish death on anyone.”…Read More

A northern Arkansas school board member, commenting on a campaign to get people to wear purple to show support for bullied gay and lesbian youth, purportedly posted a Facebook message saying the only way he would wear purple is “if they all commit suicide.”

The Arkansas Department of Education on Oct. 27 condemned the alleged Facebook message by Midland School Board member Clint McCance.

The Advocate, a magazine that reports about gay issues, first reported the anti-gay posting on its web site. The Facebook message in question has been disabled, but the Advocate posted a screen grab of the purported posting that it says someone forwarded to it.…Read More