Sticker shock deserves poised talk

Sacred Heart Greenwich’s threat to dismiss a student over a Planned Parenthood sticker drew a response from Bishop Frank Caggiano that it was “an opportunity for a teaching moment.” Teaching moments aren’t just for students, but for educators, and — as this example suggests — occasionally for academic institutions as well.

Even during a defining era of polarization in our nation, few issues are as divisive as abortion. That conversation becomes even more volatile on a Catholic campus.

The five words “I stand with Planned Parenthood” on a small sticker on Kate Murray’s laptop can be — have been — translated into much broader interpretations in recent days.

We don’t know the sophomore’s intent regarding the sticker. Planned Parenthood provides several services aside from abortion, notably gynecological care and breast and cervical cancer screenings.

But her “#Persist” and “Black Lives Matter” stickers didn’t draw a reaction. For administrators at the private Catholic school, the words “Planned Parenthood” contradicted the church’s pro-life ethic.

Kate was given the choice of removing the sticker, or not returning to the school for her junior year. The student offered her own lesson, as she showed the poise to remove the sticker so she could further the conversation.

Head of School Pamela Hayes’ ultimatum was an overreaction. She has explained that stickers, banners and buttons are discouraged on campus. But no sticker merits dismissal. Educators can’t pass every test. Hayes should have corrected her own mistake.

Scraping off those five words won’t change the millions of words, opinions and images Kate and her peers seek out inside their computers. It certainly won’t erase their thoughts.

Hayes’ ultimatum inspired a family friend and Sacred Heart graduate to launch a petition containing an ultimatum of its own: “Unless Kate is allowed her freedom of speech, all of my future donations that would have been allocated to Sacred Heart Greenwich will now and forever be donated to Planned Parenthood.” More than 2,000 people signed the petition as of Friday.

This countermeasure deserves a failing grade as well.

Financial threats are as much of an overreaction as dismissal. Regardless of any organized actions, the response of school officials will likely play into decisions by some families about whether to send their children to Sacred Heart.

Sacred Heart Greenwich has a distinguished record of educating children. Even Katie’s parents say they still love the school.

“It is the bishop’s hope that Catholic schools continue to be a refuge for young people, a safe space where they can explore difficult issues, become steeped in the values of the Church, and go on to serve their families and communities,” the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport responded in a statement.

Difficult issues can’t be explored by ending the conversation with a threat of silence. Responding with threats won’t further the conversation either.

Kate’s sticker should be recognized as an opportunity to engage students. Despite these missteps, it managed to accomplish that anyway.

This countermeasure deserves a failing grade as well.