SACRAMENTO, April 13 /Standard Newswire/ -- Capitol Resource Institute is encouraging from school this coming Friday, April 17, unless their schools expressly expect students to speak on Friday. It joins a national coalition of more than two dozen organizations in urging the one day absences.

Friday is the Day of Silence, a campaign of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which is often used to make homosexual behavior appear normal on school campuses.

"Students should focus on academics in school. They should not be allowed to end their verbal engagement in class for a social agenda," said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute.

"We pay California teachers to teach -- by speaking in classrooms -- and teachers should also be expected to fully discharge their duties this coming Friday," she said. "If a school allows teachers to stop teaching, it should not get tax dollars for educating our students on that day."

The Day of Silence Walkout Coalition includes organizations such as Concerned Women for America, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, and more. It reaches out to parents across the nation who do not want their children focusing on sexuality at school.

"In every generation, parents need to teach their children about treating all people with respect, while maintaining their own convictions," England said. "This is a great chance to do so."

Classrooms and campuses should focus on academics. Yet Day of Silence is one of five GLSEN events that are designed to focus campus attention on student sexuality. These events -- including No Name-Calling Week and TransAction! -- take a total of 16 days.

In addition to these 16 days, California public schools regularly promote the acceptance of homosexual behavior in their school safety programs. State law equally prohibits the mistreatment of all students, whether homosexual, religious, or other students are harmed.

"Every parent, teacher, and student should oppose bullying of all kinds, but Day of Silence moves beyond simple opposition to bullying," England said.

"Day of Silence equates being anti-harassment with being in favor of homosexual behavior. That is unfair to the millions of people who are respectful and friends with homosexuals, while maintaining traditional views of male and female sexuality," she said.

Karen England is available for comment on this week's Day of Silence. To reach her, please call (916) 212-5607 or email kengland@capitolresource.org.