The good people of Irmo, South Carolina aren't total dolts. Well, not all of them.

The sleepy town first appeared on our radar when Irmo High School principal Eddie Walker announced he would resign after the school approved a gay-straight alliance. Walker claimed the decision violated his religious beliefs. The rest of the school distract soon found itself inflamed and set out to vote on whether they should stop the gay invasion by shutting down all clubs. And, after a bit of a delay, they finally voted:

[The] school district has voted to allow all student clubs rather than risk a lawsuit by banning a gay-friendly student organization.

But another part of the policy approved Monday night by the Lexington-Richland School District 5 school board gives parents the option of not letting their minor children participate in any school club.

Another provision prohibits student clubs from discussing sexually explicit topics in keeping with the district’s abstinence-based curriculum.

That's a pretty prudent win, although we totally feel bad for the kid with the overbearing 'rents.

On another note - OMG, look at that cat! She's a cheerleader! Now that's what we call a good morning!

A South Carolina school district gets an "A" in bad education. First we have cry baby Eddie Walker, who resigned as Irmo High School's principal over a Gay-Straight Alliance, and now the bad blood has spread to the rest of the school district. And the protest is so overzealous, even evil Viola Swamp would be ashamed:

Rather than risk a lawsuit by banning a gay student organization, a South Carolina school district is considering whether to ban all student clubs that don't relate to academics or sports.

The Lexington-Richland School District 5 school board plans to vote Monday night on whether the district should ban the clubs as a way to shut down a proposed group called the Gay-Straight Alliance.

A school spokeswoman says the district couldn't stop the alliance from forming because federal law prohibits discriminating against a club based on its purpose.

Way to set an example, folks!

Eddie Walker isn't a very progressive role model.

The South Carolina-based educator will resign next June after being ordered to allow a gay-straight alliance at his high school.

As Walker explains in his oh-so-heartfelt letter, he's waiting a year to leave because breaking his contract would violate his "religious convictions." He does little, however, to elaborate further:

…Due to a recent conflict involving my professional and religious beliefs I sent Dr. Angela Bain a letter of resignation effective June 30, 2009. On May 14, 2008, I was instructed by email to allow the formation of a Gay/Straight Alliance Club at Irmo High School. On May 15, 2008 I told Ms. Ann Pilat to allow the formation of this club for the 2008-2009 school year.

Allowing the formation of this club on our campus conflicts with my professional beliefs and religious convictions.
…
The formation of this club conflicts with my professional beliefs in that we do not have other clubs at Irmo High school based on sexual orientation, sexual preference, or sexual activity.
…
My decision to resign is a personal choice based on my professional beliefs and religious convictions. I have prayed about the decision for a period of time and I have a peace about it.

Faith In America executive director Brent Childers released a statement calling Walker's decision a "shame" and drew on education's stormy past: "It is unfortunately very similar to the time in our history when segregation in schools was once allowed to flourish because of the deep-seated prejudice that existed in our institutions and the religious mindset of many people during that period."