It’s good that the process for adopting a new Coeur d’Alene School District policy is painstakingly slow. Otherwise, the trustees might find themselves being stampeded by an emotional community to embrace a bad policy that will affect high school students forever, simply to stop a few of them from joining the Lake City High School Gay-Straight Alliance now.

Before that can happen, a policy to require students to get a parent’s permission before joining a school club must withstand a legal review, deliberations by two committees, a 30-day comment period in all district schools and input from the community. The Mica Flats Grange claims its proposal is “content neutral” and doesn’t discriminate. But it’s obvious that the policy targets the LCHS Gay-Straight Alliance that was formed last fall.

The proposal has two significant problems. It is trying to prevent high school students from attending a club that has a legitimate right to meet under guidelines for high school clubs. Additionally, it adds an unnecessary layer of paperwork for students and advisers involved in the numerous other clubs at the school.

A student shouldn’t need a parental permission slip to play chess at the local high school. Or be involved in extracurricular math activities. Or gather with other drama students. This disingenuous approach that discriminates against one club would inconvenience the others and should be rejected.

Before the proposal advances too far, the Mica Flats Grange and other supporters should revisit comments made by LCHS Principal John Brumley at the Jan. 13 North Idaho Pachyderm Club. Not only did the Gay-Straight Alliance meet all guidelines to form a club, Brumley told the Republican breakfast group, but it didn’t pose a substantial disruption to the educational process – the only legal guideline that can be used to prevent or disband a school club.

In trying to undermine the alliance, the Grange and some Republicans are attacking a foundational principle in this country: the right to assemble.

In Sandpoint, meanwhile, the plan of attack against the Gay-Straight Alliance is worse.

Some concerned residents suggested that Sandpoint High ban all clubs to prevent the new alliance from meeting. The recommendation was made at a Lake Pend Oreille School Board meeting last week after Sandpoint High Principal Jim Soper allowed the club to form following an “extraordinary” review process, according to the Associated Press.

But Boundary County Deputy Prosecutor Tevis Hull told the board that it would be in the best interest of the school to do away with all clubs. This comment, reported by the AP, was made although Hull claims to have taught his kids to “treat all people equally and with respect.”

These adults need to get a grip. There’s no evidence that the local Gay-Straight Alliances are anything more than a place for youngsters struggling with identity issues and teen angst to hang out. Jocks talk more about sex in the locker room while dressing for sports activities than alliance members ever will.

But the key issue isn’t sexual orientation. It’s equal rights. Local school boards should reject any attempt to discriminate.