The controversy surrounding the national Day of Silence has ironically come out loud and clear in Lebanon where extra police officers walked the hallways of the high school.

We first told you about Youth for Tolerance last month, a group of Lebanon High School students that elected to participate in the Day of Silence.

They decided not to speak all day in honor of those who were victims of homosexuals crimes.

Some Lebanon residents didn't think the event was appropriate for school and posted angry messages on the local paper's website asking students to skip school today.

Some did for that reason, others did because they feared for their safety, and others went anyway.

It was silent inside Lebanon High School Friday morning.

But outside these walls people were talking and rumors were flying.

Lebanon High School principal Robert Smith says hallways were considerably emptier than usual.

He blames the buzz around the day of silence.

“It's been blown out of proportion,” Smith explains.

Maybe so…but extra police officers were on school grounds just in case.

“I heard they were having a day for the gays and stuff and I don't go for it."

Donna Luthy says her niece like other some other students stayed home in protest.

“We don't have days if you're straight or believe in God or anything, so they shouldn't have a day because they're gay either,” Trisha Sien, Donna’s niece explains.

Others, though, were absent out of fear.

“With all the talk of guns and bombs and things..."

Hayley Ivey, president of the student group that decided to participate in the day of silence, almost stayed home.

Lebanon High School hoped the day of silence would be just another school day for students, and for some it was.

“Some people were making a big deal about it, saying how they are not going to come to school and that it's dumb. But it's just another day at school.” Senior Eric Miller tells KSPR.

“We have had staff meetings just making sure teachers are out in the hallways between classes, making certain we've got a police presence to make parents and students feel even safer here,” the principal continues.

Dennis Preston, an openly gay teacher, however, still had his concerns over how some people would respond.

Preston says, “it's really hard to know what's going to happen. People will say all sorts of things and not follow up on them… there’s a lot of talk.”

On the Day of Silence...ironically enough.

Some were concerned the participating students would paint their faces or be disruptive in class by handing out cards that explain the meaning behind the Day of Silence.

The school worked hard to prevent any distractions.