Schools Should Not Mandate Pro-Gay Teaching
By: Candi Cushman, Education Analyst, Focus on the Family
Stories about a handful of New England states legalizing same-sex marriage have grabbed headlines as of late. But there’s another corresponding trend that’s flying largely under the nation’s media radar: Public schools are getting bolder about introducing pro-gay curriculum to elementary kids— whether their parents like it or not.
Take, for instance, what’s happening to parents in Alameda, Calif. Despite the fact that the state’s highest court upheld Prop. 8 — a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman — the school board brazenly mandated a curriculum promoting homosexuality and same-sex unions to first- through fifth-graders.
The curriculum redefines the meaning of “family” as “a group of people living together and functioning as a single household” – sounds like the description of a college dorm, doesn’t it? First-graders are introduced to this concept through a storybook called "Who’s in a Family?" featuring images of same-sex couples interspersed with pictures of animals, including an all-male elephant herd depicted as another type of family. Kids in the fourth and fifth grade will learn a new vocabulary word: LGBT—lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.
Parents who have expressed discomfort with such lessons are being told they can’t opt their kids out of them.
This is problematic for several reasons:
First of all, we should think carefully about the social costs of teaching the next generation that there is nothing distinctive or particularly beneficial about having a mother and a father—and that a human family is no more unique than a herd of elephants in the jungle.
Second, this trend violates the basic and historically cherished right of parents to “direct the upbringing of their children,” a constitutional principle backed by federal courts. Focus on the Family respects the fact that parents have the most intimate knowledge of their children, and therefore, should have the power to decide when, if and how their kids are introduced to controversial, sexual topics. Many parents—even those who aren’t necessarily religious—have expressed concern that their 6-, 7- or 8-year-olds simply aren’t psychologically or emotionally ready to handle these topics.
It’s also undemocratic. An action like that of the Alameda school board—mandating a curriculum for first-graders that conflicts with a law supported by the majority of state voters— represents an arrogant disregard of the will of the people, especially when you consider that 30 states, including California, have constitutional amendments defining marriage as a man and a woman. A recent Gallup poll also revealed that nearly 60 percent of Americans remain opposed to government-sanctioned same-sex marriage.
Gay activists want to act like this is a settled debate, and therefore should be mandated as a permanent part of school curriculum for the youngest grade levels. But that’s just not the case. And let’s not forget that schools across the land are struggling just to get kids to graduate high school and read at basic levels, so it’s irresponsible to allocate valuable resources and classroom time to divisive, adult-driven agendas.
Furthermore, mandating homosexuality promotion in public classrooms infringes on another historically cherished constitutional right—free exercise of religion. Jewish, Muslim and Christian parents are being told they can’t exempt their kids from controversial teaching even if it conflicts with their most deeply held religious convictions. If they can’t afford a private school, that leaves them with nowhere to go. What’s more, many students of faith are finding themselves in situations where their beliefs are censored, even ridiculed, when homosexuality is promoted in their school. (For more information on this, visit www.truetolerance.org)
And if you assume this is just a problem in California, think again. The nation’s largest homosexual-advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign, has announced that it is piloting a pro-gay curriculum, “Welcoming Schools,” in several elementary classrooms across the land. It also radically redefines the meaning of marriage and family.
So if we care about maintaining local control of our community schools, protecting parental rights and guarding religious freedoms, then we should be deeply concerned about this trend.
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are doing the right thing, but those who have experience what this delusion is all about have a most powerful testimony. Here is one that will break your heart. Its the testimony of a man who is sorry he ever had his sex change operation. If schools are allowed to continue to delude our children more poor victims of such surgery will no doubt be sorry in the future.
http://www.massresistance.org/docs/govt11/tranny_bill/testimony/walt_heyer.html
I would like to share an article in people magazine that helps me to make the point that by promoting homosexuality we are doing more harm than good. Review of Jodi Picoult's Family Journey article in the June13, 2011 People edition
The first inconsistency that jumped out at me is the misinformation that is both implied and stated regarding homosexuality because there is absolutely no medical or psychological evidence to prove that you are born homosexual and therefore her remarks about her sons orientation are misleading and outright lies. There is however much information to point to the evidence that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice most likely learned in childhood, hence, the education system pressing this orientation on children in school. There is also a vast amount of evidence showing that this orientation choice causes disorganized thinking and seemingly invites a host of psychological issues including chemical dependencies and poor life choices and significant depression, and not discrimination. The second and most disturbing aspect of this article was that she said and quote, " I WANT TO BEAT THEM ALL UP" and this from a person who is advocating pseudo-tolerance, pseudo because it is not actual, if it were she would be more open to different points of view and not want to bash in others who disagree with her. She obviously has some deep seeded hostility toward those who disagree with her pro-homosexual stand. One thing I like about growing up is that you are exposed to many ways of looking at life issues and this is mind expanding and IQ raising, but , it appears that most homosexual advocates are rigid and non tolerant of any other points of view contrary to a pro-homosexual stand and simply cannot fathom that they could be wrong, that homosexuality could very well prove to be a choice. Too bad because it definitely inhibits their growth both mentally and emotionally and spiritually. I could go on about the hard evidence that 8 of the worlds top serial killers profess homosexual lifestyles, proving this choice is damaging psychologically. I could go on to show you by the CDC where the reported cases of HIV among children under 20 increased dramatically upon the pushing of homosexual agendas in school age children, the opposite of what they where hoping to accomplish. But I will just say this, you can be who you want to be, you can choose who you want to emulate, but not all choices are good and not all choice are beneficial to you or society. Be smart about your lifestyle choices!
Addendum: She does mention, curiously, that her son has not faced much discrimination, considering her anger toward anyone who opposes her it appears to be misguided anger. In my experienced opinion because the reason most homosexuals do not feel discrimination by non-homosexuals is that the discrimination comes from within the homosexual community, not the Christian, evangelical community! Although Christians, real Christians, believe the Bible and do not condone homosexuality and continue to state it is a mental disorder,and hold to charity and compassion on those suffering under its powerful dillusions!
Teaching about gay involvement in history isn’t pushing an agenda. We have black history month. Why can’t we have gay history month. When we teach black history nobody says “you’re being pro-black” or “you’re promoting black ideals” that’s not what it’s about. It’s about accepting each other and not trying to erase entire groups of people and their contributions from history. To a homophobe simply mentioning somebody from history was gay is the same as saying “this guy was gay and important you should be gay too.” if I was to point out that Gandhi was Hindu in the classroom nobody would complain that I’m converting children to Hinduism.
Parents should have the right to decide what their children should be taught, but if you are going to say they can't be taught about homosexuality in human sexuality class or biology class, where does it end? If they teach Darwinism and evolution are you going to say because you believe in creation they can't be taught that either? Also most schools teach about reproduction and safe sex , but are you going to stop them from learning that as well? If you do then you have to teach them all about these things at home ... but the problem there is most parents do not do this at home, they leave it to chance. Look at the statistics on teen age pregnancy , or on how many children in middle school have already had sex. Maybe if they learn all these things in school, including that yes there are gay people in the world, they could better make an informed decision on how to conduct themselves when it comes up in their lives. Also don't forget - the one lesson you actually are teaching your children at home is that it is ok to hate.
Focus on the Family, you have no business saying what public or even private schools should teach. We all know your Bible-belt agenda, we're not fools. There SHOULD be programs about homosexuality in schools aimed at stopping ignorance and bullying . For every time I was persecuted in my high school days for being a gay person, I utter a curse to Focus on the Family and other "Christian" organizations. As far as I am concerned, you are hypocrites, false prophets and hate mongers. I am a Christian, and if I had to save the life of a fundamentalist or a Satanist, I'd probably be doing better to save the latter.
Let me start by explaining where I am coming from. I am married , but I have no children , so I am not a parent. Many of my relatives and friends are school teachers, both public and private.
It seems to me that to teach the Gay lifestyle in public school is just about as appropriate as teaching religion ...neither would be appropriate. For example, during a history session, if a particular person being studied is gay , then I see no problem with mentioning that fact. I do, however, see a problem with any further involvement. Similarly, if a person being studied is of a particular religion, I have no problem with the teacher mentioning that fact. I would not, however, expect the teacher to teach the class about that religion.
As should be done in any school, kids should be taught not to bully other kids, regardless of whether it be due to color, sexual preference, or just because the kid is poor. That does not merit teaching about the gay/lesbian lifestyle.
What I hear from my friends that are teachers is that kids are confused. Some adult topics are being thrown at them that they have no idea about, other than the gay/lesbian lifestyle. I would say that the proper place for such teaching is the family , but I am all too aware that families can be the wrong place for that. In such cases, one would think that a counsellor would be appropriate, but certainly an entire part of the curriculum would be inappropriate.
Now, if the parents dont want any teaching about the gay/lesbian lifestyle, then let them find a good private school. If they cannot afford one, then the parents will have to have a good talk with their children, which should include a strong dose of reality stating that everybody is not alike and that just because somebody is not like you doesnt make it ok to think less of them much less bully them.
Regardless of how you feel about homosexuality , the fact of the matter is that gay couples exist and often raise children together. If a student inquires about this fact in a public school classroom, should the teacher ignore it or acknowledge it? What if the student in question is a child of same-sex parents?
Opponents of this type of curriculum seem to forget that children of same-sex parents go to public school too.
They're just teaching children that these lifestyles exist. Just because they're a minority, doesn't mean they should be invisible.