Families
come in many varieties. Some of these include parents from different races, homes
with two parents, single mothers raising the family, single fathers, grandparents,
or possibly even an older sibling raising the younger children. The
possibilities are vast and included in these varieties are children raised by
same sex couples. The question many schools have is if it is appropriate to
include mentioning same sex families in their curriculum. Not only that but is
teaching about gay history an acceptable way to counter gay bullying and to end
the crisis of gay children committing suicide? In Massachusetts, an issue arose
when a book about families, given in a kindergarten class, included a
homosexual couple. In the San Francisco area, a lawsuit came about with the
inclusion of a homosexual curriculum. Finally, in Tennessee, a senator is
proposing a law prohibiting a teacher for even mentioning any type of family
other than a heterosexual family.
Massachusetts
is a state where marriage between same sex couples is legal, and in an effort
to instill sensitivity to this fact to children, books, such as the book “Who’s
in a Family?” by Robert Skutch, have been introduced to classrooms as young as
kindergarten. This book shows many types of families, including one with same
sex parents. When one child came home with this book, his parents immediately
called the school to complain. The parents wanted to be informed ahead of time
whenever the subject of homosexuality was to be discussed in class.
Administrators and teachers said they would do their best to do so, but they
could not absolutely ensure them the subject would not be discussed, especially
if another child asked a question about it during class. The parents were not
satisfied with this and refused to leave the school until they received the
answer they wanted. The father was eventually arrested for trespassing on
school property. The parents have both proponents and opponents to their
side. Some parents say that in a state
where gay marriage is legal, not teaching that these families are equal and
valid is a disservice to children. Others, such as Brian Camenker, president of
Article 8 Alliance, a group opposing same-sex marriage, say that it is lunacy
to discuss this topic at all in an elementary school setting.
The
next case in the San
Francisco area involves introducing a curriculum about gay history and acceptance
to children starting
in elementary school more comprehensive than just books available to children,
and making it a requirement to be taught. The thought that teaching not only
about the existence of same sex families but also the events and prominent
figures of gay history will help to prevent suicide of gay students. According
to "New York Times" (2011), State Senator Mark Leno,
Democrat of San Francisco said, “People oppose and fear the unfamiliar, when
grade-school students understand the arc of the L.G.B.T. movement over 40 years,
that otherness begins to dissipate. That’s desperately needed right now.”
However, many parents, and some Christian groups are fighting this push
to require gay friendly curriculum. Many Christian groups believe their voice
is suppressed and say that when they are called hateful and bigoted, it is
actually they who are being discriminated against. In 2009, a group of parents
sued a district in Alameda, California when they discovered the children were
being read a book about two male penguins raising a baby penguin which was part
of a pro-tolerance lesson. School officials said the lesson was given when
teachers heard elementary students using gay slurs in the hallways and on the
playground.
Finally,
in Tennessee, state senator Stacey Campfield introduced a bill called “Don’t
Say Gay.” that would prohibit educators and even school councilors from
"the teaching or furnishing of materials on human sexuality other than
heterosexuality in public school grades K-8." ("Fox
News", 2013). After several lawsuits from parents upset about
books read to their children, such as one fairy tale about two princes falling
in love, a federal judge finally chose to throw out all of the lawsuits. He
stated that parents' rights to exercise their religious beliefs are not
violated when their children are exposed to contrary ideas in school. Senator Campfield
said he wants to stop the gay agenda from being pushed on children. People
fighting against this bill say this will contribute to continued bullying, and
without giving a student access to ask questions to a teacher or counselor could
also continue the trend of gay student suicide.
In
conclusion, just as in the mid-20th century with many people firmly
against mixed race marriages, the acceptance of same sex unions will be a long
and difficult journey. Children who have parents of the same gender should be
able to discuss their family and be proud of it, just as any child should be. Even
very young children in kindergarten are aware when they are being excluded from
everyone else. Children allowed or not allowed to speak of their parents can
fill them with doubt about their worth and their family’s worth. Learning about
the struggle of others or the history of cultural change is not a way to force
others into those choices; instead, by learning to accept others for who they
are, schools can reach the ultimate goal of zero bullying and end teen suicide.
ABC News. (2013). Retrieved from
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1230620&page=1
Fox News. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/26/tennessee-considers-banning-teaching-homosexuality-elementary-schools/
New York Times. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/education/04bcgay.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
As a parent sharing my children with a woman and two men l think that it is important for children to be proud of their family regardless of whos in it. I want my boys to feel lucky that they have so many parents. As a teacher, I try to be sensitive to all parents. Having said that some subjects just need to be talked about and maybe its better that the teacher has a part in the discussion.
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