Parents claim school district violates their right to teach morals
* BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Ever since her 5-year-old brought home a book from kindergarten that depicted a gay family, Tonia Parker has felt that her parenting has been under attack in the only state that allows same-sex marriage.
She and her husband, David, did not want to discuss sexual orientation yet with their son, and were shocked that the book was included in a "diversity book bag" last year.
David Parker subsequently got arrested for refusing to leave a Lexington school after officials refused to meet his demand that he be notified when homosexuality was discussed in his son's class.
Now the Parkers and another couple have sued the school district in federal court, claiming Lexington officials violated their parental rights to teach morals to their own children.
The way they and other opponents of gay marriage see it, the 2003 ruling that cleared the way for same-sex weddings has emboldened gay rights advocates in the state of Massachusetts to push their views in schools and ignore those who feel homosexuality is immoral.
"In many parts of the United States, we could have presented our concerns and our objections, and it wouldn't have been a problem," Tonia Parker said.
Glenn Koocher, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, said there is no pro-gay campaign in the schools, just isolated cases exaggerated by anti-gay marriage activists who suffer from "narcissistic activist personality disorder."
Carisa Cunningham, spokeswoman for the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, said school curriculums have not changed, just the reaction to them by gay marriage opponents. "Maybe the impact of the law is that it has made people much more defensive and much more afraid," she said.
In Massachusetts, like most of the nation, there is no official education policy on when or how to discuss homosexuality in the classroom.
"It's done purposely to make sure local school boards reflect the values of the local district," said Martha Kempner, a spokeswoman for the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.
Just 10 U.S. states have laws that deal with teaching sexual orientation, two of which require some teaching of it and eight of which put restrictions on how it's presented, according to New York-based SIECUS.
Massachusetts guidelines say only that teachers should define the different sexual orientations by the fifth grade. Each school district decides how to do that, and in the past year, Lexington has emerged as the center of debate.
Officials there say that since same-sex marriage is part of life in Massachusetts, it comes up naturally and that it's impossible to notify parents every time the issue is discussed.
"It certainly strengthens the argument that we need to teach about gay marriage because it's more of a reality for our kids," said Paul Ash, superintendent of schools in Lexington. "The children see married, gay couples."
An "opt out" provision in state law requires parental notification and the chance to remove their kids from the classroom if the curriculum "primarily involves human sexual education or human sexuality issues." But same-sex marriage comes up in current events classes and other forums where it's not the primary focus and, educators say, not subject to the "opt out" law.
Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which opposes gay marriage, says educators are using the perceived loophole to bypass parents. Since the marriages began in May 2004, his organization has compiled about 20 reports from media and parents in towns from Medford to Newton that highlight what his group feels is inappropriate teaching of homosexuality.
Among recent incidents: Parents Joseph and Robin Wirthlin joined the Parkers in the federal suit after a second grade teacher in Lexington read to her class the fairy tale "King and King," which tells the story of two princes falling in love.
Last April, a sexually explicit pamphlet aimed at helping gay men avoid sexually transmitted diseases was distributed at a Brookline High School conference on gay and lesbian issues. School officials said the booklet was mistakenly displayed.
Brian Camenker of the Article 8 Alliance, which opposes gay marriage, said there's been a striking change in tone by gay marriage proponents since marriages started.
"It's like you're dealing with people from Mars, people who feel they're so superior they can use your child's mind as a sandbox for their own personal ideologies," he said.
But Eliza Byard of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network said gay families exist everywhere -- the only thing different about Massachusetts is that same-sex marriage makes it much harder to push them aside. Public schools must acknowledge gay families, she said, even if it upsets parents who believe same-sex relationships are immoral.
"One of the basic realities of American life," she said, "is that all of us have to deal with beliefs we disagree with."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Is there a new game in town? Is its name “Call it what its not”?
Homosexuality being taught to 5yr olds. So do you think not denying homosexuality’s existence is being taught homosexuality? I think that is much more than a small distortion. But what is happening has no resemblance to teaching.
Tonia Parker thinks that a book that depicts a gay family is attacking her parenting. Boy, is that homophobic or what? And it was hid under the cover of “Diversity”? I wonder what other kinds of diversity we should hide.
Now they are sewing the school for “teaching morals”. How immoral can one get?
And they feel that the school “ignores those who feel homosexuality is immoral”. Well I guess that they want the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Police” out if force.
This is a good article for all the homophobic idiots to rally under. Maybe we should just kill all the homos and get it over with.
Then our next task would be to figure out what is the next group we shouldn’t have to tolerate.
Is there a new game in town? Is its name “Call it what its not”?
Homosexuality being taught to 5yr olds. So do you think not denying homosexuality’s existence is being taught homosexuality? I think that is much more than a small distortion. But what is happening has no resemblance to teaching.
Tonia Parker thinks that a book that depicts a gay family is attacking her parenting. Boy, is that homophobic or what? And it was hid under the cover of “Diversity”? I wonder what other kinds of diversity we should hide.
Now they are sewing the school for “teaching morals”. How immoral can one get?
And they feel that the school “ignores those who feel homosexuality is immoral”. Well I guess that they want the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Police” out if force.
This is a good article for all the homophobic idiots to rally under. Maybe we should just kill all the homos and get it over with.
Then our next task would be to figure out what is the next group we shouldn’t have to tolerate.
I don't think anyone in this thread is advocating killing homosexuals, I'm certainly not. I am very big into civil liberties and personal freedoms. However, I don't think we should be teaching toddlers and very young children about this or any other sexual matters.
When i read this title i was like wooooh...someones brainwashing people into thionking they are gays, I think obviously these feelings are wrong but they cant help how they feel the sin comes in when they take action! Allah guide them to whats right and bring them to learn about deen-ul-haaq WalaykumAsalaam x
Ya Muslimeen
Ya Mu’meneen
Open up your eyes
Aim for the ultimate prize
Which is paradise
Allah’s laws
By definition has no flaw
So why do we pause?
Tell me what’s the cause
Hold your applause
Takbir!!!!!
Allahu Akbar
Homosexuality is a terrible thing, although one must learn and acknowledge the existence...
But, the way these children will be taught is going to make them think about it more, and at such an early age, children will incline towards it....just like they do to violence etc.
Well I surly agree that we should never let an impressionable young child see any thing that you conceder “not normal”, not. We shouldn’t let them see “Desert Snow” either.
Maybe while they are impressionable would be a good time to teach them tolerance.
You can teach your brand of morality and your beliefs about the Quran at home. And you should.
But in the US religious indoctrination is not to be part of public education.
I strongly feel that we need to teach tolerance and that is surly not what the article was advocating.
Subhanallah, I wouldn't want my children to learn about this from kufar, they wouldn't see it from an islamic perspective, homosexuality is a major sin thats what I want the future islamic youth to know.
I am not for gays (imo the reason why we have the bits we have says it all). And wouldn't like my children being taught it at school at such a young age, in fact 5 year olds shouldn't be taught anything to do with love/sex at such a young age anyway (imo).
Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without any proof
imaad_udeen
So do you think not denying homosexuality’s existence is being taught homosexuality?
Wilber
I don't think the state should have the right to teach such subjects to children. This should be a family matter. If this were taught to my young son I would *flip* and consider taking action of some kind.
This is a good thing cos not all religions believe it to be a sin therefore people need to know why there are the way they are from an equal footing it will allow more openness and honesty in society, honesty is the first step.
How dare they what? As far as the school authorities are concerned this is simply not a "moral" issue. To them it is no more "immoral" to be homosexual rather than straight than it is to be black rather than white. An opinion I share, incidently, although I am fully aware that it will not be shared by most muslims or some Christians. I say "most" as, yes.. shock, horror.., there are many gay muslims. They may, or may not, suppress their sexual instincts but that doesn't change the fact they exist no matter how much some of you might wish they didn't.
The school is not "teaching homosexuality", just acknowledging that family structures exist that may contain two natural parents, one, or neither (think of adoption), of one or both sexes. The world (or parts of it) as it is, not what little Johnny's parents might wish it was. That, IMHO, is their duty as educators. If the child's parents wish to teach him that homosexuality is 'wrong', or 'evil' in line with their own religious beliefs, or even simple prejudices, they are perfectly entitled to do so. If they are still not happy, they could always send him to another school.
Right or Wrong? It is wrong full stop (i.e period, .)
7:80 We also (sent) LUT: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you?
11:77 When Our messengers came to LUT, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: "This is a distressful day."
11:81 (The Messengers) said: "O LUT! We are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed: Is not the morning nigh?"
11:89 "And O my people! let not my dissent (from you) cause you to sin, lest ye suffer a fate similar to that of the people of Noah or of Hud or of Salih, nor are the people of LUT far off from you!
15:61 At length when the messengers arrived among the adherents of LUT,
15:68 LUT said: "These are my guests: disgrace me not:
21:74 And to LUT, too, We gave Judgment and Knowledge, and We saved him from the town which practised abominations: truly they were a people given to Evil, a rebellious people.
26:161 Behold, their brother LUT said to them: "Will ye not fear ((Allah))?
27:54 (We also sent) LUT (as an apostle): behold, He said to his people, "Do ye do what is shameful though ye see (its iniquity)?
27:56 But his people gave no other answer but this: they said, "Drive out the followers of LUT from your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!"
29:28 And (remember) LUT: behold, he said to his people: "Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you.
54:34 We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except LUT's household: them We delivered by early Dawn,-
11:82 When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer,-
15:74 And We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay.
Could it be said any better? (you're not supposed to answer!)
Forgive Him Who Wrongs You;
Join Him Who Cuts You Off;
Do Good To Him Who Does Evil To You;
And Speak The Truth Even If It Be Against Yourself.
Inscribed On The Prophets (PBUH) Sword
It is amassing what you can get with a headline. If anyone would read the original post with an open mind, you would see that the content does not support the headline. Read it again folks. Look for any supporting evidence that “Homosexuality is being taught”. This is nothing more than a sucker line to promote an anti gay agenda, and you just swallowed it hook line and sinker. Shame on you.
Wilber
How dare they what? As far as the school authorities are concerned this is simply not a "moral" issue. To them it is no more "immoral" to be homosexual rather than straight than it is to be black rather than white.
Actually school authorities know very well it is more complex than that. To them, chances are given the views of the majority of Americans, it is simply not the case that the two are equivalent. Certainly to the parents it is unlikely to be the case. And even if they think that homosexuality is not a sin, teaching children values that their parents almost certain oppose is very much a moral issue and they must know that. It is outrageous to use tax money taken from parents to teach moral values they find obhorrent.
Le coeur a ses raisons, que la raison ne connait pas. - Blaise Pascal
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