Should public schools teach about homosexuality?

[fabulouslyghetto]

*By homosexuality I include all variatians, gay, lesbian, tranny, manny, whatever other version there is.

I know you guys won't let me down, I tried this on a black, gay website and the answers damn near turned me into a white supremacist.

Anywho, I believe teaching about homosexuality from a biological and social standpoint as well as safe ANAL sex and sexual health specifically regarding gay sex (and straight couples who are into anal) would benefit the main population in terms of understanding (first step towards accepting) homosexuality as a natural occurence, not an "abomination" or "unpardonable sin" or "oddity of nature."

This could also help a lot of gay/lesbian youth who struggle with accepting themselves, most of us remember, at some point, wondering why we felt "different," if we were "normal." That's because, from day 1, we're bombarded with images of heterosexuality as the norm.

Approx. 30% of youth suicides are directly related to sexual orientation, identity and confusion. THIS IS PREVENTABLE.

So, in short, we'll have heteros understanding us from an unbiased, informative, non-religious perspective, gay youth will be less inclined to walk around feeling like The Creature From The Black Lagoon, and young gays will be armed with the (proverbial) tools they need to develop into healthy adults sexually, mentally, and emotionally

I'm aware there would be complications, hostility, any kid, gay or not, who asks a question might end up a target, parents might pull their kids out of the class, religious apologists will swear that this means Dooms Day, but in the context of educating our youth, you'd have to make a DAMMMMMMMMN good argumment to imply that combating ignorance through information would be a BAD thing.

ONLY in America's public education system is educating people undesirable.

This agenda is already being pushed in some schools, here are a few articles:

(this one's old but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about)

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54241

Here's the Christian version, lol, of the hell, fire, and brimstone that will ensue.

http://www.jeremiahproject.com/trashingamerica/homosexeducate.html

Anywho, thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Thread fail?

 

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

*By homosexuality I include all variatians, gay, lesbian, tranny, manny, whatever other version there is.

)

It's a good idea in theory, but putting it into practice wouldn't work, UNLESS

you find a way to keep every teacher's own feelings/prejudices/beliefs from bubbling to the surface and corrupting the way the subject is taught.

Then there is the problem of standardized textbooks.

Sorry, ain't gonna happen.

Not to mention the fact that government schools have a piss-poor record of actually teaching anything, even reading, writing and arithmetic.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

you find a way to keep every teacher's own feelings/prejudices/beliefs from bubbling to the surface and corrupting the way the subject is taught.

Good point, I haven't seen any articles mention this but diversity training would be needed as many teachers grew up when this was considered a mental disorder.

Then there is the problem of standardized textbooks.

That can be a slower burn, in the mean time all you need is a few pamphlets and the creativity that teachers are often discouraged from. Everything we learned didn't come directly from a textbook and it's not like they'd be going THAT in depth, this lesson could be compacted to a week or two, not the ENTIRE health/sexuality curriculum.

Sorry, ain't gonna happen.

I know, just like desegregation, a black president in my lifetime, female CEOs, artificial limb replacement, synthetic cells, talking robots, space flight and global social networking. Damnit, these things are never EVER going to happen!

On a less sarcastic note, humans have been evolving and progressing for CENTURIES, and the entire time, there's always been a cavalry of nay-sayers proclaiming "Ain't gonna happen." These nay-sayers show astronomically high rates of Oral-Podiatric Syndrome.

Not to mention the fact that government schools have a piss-poor record of actually teaching anything, even reading, writing and arithmetic.

So we should just throw our hands up in the air?

You don't believe in gay marriage and reject the notion of teaching about homosexuality...you're not a Christian republican are you? Just asking, no shade.

 

[landers]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Wow, there are so many problems I have with those articles. Homosexuality has been taught in Canadian schools as part of general sex education for years. I remember in my first sex ed class in '94 my teacher explaining that sometimes two people of the same sex are attracted to each other and how they have sex. Canada is still here, we haven't collapsed into chaos or anarchy so what the hell is problem?

UNLESS you find a way to keep every teacher's own feelings/prejudices/beliefs from bubbling to the surface and corrupting the way the subject is taught.

Teachers are required to be free from prejudice in a lot of things they teach like history, science and sex education and, teaching homosexuality shouldn't be any different.

 

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Teachers are required to be free from prejudice in a lot of things they teach like history, science and sex education and, teaching homosexuality shouldn't be any different.

And you think just because they're required to be free from prejudice that things actually work that way?

That's just about the funniest thing I've heard all day.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Canada is still here, we haven't collapsed into chaos or anarchy so what the hell is problem?

It's going to happen, just you wait! It starts with teaching homosexuality, next thing you know toddlers will be having sex with bald eagles! Teenagers will be smoking ammonia-laced crack and demanding the right to marry their bathroom mirrors. Chaos, I tells ya, CHAOS!

*waves arms around in the air to demonstrate chaos*

 

[NickCole]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

No.

Our public schools are clearly overwhelmed with teaching reading, writing, math, science, civics, history, and maybe most importantly how to think.

Let's deal with that first.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

And you think just because they're required to be free from prejudice that things actually work that way?

Yup. If they do show prejudice, reprimand them, if they show major prejudice, fire them. Schools shouldn't tolerate the P word in any way, shape, or form. It'd be nice if, some time this century, we develop standards for teachers.

Our public schools are clearly overwhelmed with teaching reading, writing, math, science, civics, history, and maybe most importantly how to think.

And how is including ONE study going to hinder tackling the problems you listed? The public curriculum is in a constant state of metamorphasis. If they don't have "time for these changes", why is there an entire panel dedicated to approving curriculum changes?

Let's deal with that first.

Some of us are capable of multi-tasking. And since when is the mental, emotional and sexual health of gay youth not as important as learning algebraic equations that less than half of them are ever going to encounter outside the classroom?

"Hey, Joe Gayteen, quit slicing your wrist, the formula for slope is x-x1=m(y-y1)! Doesn't that make you feel better? Keep that info in your back pocket and you'll be president in no time!"

 

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

So we should just throw our hands up in the air?

No, we should work for education reform- which reform should include, but not necessarily be limited to:

1. Getting rid of the teacher's unions - they are the biggest obstacle to real reform.

2. Come up with a reasonable means to provide merit pay for good teachers (the unions are dead set against that, of course).

3. Come up with a reasonable process by which bad teachers can be gotten rid of - this means seriously revamping the tenure system. Once a teacher acquires tenure, it is almost impossible to get rid of them absent charges of moral turpitude - whatever that is. The NYC school system literally pays bad teachers to do nothing - its a huge scandal.

4. Create a workable voucher system so schools have to compete for students. School next door failing? Send little Joey to a better school and pay for it using a voucher. (unions are dead set against that one also, as are all the race baiters).

5. Set higher standards for teachers. Teacher's colleges have some of the lowest entrance requirements out there.

6. Test teachers as to their ability. I saw a report a few years back which printed written statements by teachers in Alabama or Mississippi. The grammar, spelling, and sentence structure was deplorable.

and so on

Encourage parents to make the sacrifices necessary to send their kids to private schools. Two members of my family are sacrificing everything to send their 6 and 8 yr olds to a private (NON sectarian) school. Kids are in classes of no more than 10 students. Cost $600/mo per child and damn well worth it. No, they're not rich. Combined incomes less than $100K per year, and the husband just got laid off.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

No, we should work for education reform

Riddle me this, how do you reform something without changing it? This is nothing more than a proposed change. Socially a major one, but in all practicality it's rather minute, this lesson doesn't have to overtake the entire health curriculum. You could spend 30 minutes on the social aspect, 30 on the sexual, and 30 on the biological aspect. That's an hour and a half, does an 180 day school-year have an hour and a half to spare that could help alleviate some of the distress and ignorance gay youth face?

and so on

Could the "and so on" include incorporating a lesson or two about homosexuality?

 

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Riddle me this, how do you reform something without changing it? This is nothing more than a proposed change. Socially a major one, but in all practicality it's rather minute, this lesson doesn't have to overtake the entire health curriculum. You could spend 30 minutes on the social aspect, 30 on the sexual, and 30 on the biological aspect. That's an hour and a half, does an 180 day school-year have an hour and a half to spare that could help alleviate some of the distress and ignorance gay youth face?

Look at the history of sex education in schools. It has been a slow and agonizing process and was (perhaps still is) a hot button issue.

Despite the fact that many parents (most?) are not equipped either emotionally or intellectually to have rational conversations with their kids about sex and birth control etc, a lot of them are dead set against it. As long as schools are supported by ad valorem taxation, they will have serious input into the process.

PS I'd rather have the schools not mention homosexuality at all than have some teachers telling kids it's a "choice," and crap like that.

 

[bankside]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

No.

Our public schools are clearly overwhelmed with teaching reading, writing, math, science, civics, history, and maybe most importantly how to think.

Let's deal with that first.

If they do their job dealing with science, civics, history, and health class, then they will teach kids about homosexuality as they go, at the same age-appropriate rate they teach kids about heterosexuality.

Of course it should be included.

(*Another "gumdrops and lollypops" moment of sanctimony from a Canadian who can't figure out why this is even controversial in other countries.)

 

[NickCole]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

And how is including ONE study going to hinder tackling the problems you listed? The public curriculum is in a constant state of metamorphasis. If they don't have "time for these changes", why is there an entire panel dedicated to approving curriculum changes?

There are many areas of study I think would be helpful to add (though, as a separate area of study, homosexuality falls behind things like managing personal finances and ethics, IMO), but that's not the point.

The point is our kids are leaving school without a solid basic education -- and that's evidenced every single day on this very forum. So the focus on education right now should be getting that right, and that's a huge undertaking. You're welcome to discuss this or anything else you want, but as a matter of public policy I think whether or not to add homosexuality to the public school curriculum would only distract from the #1 priority our public schools and national discussion needs to be dealing with -- and that's detailing the changes that will result in an educated thinking population.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

(*Another "gumdrops and lollypops" moment of sanctimony from a Canadian who can't figure out why this is even controversial in other countries.)

I digress and concede.

 

[hermanding]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

teaching about it is fine and would seem to be better incorporated into a course about sexuality - period. separating us out is separating us again, isolating us. our sexualities are tied to so many factors
ding

 

[construct]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

In my private school back in the 1970s, homosexuality was discussed in two classes. There was a rather off-hand mention in health class which was one semester. Then there was a one day discussion (that did include recognition of varying attitudes toward homosexuality) in biology class which was two semesters.

We should be teaching about oral sex, anal sex, and condoms within sex education class anyway. All three are involved with heterosexual sex. The same health guidelines apply to heterosexuals that apply to homosexuals. So the only things left are the social and cultural aspects of homosexuality.

Now, curriculum is determined at the state and local levels. So I would expect education about homosexuality in public schools would vary greatly across the country. I certainly would expect the content to be different between say Cleburne, TX and San Francisco.

 

[Corny]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Hm ... please don't tell me that kids in America never heard even briefly about homosexuality during sex ed.
Because it is here like that since at least 15+ years... (= when I had sex ed, not clue when they started doing it)

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Despite the fact that many parents (most?) are not equipped either emotionally or intellectually to have rational conversations with their kids about sex and birth control etc, a lot of them are dead set against it. As long as schools are supported by ad valorem taxation, they will have serious input into the process.

That's why they have panels to approve such changes. What's more important here, the fragile sensibilities and bias of previous generations or assimilation of future generations of gays? Parents didn't want their kids going to school with "them coloreds" but clearly their perception was skewed.

To be realistic, they could have the option of pulling their child from the class though the concept of wanting your child to be ignorant is beyond my comprehension.

PS I'd rather have the schools not mention homosexuality at all than have some teachers telling kids it's a "choice," and crap like that.

They're not going to teach that it's a choice, that's misinformation, they're going to teach that it's natural in animals that are supposedly incapable of making such choices as it's not a reproductive necessity and isn't at all related to survival or maintaining communal structure. They can also teach why homosexuality is demonized by society and the effects this has on homosexuals ie self-esteem issues, why this leads to promiscuity and discrimination. They can also teach about sexual health, complications like anal problems and diseases, STDs hygiene, etc..

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Hm ... please don't tell me that kids in America never heard even briefly about homosexuality during sex ed.
Because it is here like that since at least 15+ years... (= when I had sex ed, not clue when they started doing it)

Notoriety of Chicago's failed education system aside, I didn't hear two words about homosexuality. There are some schools that teach about it being natural though I'm not aware if they're the majority or minority.

This is related to the general exclusion of safe sex practices, some schools don't teach about safe sex at all which is why we have threads on JUB like "Is bareback sex safe for the top?"

 

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

They're not going to teach that it's a choice, that's misinformation, they're going to teach that it's natural in animals that are supposedly incapable of making such choices as it's not a reproductive necessity and isn't at all related to survival or maintaining communal structure. They can also teach why homosexuality is demonized by society and the effects this has on homosexuals ie self-esteem issues, why this leads to promiscuity and discrimination. They can also teach about sexual health, complications like anal problems and diseases, STDs hygiene, etc..

I'll be you still believe in the tooth fairy if you believe it will be that simple.