Should public schools teach about homosexuality?

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

"Unless" is sometimes a very disingenuous time. So you're saying "It will work if...."

No one here expects this to be something Obama solves in one John Hancock, but we can either focus on how it isn't likely or try to promote it so it becomes a reality. This agenda is already being pushed in some schools.

A few schools already teach about homosexuality in some capacity and, lo' and behold, the societal structure of these communities didn't fall apart at the seams.

I will say I'm not at all surprised at the negative slant of your posts here. You've barely expressed any persona beliefs about the topic, you just keep railing about "It won't unless" and "It won't work if."

l.

Marley, you are the one who is being disingenous.

Try reading AND comprehending.

 

[MCsNo1Fn]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

I wouldn't support teaching it in schools.

 

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

They teach all that tripe about religion in public schools, don't they? I'm sure they can fit a lesson about homosexuality in.

Religion is not taught in the public schools. At least not officially.

 

[Glafna]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

^ it is taught(or so I've heard) in cases where dissecting what religion can do to someone's personal choices and their general actions, as well as when certain periods of time or certain novels are discussed, and what religion within said things affected within the time period, and what hidden meanings it could relate to in a novel.

Also, religion in actual catholic school's isn't as pushy as many would believe. I work with a few kids from catholic schools(and although it could be just here), outside of prayer once or twice during the day, or the mandatory religion class(which teaches about all religions, with no pressure to do anything), there is practically nothing religious about the school-days.


Now for the poll, I put undecided, because as it is, gays are often not viewed well by many teens, with us being considered man-whores as a general thing(although is not a wide-spread belief). Also, with terms like "that's so gay", or "stop being a fag" etc. , the lessons probably wouldn't come across as well as they should. Also, I think it should stay OUT of elementary schools until probably like grade 7 or 8, when the kids are actually getting in touch with their emotions and personal attractions.

On a side note, my nephew was telling me the other day that his gym teacher would brush upon homosexuality in a health unit. He taken the same course 3 times( grade 12 gym), and this is the first time it was even mentioned.

 

[opinterph]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Don't [students enrolled in U.S. public schools] get lessons about religions in schools?

I attended public school for several years and never encountered the “teaching” of religion at the particular facility in which I was enrolled.

The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance maintains what appears to be a relatively well balanced website, with a variety of potentially useful resources, including this excerpt from the page I’ve linked:

As interpreted by the [U.S.] courts, the Constitution's First Amendment requires that public school teachers, principals, and boards be religiously neutral:

• They may not promote a particular religion as being superior to any other.
• They may not promote religion in general as superior to a secular approach to life.
• They may not promote secularism in general as superior to a religious approach to life.
• They may not be antagonistic to religion in general or a particular religious belief in particular.
• They may not be antagonistic to secularism.
• They must neither advance nor inhibit religion.

 

[Kulindahr]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

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.

Excellent point!

I don't think we need a separate curriculum about homosexuality. It should simply be a part of biology. I always advocate limiting education to tools they can use. Teach them math, language, and other skills to prepare them for life, period. Teaching them social notions, no matter what the slant is, is ultimately going to be someone's propaganda. Cut school funding, fire as many administrators as you can, pass the savings on to the teachers and move to a skills-based curriculum across the board. In as much as homosexuality would fall into a basic understanding of science and psychology, yes it should be taught. Making it a feel-good, let's all understand each other better lesson is a waste. Teach it as a normal part of life and kids will accept it as so.

Absolutely. It should be included in biology classes, in social studies, in history, in psychology, and in current events -- in every case pointing out that it happens naturally, that some societies have accepted it, some have honored it, some have rejected it (and often been extremely cruel about that). But it should have no special place.

So I didn't vote, because the options were too simple, while the answers aren't.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

So I didn't vote, because the options were too simple, while the answers aren't.

There's only so much space in the poll responses, but it's pretty cut and dry. Should we mention it? Yes? No? Haven't made up your mind yet? If you agree that it should be included, in several courses as you stated, you coulda said "Yes."



Always gotta be difficult.

 

[Ram]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Voted No -- because it's going to be pointless. I think public schools should teach us how to learn first before these institutions could teach us anything else.

The aim of education should be to teach us rather how to think, than what to think - rather to improve our minds, so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory with the thoughts of other men.

~Bill Beattie

And this applies to public schools as well.

I don't see straight and gay homophobic jerks suddenly changing their perceptions about us gay people by learning about Harvey Milk and/or the dangers of barebacking.

You can give me an education about gay people and gay sex for an entire semester but you can't guarantee that I will do something with my education. I will still be just as homophobic as, or just as clueless and lost as I have started out if I'm not taught to do something with my given education.

Public schools should be giving proper education -- not the "you got to memorize this" type of education. The more holistic, reality-based, rebellious type. The one that questions everything and seeks answers rather relying on textual spoon-feeing. With proper education comes a greater need to question and understand the world around us. Having instill that in a child, the last thing you need to worry about is him/her being a total ignoramus bigot.

For sex education, there shouldn't be any kind of segregation based on sexuality: gay or straight, you still have to learn about safe sex, pregnancies (not a problem for us ) and STDs.

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.

This sums up what I need to say for sex education in this thread .

(pardon the grammar. I am not in the mood to type)

 

[Glafna]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

It's about parents not having to sign a piece of paper every time a teacher wants to mention anything related to homosexuality.

Your right, I didn't read the link, nor did I need to to understand what would happen if that kind of policy would be put into place in the public school board. Protests would be formed by the "religious right" who still do put their kids in public schools, as well as the rednecks and hardcore homophobic parents out there, on top of whoever else feels like it. There is a very good chance that they may view it as "indoctrination" of sorts, when they are not informed of it. Officials would be called, kids possibly pulled out of schools to be home-schooled(and we all know how well that would turn out ) and people possibly fired.

But in all honesty, I feel as though it would be worth it. Gays are coming out younger and younger, 6th-7th grade is the youngest I've heard, and that shows these fools that we ARE there, and we deserve the same chance at education that everyone else does, especially if it is about safe-sex, and the dangers of performing different acts of sex. And most especially the human rights violations on gays in the past and present, and outstanding role-models and civil-rights activists past and present.

 

[Kulindahr]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

There's only so much space in the poll responses, but it's pretty cut and dry. Should we mention it? Yes? No? Haven't made up your mind yet? If you agree that it should be included, in several courses as you stated, you coulda said "Yes."



Always gotta be difficult.

Or maybe I should have voted "No", because you stated the question as being about "issues".

It wouldn't have taken too much effort to have included a few options in between, like:

Yes, but just in sex ed
Yes, in science and history classes

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Or maybe I should have voted "No", because you stated the question as being about "issues".

I love you too Kuli.

It wouldn't have taken too much effort to have included a few options in between, like:

Yes, but just in sex ed
Yes, in science and history classes

If it's okay in sex ed, why wouldn't it be okay in history?

 

[MCsNo1Fn]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Considering specific types of sex are illegal in some states, I just don't see it happening. Oral sex is illegal in most states, so I don't see that discussion coming up anytime soon, lol...

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

^Actually it already has come up and a few schools already do teach about homosexuality.

Now, you've said no, you've echoed Henry's sentiments that it's "Not likely" but how do YOU feel about it?

That it would be beneficial? Harmful? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

 

[TX-Beau]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Considering specific types of sex are illegal in some states, I just don't see it happening. Oral sex is illegal in most states, so I don't see that discussion coming up anytime soon, lol...

Ummm no.....

 

[TX-Beau]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

U.S. Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas (2003) invalidated sodomy laws in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy_law

 

[Kulindahr]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

If it's okay in sex ed, why wouldn't it be okay in history?

It might be acceptable that way to some. I can easily see people accepting its mention in science and history, because it's kind of at a distance that way, but not in sex ed, 'cause they'd think that was "encouraging" it. But it's possible that some would view it as being in sex ed so kids can be aware of the dangers, but not want it in history because that somehow might put a stamp of approval on it.

Maybe it should be in phys ed.....

 

[bankside]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

I think homosexuality should be encouraged. It's a good way to live, if someone is interested.

But gay, straight, or bi, people should have enough knowledge to know how to be sexually competent. They should know how to operate their own equipment and do the same for someone they care about to fully enjoy pleasure and intimacy.

They should not have to suffer in the isolation of their own ignorance, living a life of bad sex or no sex due to half-truths, rumours, and innuendo. People should learn more about sex in a classroom than in a porn video to provide a foundation for their own discoveries and private delights.

We forget, we turn people loose at the age of 18 with the idea that they are adults. The idea of the higher grades in school is to teach them something about all aspects of adulthood, teach them to think in an adult way about adult issues. By the higher grades they are making adult choices and dealing with adult ways. With a school system that is doing its job, they can think about these issues with adult supervision.

 

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

It might be acceptable that way to some. I can easily see people accepting its mention in science and history, because it's kind of at a distance that way, but not in sex ed, 'cause they'd think that was "encouraging" it. But it's possible that some would view it as being in sex ed so kids can be aware of the dangers, but not want it in history because that somehow might put a stamp of approval on it.

Maybe it should be in phys ed.....

Just came across this quote from H. L. Mencken:

"The erroneous assumption is to the effort that the aim of public education is to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence .... Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all; it is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States, whatever the pretensions of politicians, pedagogues and other such montebanks, and that is its aim everywhere else."

 

[opinterph]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Just came across this quote from H. L. Mencken:

The quote was originally published in April 1924, in The American Mercury magazine. Are there contemporary voices that promote the same viewpoint?

 

[HenryReardon]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

The quote was originally published in April 1924, in The American Mercury magazine. Are there contemporary voices that promote the same viewpoint?

Very likely, if one takes the trouble to look. Problem is the starry eyed idealists don't want to believe it.

By and large politicians and educators seem to think that the more money they throw at the schools, the better it will be. Yet they continue to turn out the same inferior product - albeit a more expensive inferior product with each passing year.

Here in Florida, the total focus among teachers is the state wide testing - teachers will tell you that they are urged, even compelled, to teach the test to the exclusion of all else.

Read some of the works of the late Max Rafferty. He's been dead for a while, but is more nearly contemporary than Mencken. He was state superintendent of schools in a southern state, was a columnist, and had a lot of unkind but accurate things to say about the state of government education.

It is really interesting to note that so little has changed.