Should public schools teach about homosexuality?

[Kulindahr]

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.

With the liberal influences in schools the last couple of decades, the goal of instruction is more self-esteem than knowledge, and more knowledge than thinking ability.

 

[Kulindahr]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

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."

At least Otto von Bismarck, architect of one of the earliest public school systems, was honest: he wanted citizens/subjects who thought the same, were loyal to the Kaiser, would be obedient to government, and fulfill an 'obligation' to be "productive"... all for the sake of the State.

The potential for that is perhaps the foremost reason for not having government-run schools.

 

[Kulindahr]

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?

A good place to look would be the website for the Separation of School and State people.

I recall a middle school teacher getting fired because she focused on teaching students the values of the Founding Fathers, suspicion of government, and thinking for themselves -- the official curriculum wanted "productive citizens", "loyal Americans", and that sort of rot.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

A good place to look would be the website for the Separation of School and State people.

I recall a middle school teacher getting fired because she focused on teaching students the values of the Founding Fathers, suspicion of government, and thinking for themselves -- the official curriculum wanted "productive citizens", "loyal Americans", and that sort of rot.

Please tell me this happened in the earlier half of the 20th century.

 

[Kulindahr]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Please tell me this happened in the earlier half of the 20th century.

It was like '69, I think.

 

[joshz88]

In response to the original post, I think it should be taught in sex education classes just to help promote safe sex. Also, I think it should be talked about in a social aspect in political classes because gay rights are a huge topic in politics. However, I definitely don't believe it should be taught in a biological aspect, because as a Biology major, I know that the biological and genetic origins, if any, are still inconclusive and arguable.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

It was like '69, I think.

Good, if that happened last week or something I'd have to fail this whole country. That's a lotta fail.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

In response to the original post, I think it should be taught in sex education classes just to help promote safe sex. Also, I think it should be talked about in a social aspect in political classes because gay rights are a huge topic in politics. However, I definitely don't believe it should be taught in a biological aspect, because as a Biology major, I know that the biological and genetic origins, if any, are still inconclusive and arguable.

I understand where you're coming from, I too think it might be best until we learn something more conclusive, at the same time, a lot of things we teach aren't rock solid. Evolution, the big bang theory, these aren't 100% verified.

 

[hotatlboi]

Sure, but is it really needed?

The kids seem to be learning about it much better than their parents already.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Josh, THAT is exactly what and why it should be discussed. It's called education. Imagine if the germ theory of disease had never been discussed in classrooms because it was inconclusive and arguable.

So by your opinion I guess stem cell therapy shouldn't be discussed as well? The origins of life? Perhaps scientific theory should just be banished all together. I mean...these things are all inconclusive and arguable.

You do understand that they want it to be forbidden to even mention homosexuality without a parent's prior approval.

Again...this is not about having a class about homosexuality...or a month dedicated to gay history. It's about banning the teaching of anything related to gay.

 

[bankside]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

With the liberal influences in schools the last couple of decades, the goal of instruction is more self-esteem than knowledge, and more knowledge than thinking ability.

I think you mean conservative influences; their idea is to create "productive human capital" instead of thinking citizens. Just helping you overcome your biases. Don't worry; we'll take this one day at a time.

 

[MCsNo1Fn]

If they DO decide to teach it, it should be listed in the class description and it should be option. No one should be forced to listen to a topic they're disinterested in, or care not to hear.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

If they DO decide to teach it, it should be listed in the class description and it should be option. No one should be forced to listen to a topic they're disinterested in, or care not to hear.

Does that apply to all subjects or just homosexuality?

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

it possible and why it possible because kids manage make it adult what live through many labels and not dead.

Also nothing teach first place.

On world level can teach it by teach all what really matter right beginning and ( homo and lots of other stupid words no need and would not be issue.

Look at Internet where many happy to spill out their sex under Straight Bi etc but in real world they out there help with HOMO?

When word HOMO use what has sex got to do with anything?

Lots got to unlearn a lot before they understand even how talk but for a lot of issues in world just keeping out of the way little children will grow up never knowing the ridiculas farce that the world take 100s of years that bring it to this day.

Emotion of feeling for another should not be owned or pocessed or manipulated or corrupt which is up to today dressed up in many inhuman way.

Whatever create the human race over centuries to develop so limited view of life and to treat others as if not even alive but things to use and discard that has to be first sorted out which people are trying to do now.

( Even the world of GAY and those minds what hide behind it and in it and created in countrys as many forms of Homo in their mind of what homosexual is also have to catch up to unlearning a lot of rubbish that keep many caught up in a storm not of their making but dragged along by the undercurrents that is the mess of what goes for the human race today )

It is possible

 

[Kulindahr]

Re: Should public schools teach about homosexualit

Good, if that happened last week or something I'd have to fail this whole country. That's a lotta fail.

There are still places where "patriotism" is valued over thought -- my best buddy lives in one.

 

[MCsNo1Fn]

Does that apply to all subjects or just homosexuality?

So basically everyone should be FORCED to learn about gay sex?

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

So basically everyone should be FORCED to learn about gay sex?

1. They can pull their kids from the class if they'd like them to remain ignorant, if I'm not mistaken this option has always been available to anyone who disagrees with sex education period.

2. It's not just about GAY SEX, there's more to homosexuality than sex, there are historical, cultural, social and political aspects to be considered.

3. "Forced to learn" is a misleading title. Any person who's worth half a bag of donkey shit shouldn't need to be forced to learn. Ignorance shouldn't be tolerated or promoted. Oh, unless it's religious ignorance then it's okay.

 

[NickCole]

"Forced to learn" is a misleading title. Any person who's worth half a bag of donkey shit shouldn't need to be forced to learn. Ignorance shouldn't be tolerated or promoted.

Nonsense.

There's all kinds of ignorance that's tolerated.

For instance, I asked you a little while ago what Obama's education plan was and you didn't even know he has one. And yet you're supposedly so interested in what kids are taught in public schools. So your ignorance about the President's education plan is pretty amazing. But there it is: ignorance.

It's absurd to expect public school students to be taught everything, so some ignorance is going to remain following a public school education. And a lot of people may not be interested in homosexuality as a subject taught in school. Just because it's really important to you doesn't mean it is or should be to everyone.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

For instance, I asked you a little while ago what Obama's education plan was and you didn't even know he has one. And yet you're supposedly so interested in what kids are taught in public schools. So your ignorance about the President's education plan is pretty amazing. But there it is: ignorance.

[Inappropriate text: Removed by Moderator]

But is this a matter of moral relativity? This is the public EDUCATION system so how is it okay for SCHOOLS to allow ignorance?

It's absurd to expect public school students to be taught everything

This isn't about teaching everything, as usual you've exaggerated a reasonable concept. I find it hilarious you rail on about being proud and marching in parades but as soon as we want to view homosexuality in an EDUCATIONAL format you get your panties in a bundle.

Just because it's really important to you doesn't mean it is or should be to everyone.

It's not about it being important to me, it's about the sexual and mental health of gay youth and more social acceptance of young homosexuals.

If we start young, we won't have people growing up into self-loathing, gay-hating closet cases.

 

[rainbow-monkey]

sometimes im left open mouthed at how different america and the uk are on homosexual issues. many secondary schools (children aged 12 to 16) are teaching homosexual issues not in biology but in citizenship, pshe whatever you want to call it. i think its more important to teach kids about homosexuality in society rather than in science because thats where the problems lie right? i mean no scientist would say its wrong.

i think the main problem is that the message would be that being etc is ok which is not a message many parents in the usa want their kids to hear i expect. i think the message should be, gay people are part of society and there's nothing medically or psycologically (damn my spelling!) wrong with them however people have different views on wether its morally correct.

having said this, its more complicated when you talk about younger kids where morality means ziltch to them. i like the prince marrying a prince book cus it shows that there are people like that in society and they are gonna have to deal with it. we may never be accepted by everybody but i think we can achieve tolerance