"So Gay" Phrase Lands Santa Rosa Schools In Court

Parent Cafe
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<p>Couple obvious observations :wink:
While I remember the “sticks and stones” ditty from my childhood as well, it always seemed to me quoted when adults didn’t want to acknowledge how hurtful and long lasting verbal harrassment could be.</p>

<p>While I didn’t spank my kids- except in emergencies- I also feel that a brief paddling was sufficent and to the point and in the long run less damaging than verbal criticism, spankings are over with quickly, verbal putdowns can run for years in a continuous loop in your mind.</p>

<p>They are really much more damaging- not that I am equating this comment necessarily with that- but I do think that the atmosphere of not saying anything about comments that are aimed at hurting others, has to be brought into the light.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Elden Rice is scheduled to speak about his lawsuit March 31 at the annual education conference of the Eagle Forum of California. The organization’s Web site describes Rice as "a brave dentist who has a lawsuit with his school district because of their promoting the homosexual agenda.
[so when is the book deal?](<a href=“http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1581”>http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=1581&lt;/a&gt;)</p>

<p>I have been looking everywhere for the homosexual agenda- I thought it would be a nice gift for my D, but I have only been able to find DayPlanners- :frowning: …although , I was thinking a PalmPilot would make it easier for her to actually *remember *her agenda because it would be easier to take with her. </p>

<p>I * love * <B mine, but it is more of a “rugbymom/TenClubber/trying to put off reality of gravity and time” agenda. :slight_smile:
BUt perhaps one of the larger malls has an AgendazRUS, where I could not only find the “homosexual” agenda, but the “ChickenHawk agenda”, the “pave paradise and put up a parking garage agenda” and the " better dead than Red" agenda
( or on 2nd thought, perhaps I should look for the Homosexual agenda at one of the better boutiques, next to the Jimmy Choo stilettos and the Marc Jacobs bags)</p>

<p>

OHNOES!!! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
<a href=“http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2001/may01/01-05-16.shtml[/url]”>http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2001/may01/01-05-16.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>If you’re serious about what people mean when they use the shorthand “gay agenda,” check out this site.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.article8.org/docs/news_events/parker/main.htm[/url]”>http://www.article8.org/docs/news_events/parker/main.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>As a matter of fact, the ruling came down this past week from the Federal Court in which the Parkers filed their complaint (the Parkers said their constitutional rights to the free exercise of their religion were violated, as were their rights as parents to raise their children as they see fit).</p>

<p>The Federal Court judge dismissed the case, “based on earlier court findings that parents do not have a constitutional right to dictate what their children are taught in public schools.” The judge also concluded that “options remain for the parents such as private school or home schooling, so their rights were not abridged.”</p>

<p>The Parkers’ child was six years old and in kindergarten at the time, and the Parkers simply asked that they receive prior parental notification of sexual diversity instruction for their child.</p>

<p>I don’t know about you, but I find it more than frightening that the state has the final say over what my child will be taught, and that parents have no options other than pulling their child out of the school.</p>

<p>So, to answer your question, this is what people mean by the phrase “the gay agenda.”</p>

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<p>I live in MA and this case has obviously been in the news plenty, plus I know a teacher at the school in question.</p>

<p>My understanding of the case is that no one was teaching "sexual diversity"in the classroom. There was a book in a diversity book bag (which went home with the child), which contained books about all different kinds of people and families. Kids could read the books or not. It wasn’t even part of the curriculum per se.</p>

<p>One of the books had a picture (a drawing, not photo) of two women cooking dinner or something together. This is the entire thrust of the beginning of the Parkers’ “case”.</p>

<p>Their case is patently ridiculous, and I agree completely with the court ruling. No one was indoctrinating this child with anything.</p>

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<p>The fact that you think it’s patently ridiculous does not make it so. Plenty of other citizens, with beliefs different from yours, disagree. There is an “opt-out” law on the books which the second Superintendent chose to ignore. The Parkers were not asking for the school to instruct the children in their Christian religious beliefs; they were simply asking that the school follow the law in giving them prior notification and an option of removing their child from the instruction. A book is considered instruction legally (I’ve checked). The school refused and the Parkers took it to court. Most parents (such as myself) simply remove their kids from school. But many can’t afford private school or homeschooling (which requires one parent at home). The court ruling is outrageous.</p>

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<p>They could have just decided not to read their son the book. Or to read the book by skipping that page. Or put it in the context of their religious beliefs.</p>

<p>It was a giant mountain out of a molehill.</p>

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<p>More than one book, AM:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.article8.org/docs/news_events/parker/ab_curriculum.htm[/url]”>http://www.article8.org/docs/news_events/parker/ab_curriculum.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>One would also have to wonder that if it’s such a big deal about nothing, why you wouldn’t just agree with permitting the Parkers to opt their child out of the instruction.</p>

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<p>OK…so what? Are you opposed to your children being taught to “identify differences in skin tone” or “recognizing that biases exist today”?</p>

<p>How is language like this “anti-American”??? </p>

<p>Incidentally, their kid could opt out of whatever. The parents wanted to sit in all his classes, or some such, to make sure nothing “questionable” was being taught.</p>

<p>If a parent needs that much control, he/she really must homeschool their own child.</p>

<p>on edit: I had no idea there were so many irrational, homophobic people here in this state. That website is frankly scary.</p>

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<p>I don’t know about you, but I find it more than frightening that the state has the final say over what my child will be taught, and that parents have no options other than pulling their child out of the school.</p>

<p>I think I have heard this argument before <a href=“http://www.newsline.umd.edu/schools/specialreports/brownvs.board/barnesprofile050504.htm[/url]”>http://www.newsline.umd.edu/schools/specialreports/brownvs.board/barnesprofile050504.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Parents and students would demonstrate outside the school to protest integration, she said. They</p>

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<p>Here’s the federal court decision: <a href=“http://cache.boston.com/multimedia/2007/02/23lexington/parker.pdf[/url]”>http://cache.boston.com/multimedia/2007/02/23lexington/parker.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>The website just tells the history of what happened and, although it does have a particular view–one different from yours and EK’s, kluge’s and dozens of others here, but I believe that is their right, for the time being, at least-- it is not dishonest, based on my research.</p>

<p>The Parkers asked for prior parental notification of “diversity” instruction so they could opt-out their child from it, which was the district and state policy, based on state law. They were not granted these rights by the school, which was the basis for the entire altercation and lawsuit. </p>

<p>Instruction in differences in skin tone or recognizing that biases exist today was not the part of the instruction the Parkers had a problem with for their kindergarten child.</p>

<p>I realize people have different opinions on this, and I have no intention of debating the merits, or revisiting the “homophobic” name-calling. I was just trying to explain to EK what people mean by the “gay agenda.”</p>

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<p>I was being faciteous-
I as the proud parent of a daughter who came out in high school- am aware that “teaching tolerance” is a dirty concept to some, that homosexual, is equvalent to pedophile, and that while it is illegal to discriminate in hiring or housing, by age or race, it is still ok to discriminate by sexual orientation, even perceived sexual orientation</p>

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<p>“Teaching tolerance” about sexuality and same-sex families to high schoolers is a little different than teaching it to 5 year olds, EK. When schools attempt to do that, it is referred to by people opposed to it as the “homosexual agenda.” I don’t think there are many people left who object to an end to discrimination by age, sex or sexual orientation in housing or employment; in fact, I think most states have laws on the books prohibiting such discrimination.</p>

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<p>There is legal protection against discrimination, but you are promoting such discrimination in schools.</p>

<p>Why shouldn’t children be able to talk about their “two mothers”? Would parents like the Parkers be able to “opt out” of such a conversation, if it came up at the lunch table? Of course not, because such discussions of families and so forth come up out of curricular areas all the time. There would be no earthly way to “protect” a child from these discussions. </p>

<p>The reason that a case like this is so ridiculous is that no one is “promoting” a "gay agenda; people are not teaching five year olds how to “be gay”. They are teaching five year olds to be accepting of different kinds of families. I cannot comprehend how you don’t see the difference.</p>

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<p>Our state has protection re jobs in public employers only
15 states have protection for GLBT <a href=“http://employment.findlaw.com/employment/employment-employee-discrimination-harassment/employment-employee-gay-lesbian-discrimination.html[/url]”>http://employment.findlaw.com/employment/employment-employee-discrimination-harassment/employment-employee-gay-lesbian-discrimination.html&lt;/a&gt; jobs in both private and public employers</p>

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<p>What do you all suppose a “bigot’s agenda” would look like?</p>

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<p>Good post, Allmusic.</p>

<p>On the discrimination topic, another thing is that in many states “small businesses” are pretty much exempt from any of these prohibitions and are protected from any discrimination lawsuites that arise.</p>

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<p>“I cannot comprehend how you don’t see the difference.” </p>

<p>The difference between parents having these discussions at what they consider the appropriate time (say, when their child asks why Heather at the lunch table has two mommies) and the teaching of it in a state-forced curriculum?</p>

<p>Sorry you can’t see the difference, and that some here are so quick to call people that do bigots.</p>

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<p>What is bigotry, Hereshoping? What in this situation would qualify as a “bigoted” position in your opinion? I’m sincerely interested to hear your explanation of what does and does not constitute bigotry with regard to the fact of the existence of same sex couples.</p>

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<p>In Pennsylvania our school code explicitly permits exemption from any discussion of sexuality or sexuality-related topics (and even other instructional topics) for any school-aged child, ages kindergarten through 12th grade, for religious reasons. One does not even have to specify the religion.</p>

<p>The Massachusetts ruling has obliterated the rights of parents in that state to raise their children according to their religious beliefs. In fact, the Parkers were asking for notification only until their child was in seventh grade. This was denied.</p>

<p>You may be bigoted against these beliefs, kluge; but nonetheless they are the religious beliefs of millions of people in this country (and not only Christians).</p>

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<p>When kids are raised with a matter of fact attitude about more than one way to live, they take new information in stride.</p>

<p>They undoubtably already know classmates who have two mommies, because their father has remarried. They may see Urmi up the street, who is homeschooled, because of health problems, their uncle Atilan is living with them while he gets back on his feet after rehab & their friend Pilar, lives not only with her parents, but with her grandparents and cousins.</p>

<p>If parents want to avoid discussing issues that they are uncomfortable with, perhaps they aren’t ready to have children?
Children don’t wait until parents have a spiel down- im sorry, but that is life </p>

<p>I am reminded of the joke where a child asks his dad “where did I come from”?
and dad goes into a long explanation about sexuality and the birth process- sweating all the while.
Mystified, son finally gives dad a little more information, " I wanted to know if we moved here from Dubuke like Hasad did?".</p>

<p>It hasn’t been my experience that kindergartens give students more information than they are ready for. A book mentioning that there are different kinds of families, and that they all love & care for their kids , isn’t too much for a 5 year old to handle.</p>

<p>If you really think your 5 year old isn’t ready for that- then volunteer in the class room and observe and talk to the kids- they are fine & not being “indoctrinated”</p>

<p>However, if you would prefer that they be taught that " your values" dictate that there is a hierarchy of “approved lifestyles”, and for example may have Caucasian / married, stay at home mom, go to church every Sunday
top on the list-
and only associate with identical families who agree not to ever mention that anyone might ever get divorced, have a “gay” brother, or a 14 year old sister who got pregnant- you might ask yourself- what exactly are you afraid of?</p>

<p>Do you really think that sexual orientation is “contagious” and that people make a choice to be gay or straight, and by taking away the stigma that being homosexual, isn’t something to be ashamed of, that your children will somehow make the “choice” to be gay & you will be deprived of grandchildren?</p>