Parents Sue School Over Gay Book

[Legio XX Valeria Victrix]

It's all in the title:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/05/05/ga....ap/index.html

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.

And my particular favorite part:

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."

:laughing: This guy rocks. This whole case sounds like a throw-out. I mean, first off, you're in Massachusetts, the only American state that has legalized gay marriage, so your children will probably see a married gay couple at some point in their childhood. How is teaching them that people such as that exist making a moral statement about it? Does teaching that it actually exists sanction it in some way?

Something we all should remember:

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."

[Hub'ite]

I think the parents should have at least been informed about a gay-book being read in class. Some parents don't want their children being taught about homosexuals.

[Fenris]

Some people don't want their children to be taught about evolution too. Does that gives them the right to prevent their children to acquire a knowledge that may make them better citizens and that will be useful in their future life? I think not.

[Hub'ite]

Some people don't want their children to be taught about evolution too. Does that gives them the right to prevent their children to acquire a knowledge that may make them better citizens and that will be useful in their future life? I think not.

How does knowing about evolution make someone a better citizen?

[IronBrig4]

There are also parents who think schools shouldn't teach sexual education.

So the kid learns that gay couples exist. It's not gonna warp his fragile little mind.

[RZZZA]

How does knowing about evolution make someone a better citizen?

It makes you not stupid. And stupid citizens are worthless to society.

Is there such a thing as a gay book? Homoerotic novels, yeah...but anything else cannot be considred a "gay book". I agree that just teaching that gay peopl exist, is not hurting a child. Ignorance hurts.

[Garbarsardar]

I think the parents should have at least been informed about a gay-book being read in class. Some parents don't want their children being taught about homosexuals.

And probably some other parents don't want their kid to be taught about Rome.Or the Crusades. Or the industrial revolution. Or psychoanalysis. Or frogs. Does your knowledge about frogs make you a better person?

Negation of reality only lead to a reality of negations.

[Carach]

I think the parents should have at least been informed about a gay-book being read in class. Some parents don't want their children being taught about homosexuals.

and its not suprising either.

infants shouldnt be taught that kind of stuff, or be confused by things such as gays at that young an age.

[Tom Paine]

and its not suprising either.

infants shouldnt be taught that kind of stuff, or be confused by things such as gays at that young an age.

Right... right. And I shouldn't be confused by anything at a young age, in fact why not let me go arund in a haze. **** that, if they can learn about heterosexual families they can learn about homosexual ones.

[Tostig]

infants shouldnt be taught that kind of stuff, or be confused by things such as gays at that young an age.

What is so confusing about that? Children seem far more open to new ideas (and more able to fit them into their world-view) than the vast majority of adults I've met.

My personal opinion is that children ought to be taught the truth. I'm fed up with having been fed bollucks at every stage in my education. The Greeks seemed happy enough teaching young children about homosexuality. The hard way most of the time

Edit:

Gay marriages are not normal, hence why they have only come in very very recently, and could have still been held back.

marriages are between a man and a woman, not man and a man/woman and a woman. thats not being homophobic, thats reality.

Homosexual partnerships aren't a new thing. Read some history - look at Squeaky's user title for crying out loud. Then again I suppose you'd have it taught that Ganymede was a cup bearer and nothing more.

On the second front the nature of marriage can change can it not? It's nothing more than a word used to describe the legal status of a partnership. Simply pick up a constitution and re-write it.

[danzig]

What is so confusing about that? Children seem far more open to new ideas (and more able to fit them into their world-view) than the vast majority of adults I've met.

My personal opinion is that children ought to be taught the truth. I'm fed up with having been fed bollucks at every stage in my education. The Greeks seemed happy enough teaching young children about homosexuality. The hard way most of the time

Funny in the thread about teaching religion most people were against mentioning/teaching of religion to kids for fear they might suddenly become religious. We have to face facts, parents have the right to decide the moral teachings of their children and schools shouldnt step on it. The comparisons to not teaching evolution or about the Crusades is nonsense because they are based on scientific theory and historic fact. It would be nice if we could just all have our kids taught about homosexuality within society as well as religion right along side of it but its not going to happen as long as people make them political issues. These parents are certainly within their right however.

[Sidmen]

The book wasn't even being read in class, it was just in a free book bag that the kid won...

Gay marage should be given the exact same ammount of time regular marrage is given in schools. NONE, its not up to schools to teach kids about such things, At least not out of the 'safe sex' classes.

[Fenris]

The book wasn't even being read in class, it was just in a free book bag that the kid won...

Gay marage should be given the exact same ammount of time regular marrage is given in schools. NONE, its not up to schools to teach kids about such things, At least not out of the 'safe sex' classes.

There should no be time allowed to tell them about gay arriage. But they should be told that it exists in our society, that it's something legal, etc.

[danzig]

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."

But yet the response to these people who obviously view homosexuality wrong is to dismiss them as "narcissistic activist personality disorder" so I guess dealing with beliefs we disagree with only goes one way. Sorry but parents have every right to complain if they believe something morally questionable (to them) is being taught in the school to their kids. Imagine the kid came home with a book about a family of evangelical christians, the ACLU would be rushing to file a lawsuit

Some people don't want their children to be taught about evolution too. Does that gives them the right to prevent their children to acquire a knowledge that may make them better citizens and that will be useful in their future life? I think not.

Science vs moral issues is not a good comparison.

There should no be time allowed to tell them about gay arriage. But they should be told that it exists in our society, that it's something legal, etc.

Little problem with that, like the fact its not legal in the majority of the country.

[Legio XX Valeria Victrix]

Yikes, this thread exploded since I posted it! I'll respond to some stuff.

But yet the response to these people who obviously view homosexuality wrong is to dismiss them as "narcissistic activist personality disorder" so I guess dealing with beliefs we disagree with only goes one way. Sorry but parents have every right to complain if they believe something morally questionable (to them) is being taught in the school to their kids. Imagine the kid came home with a book about a family of evangelical christians, the ACLU would be rushing to file a lawsuit

Come on, you're taking a quote from two different and unrelated people and lumping them into one. The quote about narcissistic activists was from a totally different person on the MA school board, while this one came from the woman spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian organization.

And no one's saying they don't have the right to object to things taught in school, but in this case, it wasn't part of any curriculum, it was just part of a bag of books that happened to promote diversity. The problem is that these parents are reacting with belligerence, filing a lawsuit in true overly-litigious American fashion. "Hey, I'm offended so I'll file a lawsuit!"

Science vs moral issues is not a good comparison.

Why not?

Little problem with that, like the fact its not legal in the majority of the country.

Except this is in Massachusetts, where it is legal, and where children will undoubtedly see it firsthand at some point.

Gay marriages are not normal, hence why they have only come in very very recently, and could have still been held back.

marriages are between a man and a woman, not man and a man/woman and a woman. thats not being homophobic, thats reality.

Wrong, That's YOUR reality. The blazing self-centrism displayed by some people is mind-boggling.

[danzig]

Come on, you're taking a quote from two different and unrelated people and lumping them into one. The quote about narcissistic activists was from a totally different person on the MA school board, while this one came from the woman spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian organization.

No I know I didnt mean to imply it was just pointing out the rather hypocritical element of the entire issue.

And no one's saying they don't have the right to object to things taught in school, but in this case, it wasn't part of any curriculum, it was just part of a bag of books that happened to promote diversity. The problem is that these parents are reacting with belligerence, filing a lawsuit in true overly-litigious American fashion. "Hey, I'm offended so I'll file a lawsuit!"

As I also said if it had been a religious book like gasp the bible a lawsuit no doubt would have been filed as well to have it removed from the grab bag. To me the issue is non important and as is the lawsuit threat but I cant really blame the parents because its been done before many times by the opposite end of the spectrum that they are simply engaging in the same nonsense that has been going on in this country for years.

[Sidmen]

Again, looking back at my childhood, no school ever taught me about mariage, and I've been to quite a few. The closest time I got to learning the ins and outs of marrage was in my Law class, and even then that was only concerned with the legality of marrage. (half of everything you own instantly becomes hers)

Gay marrage should be treated exactly the same way as that, let the parents teach the kid about it, or, answer the question if a kid asks. There shouldn't be any time set aside for it, kids should work more on thier math skills if there is spare time.

[Sidmen]

It makes you not stupid. And stupid citizens are worthless to society.

Is there such a thing as a gay book? Homoerotic novels, yeah...but anything else cannot be considred a "gay book". I agree that just teaching that gay peopl exist, is not hurting a child. Ignorance hurts.

I beg to differ, Ignorance doesn't hurt anyone, its when they find out that it becomes a problem. I also disagree that knowing about evolution makes someone not stupid, I could live out my life without knowing a thing about evolution and it wouldn't hurt any carrear I take (you know, except for evolutionary biologist)

[RZZZA]

I beg to differ, Ignorance doesn't hurt anyone, its when they find out that it becomes a problem. I also disagree that knowing about evolution makes someone not stupid, I could live out my life without knowing a thing about evolution and it wouldn't hurt any carrear I take (you know, except for evolutionary biologist)

Ignorance breeds fear and contempt, anything man knows little about, the first reaction is generally to fear, and hate and destroy. And not knowing about evolution does make you stupid, I'm afraid. Just lik not knowing about electricity in this day and age, also makes you stupid, and backwards, and primitive.

[Carach]

Ignorance breeds fear and contempt, anything man knows little about, the first reaction is generally to fear, and hate and destroy.

are you saying they dont like homosexuals? and want to destroy them?