Posted on 05/22/2009 12:38:11 PM PDT by Maelstorm
It has prompted angry exchanges, dozens of e-mails and led hundreds of parents to gather at school board meetings to voice their support or opposition.
Now district trustees are set to finally decide whether they will support lesson plans for students in kindergarten through fifth grade that are aimed at curbing anti-gay bullying.
The idea behind the proposed curriculum is to provide a safe environment for children to learn, as well as to offer a framework for teachers to break down stereotypes and teach kids about different types of families.
Supporters say the lessons will also help children of gay parents feel welcome at school and help end anti-gay teasing and bullying on the playground.
But opponents say the curriculum undercuts the parents' right to teach their children about relationships and sexual orientation, and pushes a political agenda without addressing ways to help other groups who may be singled out at school.
Trustees will vote on the curriculum Tuesday.
"I oppose it," 27-year-old Andrew Chong said Monday as he waited for a public hearing on the issue to begin at Kofman Auditorium. "The fact that these lessons have generated so much controversy and attention should make the school board take another look."
...
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Wow...lots of really rude replies to my comment. My face is on fire with embarrassment. Seriously. I hate it when people jump on me like that for simply stating my opinion.
I am aware that there are lots of new programs that help “socialize” homeschooled kids—there is a wonderful woman down the street who homeschools. I have lots of respect for that.
As far as being able to spot the homeschooled kids (and apparently there are a few bitter ones around here just waiting to pounce on people like me), the friends I had in college who were homeschooled struggled socially. Their academics, were, without a doubt, all in order, but a lot of people were put off by some of their (lack of) social skills—a lot of them came across as the know-it-all, better-than-you type. I’m sure they’re just fine now, and probably making tons more money than this lowly housewife, but I saw what they went through and don’t wish that for my
own kids. I repeat—I know there are lots of new programs for homeschoolers, but this is what I saw in my own personal experiences with them. So shoot me.
And as to whoever said the “stay at home moms” are the ones who prove they really love their kids, I find that rather offensive. There are LOTS of really wonderful mothers who simply CAN’T stay at home for financial reasons. I am lucky enough to be able to stay home with my sons, but my sister cannot and I don’t think that makes her any less of a “good” mother than anybody else.
Thanks to everyone who had something rude and snipey to say. Really made my day. I appreciate it.
And to LongElegantLegs, I teach my kids plenty of things, and being honest is one of them. If you don’t like my honest obersavation (and opinion), try ingorning it. Kindness is another thing I teach my kids. Try it sometime. Your comment was especially hurtful and completely not necessary.
(Ok, everyone can commence the bashing again. I know I’m overly sensitive, but geez-o-pete...)
Did I mention I AM a stay-at-home mom?
Again, not everyone lives in a utopia that they can stay home with their kids. Doesn’t mean they don’t love them.
Get real.
We home schooled for 12 yrs, and if you are going to make generalizations, I would say that the students were extremely social and well adjusted. You may have mistaken “lack of tact” for clarity and certainty of thought.
Home schooled kids socialize with a broad range of other ages from little ones up to adults. As an adult you can actually have an eye-to-eye conversation with a home schooled teenager, rather than the eyes on the floor grunts, I get from public schooled kids.
>>Did I mention I AM a stay-at-home mom?
That is great! Keep at it — you and your kids will be much better off.
>>Again, not everyone lives in a utopia that they can stay home with their kids. Doesn’t mean they don’t love them.
In many cases it is just an option — married women who work generally net pretty much nothing when the costs are added up. To choose career over child is not an act of love by any standard.
Thank you for loving your children enough to bring them up.
To be shocked that you got such a response is silly. You all but bashed homeschoolers. How are we supposed to react? Good for you for being honest but be strong enough to take the reaction to your opinion or consider keeping it to yourself.
If your children are coming home from preschool saying things you feel are inappropriate, what on earth makes you think that sending them to school even earlier will change that? The best thing you can do is stay home with your kids until you absolutely must put them in school, assuming homeschool is not an option for you.
We are expecting our fifth child. We make well below $100K on my husband’s salary alone. We chose to homeschool because we felt that we could do a much better job than public/private schools. I would rather my child stand out in the “socialization” department in order to have a strong faith foundation. I’d rather my kids be considered weird than be able to discuss the latest episode of ‘High School Musical’. We really had to dig to figure out what our priorities were and they were raising our children to be in the world but not of the world.
For the record, I’m not trying to jump on you and I’m not bitter.
Your opinion was offensive and stated in weasel terms. If you want to complain about tactlessness, try to do it more tactfully.
If you’re one of those people that are scared of kids who can look you in the eye because they haven’t been emotionally crippled by over-exposure to their peers, go ahead and announce it. Just don’t expect everyone to applaud you for it.
“Your opinion was offensive and stated in weasel terms. If you want to complain about tactlessness, try to do it more tactfully.”
Weasel terms? Listen, I don’t come here to piss people off and use “weasel terms” whatever that means. I come here to read the news and to be surrounded by conservatively like-minded people.
Perhaps my wording wasn’t as well thought out as it could have been—I have three sons ages five and under who were having a snack and required attention which interrupted my posting. My life isn’t simple and easy. I struggle every day to try and do the right thing by my family. We are living in the DFW area (not cheap) on under $65,000/year, and I stay home. Why? Because I think it’s best for my kids. I gave up a fabulous and rewarding career to to stay home with them and to follow my husband around the world with the military. Pardon me for not going the extra mile and homeschooling them, and I humbly bow down before the wonderful people who do. You are right. How could I ever dare to think that some of my friends (can’t believe they were willing to buddy up to a lowly public school system automaton such as myself) were know-it-all-ish and suffered from superiority complexes from time to time given some of the responses I’ve received.
I don’t come here to judge people, and I sure as heck don’t come here to be judged.
I don’t care how you educate your kids. I just dislike letting snarkiness go unanswered.
If disagreement hurts your feelings so much, why not think twice before insulting the like-minded people you want to hang with?
“If disagreement hurts your feelings so much, why not think twice before insulting the like-minded people you want to hang with?”
Disagreement doesn’t bother me in the least. Being attacked, being purposefully insulted, and having my mothering questioned, on the other hand, does.
Have a splendid day.
It’s a good thing I didn’t do any of that, then!
Right?
Home school folks, if you live in California, it is the kids only hope.
>>Home school folks, if you live in California, it is the kids only hope.
I overcame the California school system, but times were different back then.
Home schooling is a very good idea. If I had kids I would do it, no question.
And in California you really need it. Kids will be dragged down by illegals who can’t speak English.
My Mom was a natural-born teacher. I learned more from her than from school.
I stayed home with RaiderRose and her siblings until they were all in school. Then I went to school and now teach math at one of those horrible public schools.
My daughter is an awesome person, and you all should consider how you debate with someone. You never know what is going on in someone's life, and you should never assume that they can take a full on frontal attack.
I highly suggest that you all go onto some threads where the adults converse and learn how to debate civilly.
Go ahead and bash me all you want; it is no skin off of my nose. It seems to me that my valedictorian, magna cum laude daughter is right. You folks need some social skills.
Refer to post #34. You who preach about thinking twice before speaking should practice a little of it.
Refer to my previous posts because I DID NOT attack your daughter, insult her mothering, or imply that she didn’t love her children.
Thanks!
I did not bash your daughter, either. I simply stated my opinion as she did hers. I, too, was a public school teacher before I started having children. You can support public schools all you want but I will not ever put my children in them again. I tried for two years in a supposedly fabulous school system. They just can’t compare to school at home.
I’m sure your daughter is awesome. I’m sure you are, too. However, she is the one that put down homeschoolers. Again, what did she expect? Did you ping her to your post because she could use a few of those debate skills herself.
You two are very similar in the way you post. I wonder if you realize how abrasive you seem?
There is so much I would love to say, but I really just want this nonsense to end. I would have made sure that I thoroughly re-read and edited my original post if I had realized that there were homeschoolers so easily offended. (As I type, I have a 5-year-old yammering in my ear about my “email” and a 3-year-old asking me to open something for him, so sorry if this one isn’t perfect either.)
I do sincerely apologize to anyone I may have offended with the poor wording in my original post. That wasn’t my intent at all. I wasn’t looking for a “debate,” I was replying to a story that I was as horrified by as everyone else.
I will say this though, if my mother and I come across as “abrasive,” there are others in here who seem to have a superiority complex and come across rather condescending.
I’m all for ending this silly debate. God bless you!
Thank you...God bless you as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.