Broward sidesteps classroom discussion of homosexuality, saying it's family issue

Sun-sentinel.com ^ | November 17, 2005 | Bill Hirschman

[two134711]

You are another example of the quality people I meet once I get under the rhetoric. Sorry for being sarcastic.

I blush at all the compliments. :-} However, there's no need to apologize for the sarcasm; your post had me reaching for the OxyClean, after I choked on my merlot.

It's the making of blanket statements, the focusing on the negative, and placing all the blame in one basket that get to me. I have had many wondrous things happen in my own classroom.

The teaching profession is not unlike law enforcement, in that, for the most part, you have solid people doing their job within the community. Then there are the power hungry or lackadaisical types--the minority--who attract negative attention and media focus. I don't blame you for being frustrated; I'd be too. As a teacher to one, I know it's a rollercoaster profession. I can't imagine what it would feel like factored by thirty or more.

The indoctrination thing isn't too much of a factor here, but the climate of disrespect created by some is indeed one (among other) big factor...there are always some out there who don't seem to have a good thing to say.

There are always people who don't have anything nice to say; and unfortunately there will always be parents who have no clue about parenting, teaching, or otherwise. But one good teacher can make the difference; I was lucky in my life to have many of them.

Regarding indoctrination, it's not so much what is taught within class, but what special programs outside the class promote. When I was a high school sophomore, I had the privilege of attending a youth conference with other students and a few teachers. We were lunched, given coupons and gifts, encouraged to be the pride of our nation's future and then shown how to put condoms on cucumbers. I didn't know what the heck condoms had to do with being a succesful student then, and to this day I still don't. That was over ten years ago and according to my siblings who recently graduated, the conference is now an all-school event.

I've think we've spoken before; but if not I must have read your posts, because I remember a lot of passion in what you wrote about being a teacher. You sound like you are a wonderful influence on your kids. They're lucky to have you. As a homeschooling parent, I have often stuck my foot in the mouth when talking about the state of education with other teachers. "I homeschool because the schools around here are a mess...Oh I didn't mean because of you; I'm sure you're a great teacher...It's only the teachers around here who don't know what they're doing..."

Thanks for your post. It's heartening to know there are teachers who love kids and love to TEACH. :)

[Aquinasfan]

Leave this crap for their teenage years you sick scum. LET THEM BE KIDS.

Amen!

[Aquinasfan]

Go to an annual meeting of the Modern Language Association

Got link?

[Aquinasfan]

Schools are supposed to prepare children for the future (ie. get jobs, become productive citizens, etc)

I thought that until I read about the history of "public" schooling.

The particular utopia American believers chose to bring to the schoolhouse was Prussian... The Prussian mind, which carried the day, held a clear idea of what centralized schooling should deliver: 1) Obedient soldiers to the army; 2) Obedient workers for mines, factories, and farms; 3) Well-subordinated civil servants, trained in their function; 4) Well-subordinated clerks for industry; 5) Citizens who thought alike on most issues; 6) National uniformity in thought, word, and deed.

...Thirty-three years after Prussia made state schooling work, we borrowed the structure, style, and intention of those Germans for our own first compulsion schools.

Traditional American school purpose—piety, good manners, basic intellectual tools, self-reliance, etc.—was scrapped to make way for something different. Our historical destination of personal independence gave way slowly to Prussian-purpose schooling, not because the American way lost in any competition of ideas, but because for the new commercial and manufacturing hierarchs, such a course made better economic sense.

[WasDougsLamb]

Here where I live they are still concentrating on the three R's. These are what MY child's school curriculum/planner for the year 2005-2006 that was sent home the first day to read. Their quoted statement is

"To better prepare your child to enter into the future job market and become a productive citizen"

I have already put one through school and in High School they were taught sex education in Health Class, which had to have a parents approval before they took it. The thread was about forcing HOMOSEXUALITY on young children. My point is that my 20 year old was not exposed to this and I DO NOT think young children of today should be either. Thanks for the post. Have a great day.

[Aquinasfan]

"To better prepare your child to enter into the future job market and become a productive citizen"

At best, isn't this a dismal, Dickensian view of humanity?

Also, keep in mind that what "educators" mean by this statement is most likely different from yours.

Marc Tucker's "Dear Hilary" letter

[WasDougsLamb]

At best, isn't this a dismal, Dickensian view of humanity?

Also, keep in mind that what "educators" mean by this statement is most likely different from yours.

----I have ALREADY put one through school and I am speaking from the facts that I KNOW to be true as to what is said and taught.

[Dustbunny]

Broward County public school children are taught the names of their private body parts in first grade. In second grade, they learn that AIDS kills. By high school graduation, they have read about birth control.

An excellent reason to home school.

[CalGOPTom]

mla.org.

Try a Google or Lexis-Nexis for stories (some of the one's from the 90's are revealing).