Posted on 07/24/2006 8:31:32 AM PDT by Stoat
Children as young as three should be taught about same-sex relationships in a bid to stamp out homophobia in schools, it was claimed yesterday.
The National Union of Teachers, the country's largest teaching union, sparked outrage by demanding that nursery staff help to educate children about gay families.
It claims it is too late to wait until youngsters arrive at primary school to learn about the subject because some three-year-olds are already using homophobic language.
But critics branded the NUT as "achingly politically correct" and said the proposals were akin to "brain-washing" vulnerable youngsters.
The proposal was made yesterday when the NUT published its response to the Department for Education and Skills' Early Years Foundation Stage consultation document.
This government report sets out the "early learning goals" which youngsters should be achieving in the first few years of their lives.
But the NUT claims that it needs to go further and early years teachers should be given "the skills and tools to challenge racism, sexism and homophobia" and abusive language.
The NUT document says: "In the case of homophobia, the use of the word 'gay' is prevalent in primary schools and young boys who are perceived to not conform to masculine stereotypes are at risk of bullying, isolation and social exclusion.
"It is too late to wait until primary school to challenge prejudice and intolerant abusive language.
"The EYFS curriculum needs to alert early years teachers to their responsibilities to challenge gender stereotypes and to challenge language that is negative or prejudiced."
It adds: "It is particularly important to begin to make three to five-year-olds aware of the range of families that exist in the UK today; families with one mum, one mum and dad, two mums, two dads, grandparents, adoptive parents, guardians etc.
"There will be parents who are gay or lesbian who will want to be reassured that their children will be safe in the setting.
"Many gay parents do not 'come out' to their nursery schools because they fear their children will be bullied as a result of the sexual orientation of their parents.
"Now that civil partnerships are legal, nursery settings need to use the curriculum to educate children about all types of families and to promote respect and understanding."
But Nick Seaton, of the Campaign for Real Education, branded the demands as "ridiculous".
He said: "I very much doubt that three-year-olds will be able to grasp the implications of these things anyway.
"Apart from that, even if they do, it seems completely wrong for the state education system to try and brainwash youngsters in this way.
"It is achingly politically correct and it's a sad reflection on the direction state education is taking, with the emphasis on teaching politically correct values, rather than worthwhile subjects."
Hugh McKinney, of the National Family Campaign, added: "To attach any kind of value judgement to the views and statements of three-year-olds is simply nonsense.
"Nobody condones homophobic language but to try and teach impressionable, immature youngsters about issues such as this is simply wrong for their stage of development.
"The state system should not be the basis for such teaching until children are older and more able to form their own judgements."
A spokeswoman for the NUT last night defended educating very young children about gay relationships.
She said: "It's never too early to encourage respect. It's about valuing every child and the relationship they live in and ensuring all children show respect to that relationship as well."
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NUT. Good name.
Yeah, like "mommy and daddy" instead of "mommy and mommy", etc.
Dumping three year olds in Nusery Schools after going through all the trouble of adopting? That's excellent Narcissism. They MUST be the Master race.
What's next for the kids? An explanation of nuclear proliferation?
God, these people are nuts.
National Union of Teachers = NUT
Boy is THAT acronym ever accurate!
Yeah... this is some good thinkin'...
NUTs believe education begins with indoctrination.
This is nothing in this world but teachers doing the recruiting for Nambla and other pedophile organisations.
This homosexual crap has gone far enough.
Enough is enough.
PC and trying to be cordial can only take us so far its time to shut down the growth of queer recruitment right now.
>What's next for the kids? An explanation of nuclear proliferation?
>God, these people are nuts.
Yes, I think that's been shown, that those in NUT are indeed nuts.
How about, godless, sinful and right down wicked.
"some three-year-olds are already using homophobic language."
Yeah, right!
WTF?
I don't recall my 4yo ever calling the neighbors "pillow biters"...
Let's be clear what the real agenda is here. Namely to deconstruct the Heterosexual Family. To indoctrinate our children and to turn Schools in a Stalinist style Indoctrination center. In the US we have the Gender Equity Movement at war with Boys. Not content to attack Men the FemNags have turned their vile and hatred towards Males from Kindergarten through High School.
Our Boys are in a free fall. Sports, Recess, Competition, all are being removed from Schools. Meanwhile our distracted Female populace could give a damn about what is happening to Boys especially if they have daughters. Who will their Daughters Marry? And will they ever have Grandchildren? Don't bet the Farm on it.
Our Men are withdrawing from Churches, Schools, Movies, TV, and society in general. They perceive that decades of Anti-Male Hatred and hatred of Fathers gives them no stake in this culture. Zero. When will Conservative Women speak up for their Sons, Brothers, Nephews and Grandsons? When Damit?
They should teach the kids to read and write before anything else! The Wanker culture is due for a mean backlash.
Yeah the three year olds are acting gayly and having a gay ole time. Therefore they got to be homophobics.
My five year old grandaughter is one smart cookie.To smart sometimes for my liking.She already knows about boys and boys,girls and girls.How she learned this is beyond me.She has one word that she uses to describe it.Nasty!
Just wait, it's coming here in due time...
The only quarrel that I might have with your post is that I would suggest that a backlash is LONG overdue. It truly harms my faith in humanity to see that such things are not only not instantly rejected, but are embraced by such a huge and powerful organization as this. It saddens me terribly and causes me true concern as to the future of Western culture.
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