Posted on 04/18/2008 6:32:10 PM PDT by lexfreedom
Lexington - Last month the Lexington Public Schools unveiled a formalized diversity curriculum to be rolled out next year, when four to five short units will be piloted in each elementary grade. The curriculum, according to schools Superintendent Paul Ash, will include books, materials, and discussion points that “help children feel welcome and allow them to talk about their families and the families of their friends.”
It includes units focusing on families of other races and lifestyles, but the most controversial element is the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual families.
In our highly unscientific poll last week, we asked people how they felt about the new curriculum.
The majority of votes, 139 or 62 percent, were cast for “Love it — it will help children feel welcome in schools.” For “Hate it — children in elementary schools don’t need to learn about gay/lesbian topics,” 80 votes were cast, or 36 percent.
Three votes, or 1 percent, were cast for “Other.” User-generated responses in this category included “Waste of limited resources,” “Leave our children alone! Let them keep their innocence,” and “Perhaps it should start at the middle-school level.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wickedlocal.com ...
Curriculum reflects families’ values
By Meg Soens/North Hancock Street
Thu Apr 17, 2008, 06:17 AM EDT
Lexington -
Lexington - My children will not benefit from the elementary diversity curriculum that Superintendent Ash recently announced will be piloted in the fall, since our youngest heads to Diamond then. But I know that current and future students will reap the benefits.
The curriculum is really an attempt to restore and systematize what had been, prior to the Parker-Wirthlin lawsuit, a long-term, ongoing effort to make the public schools welcoming for all children by acknowledging and incorporating their families and backgrounds in the reading and discussions.
At one level, this curriculum will ensure that children will finally, once again in some cases, get to see their own families reflected in class materials. This means the children will feel truly included in the community. When our eighth-grade children were in elementary school, they asked me why there were no books that included our family in their classrooms. That did not feel right to them. It bothered them.
At another level, this will make sure that teachers’ discussions include some mention of gay and lesbian people — in addition to people of color, people with disabilities, people of all kinds of family structures — will reduce bullying and harassment because of the message of respect sent by such inclusion.
Some people may not see such harassment at the elementary school level, but it exists. My youngest son was harassed by another child this year because he has lesbian parents. This devolved to the kind of crude sexualized putdown that I would be shocked to hear from someone of any age. From a fifth grader, I was stunned. School staff did a great job of responding. However, the lawsuit had resulted in teachers being ordered not to read any books that included gay and lesbian people. As a result, this child was not exposed in class to the ideas that gay people and gay-headed families deserve respect just like everyone else. Our teachers were silenced for two years. I don’t know if inclusion in books and discussion would have ensured that my son didn’t get harassed, but it could have.
Now, with the new curriculum announced and the lawsuit thrown out at yet another level, teachers once again can use resources that show our families. Students will once again get to see their classmates of all backgrounds and abilities and yes, with gay parents as well as straight, in the texts they read.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/news/opinions/letters/x2037901085
Schools becoming more welcoming
By Jenny Richlin/Sherburne Road
Thu Apr 17, 2008, 06:16 AM EDT
Lexington -
Lexington - Every time I drive by the Minuteman statue or take a visitor to the Battle Green, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to live in Lexington. I’m proud of our town’s history of supporting freedom and diversity. And, I’m proud of our continued focus on making Lexington a place of tolerance and inclusion for all, regardless of race, religion, age, gender or sexual orientation.
That’s why I was pleased to hear about the recently announced diversity curriculum. The curriculum supports some of our town’s most basic values by making sure all children feel welcome in our schools. The curriculum is age appropriate and designed to help children recognize and accept themselves and their peers regardless of race, gender, religion, or family makeup.
The curriculum is not something radically new or different from what Lexington has done in the past. It simply builds on work that is already being done in the classrooms — work that reflects Massachusetts state curricula — and provides a consistent set of materials and guidelines to be used throughout the elementary schools.
Dr. Ash, the School Committee, the people who developed the curriculum, and the teachers who will ultimately deliver it are making a great contribution toward keeping Lexington a free and welcoming place for our children. Please show them your support as they roll it out over the coming months. Something as simple as a one line e-mail to your principal can make a big difference as our educators come under fire for supporting something as basic as a child’s right to a safe, welcoming school environment.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/news/opinions/letters/x2037901085
Educational materials were carefully crafted
By Lexington's PTA leaders
Thu Apr 17, 2008, 06:14 AM EDTLexington - With the introduction of a new curriculum promoting understanding of the diversity around us, the Lexington Public School system finds itself, once again, the focus of sensational media stories. And so, we ask ourselves, isn’t it time that Lexington’s efforts to follow state and federal mandates, adhere to educational best practices and stay true to our own principles of inclusion, respect and understanding, be the norm, not the news?
As PTA presidents in the Lexington Public Schools, we work hard to strengthen our school communities. We are deeply committed to understanding, inclusion, and respectful involvement. Our sincere hope is that our children are learning these very same things every day in their classrooms from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The material and lessons in the new diversity curriculum, being piloted in Lexington next year, have been carefully developed and reviewed to meet children at their developmental level. They will flow seamlessly into long-standing programs like Open Circle and the Scott Foresman reader. The curriculum guarantees a more comfortable and secure learning environment as children see themselves, their families and their community, in all its variation, reflected in their school material. The lessons offer alternatives to stereotyping and bullying. The material explores some historical roots of discrimination giving our children a deeper awareness and better preparation for becoming caring citizens and future leaders in our diverse and complex world.
We hope Lexington parents will join us in actively and openly supporting our school administration and staff as they go about the business of educating our children in the 21st century.
This letter was co-signed by Debora Hoard, LHS PTSA President; Saana McDaniel, JCSA Co-President; Susan Schiffer, JCSA Co-President; Donna Desmond, Diamond PTA Co-President; Mary McTigue, Diamond PTA Co-President; Lisa Nardone, Bowman PTA Co-President; Jen Vogelzang, Bowman PTA Co-President ; Ann Boese, Bridge PTA Co-President; Monica Cantwell, Bridge PTA Co-President; Margaret Counts-Klebe, Estabrook PTA Co-President; Pam Hoffman, Estabrook PTA Co-President; Nicole Abair, Fiske PTO Co-President; Sue Bruce, Fiske PTO Co-President; Sharon Kendall, Hastings PTA Co-President; Jessie Steigerwald, Hastings PTA Co-President; Suzanne Cherenson, Harrington PTA Co-President; Mary Ann Stewart, Harrington PTA Co-President; Leslie Zales, Lexington PreSchool PTA Co-President; Deb Rourke, Chairman, PTA Presidents Group.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/news/opinions/letters/x1632297031
Church group supports program
By Karen Longeteig and Mark Metzger/Follen Church
Thu Apr 17, 2008, 06:11 AM EDT
Lexington -
Lexington - The Follen Church Society (Unitarian-Universalist) of Lexington deplores the recent threats of violence against Superintendent Paul Ash, and would furthermore like to state its firm support of diversity curricula, instruction that helps schools welcome every child from every family.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/news/opinions/letters/x2037901069
The Die-versity fascists are committing child abuse.
Isn’t it time that we build a coalition with right thinking people from ethnic minority communities to stop allowing this perverse use of the term “diversity”?
The guy just didn’t know when to quit. Why he thought that remaining in the school’s office after he was asked to leave makes no sense on his part. There come situations where adults just have to realize that there negotiations have broken down and there is no continuing. Parker not only failed to realize when that impasse had been reached, but he stubbornly refused to vacate the meeting room when told to do so.
Parker essentially took the moral high ground and flushed it down the toilet. He was in the right in every respect, and had he left and got a lawyer he’d have prevailed. Instead, he petulantly refused to (physically) budge, stuck his tongue out and said, “Nayayayaya you can’t make me.”
I’m really beginning to hate this state. People have a right to hold differing views on the morality of homosexuality and not to have the state indoctrinate children on one liberal viewpoint on sexuality. Obviously this is not about making schools “welcoming” for everybody, as it does not respect the diversity of religious and moral beliefs on sexuality. If someone bullies someone else, for whatever reason, it is a disciplinary matter and deal with it as such. Indoctrination with liberal sexual dogmas is a path to an unfree and morally corrupt society.
I guess you'd think that Rosa Parks should also have just gotten up and left the bus, instead of getting arrested for "violating the segregation laws" for refusing to sit at the back of the bus. Why should Christian parents (and their children) be treated as second-class citizens by the government schools? http://teacher.scholastic.com/ROSA/arrested.htm
Support David Parker ! Visit:
Not even remotely the same. Why would you refuse to leave a meeting room? Sit ins are so 1960’s.
Sorry the guy lost the high ground when he refused to leave, end of story.
You know what, don’t reply. After having read every post you’ve ever made (it didn’t take long) I’ve come to the conclusion that you are David Parker, and you’re continuing posting here because you’re trolling for money. Btw, I love how www.davidparkerFACTS.org redirects to www.davidparkerFUND.org. Was fund.org turning out to be a bit too obvious? Sell this crap over at DU, because your history of lies and distortions at FR give you away.
Wow, your superior intellect is astounding — NOT! And what lies and distortions do you refer to?
I don’t think David Parker is even aware of freerepublic, but you can go on deluding yourself with your brilliant inferences, as I’m sure you will.
(Breathing a sigh of relief). I thought this was Lexington, KENTUCKY until I read the part about David Parker.
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.