Posted on 11/15/2006 6:25:33 AM PST by brooklinema
Emer O'Shea knew something was wrong the minute she picked up her daughter from Franklin Elementary School. The third-grader was normally very perky upon seeing her mother and new baby sister, but this time she glanced at her mother without indicating what was wrong, except to say that the school's social worker had visited the class. But Emer soon heard from another parent about what had happened in her daughter's class that day, and she was both stunned and mortified. The next day her young daughter finally opened up with a question that would baffle most parents of an 8-year-old child, "Mommy, is it possible for a man to have an operation to become a woman?"
Transgenders and transvestites. These were the topics that a staff member at Franklin School in West Newton chose to teach to a class of third-grade children. ...
As a result of this particular "classroom lesson," Emer's daughter was petrified. For an 8-year-old accustomed to a child's world of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, the little girl had nightmares, ...
(Excerpt) Read more at townonline.com ...
And we LIKED it that way.
I agree 100% with this sentiment, but I'll play Devil's Advocate:
I would assume adults feel compelled to talk about variant sexuality with minor children in order to introduce it to them at a fairly innocent age. By doing this, and talking about it with them plainly, the children would be less apt to be prejudiced against those individuals when they grow up.
For what it's worth.
If my son ever returned home from school and asked me about sex change operations, I'd use it as a teaching moment: "Son, there are some people in this world who are pretty effed up, and they believe that only by mutilating their bodies can they relieve themselves of their mental anguish. They're wrong."
if you de-sensitize a child to a behavior, it then becomes easier to persuade that child to particiapte therein. and if the child has a trust relationship with an adult with whom the child has been taught to discuss such matters, guess who has the edge here?
and we wonder why there is so much child/teracher sex going on?
"For an 8-year-old accustomed to a child's world of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, the little girl had nightmares, ..."
Tooth "fairy"???
I guess that's what started the problem.
Seriously, some educators need an attitude adjustment. 50 years ago he would have gotten one - by the father of the kid.
The very idea of "sex change operation" is insane. Same way you can "change race" by bleaching your skin or change your species by implanting the chimpanzee hair and making surgery on your bones.
True, to an extent, but within reason. I'd wager that letting a child know that there are people sick enough to mutilate their own genitals would not necessarily inspire that child to mutilate their own genitals in turn.
If public schools insist on introducing this sort of information to children, it's up to parents to provide a strong counter-balance.
I agree completely.
you are correct. my point is what kind of person wants to talk of sexual matters to another person's child?
i'll give you a hint: It begins with "Per" and ends with "vert"
Don't get me wrong; I agree with you 100%. My post was more a mental exercise to determine if I could find any good in this. But I think I failed; anyone who would discuss their sexuality with a minor child---even a parent with their child---is pretty effing sick.
on that, my friend, we most heartily agree!
But, but. What about No Child Left Behind?
Separation of school and state is the answer.
Franklin is the fastest-growing municipality in MA.
Newton is the town which Boston Mayor Thomas "Mumbles" Menino refers to as "the western part of the state."
This is not Franklin, MA. This is Franklin Elementary School in Newton, MA. A big difference :)
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Oh happy day!
"Newton is the town which Boston Mayor Thomas 'Mumbles' Menino refers to as 'the western part of the state.'"
You mean "Da wethtan potoff da sthayte."
I was speaking in general (my post 14) about staying in close contact with your kids' schools - NOT THIS INCIDENT - but you want to take it to the homeschooling war. No thanks. And no thanks to any further discussion with you on this.
You are hysterical and way too defensive. I said nothing about homeschooling, nor was anything I said uncivil.
Why don't you respond to the point - how can you protect kids from this type of garbage if you cannot know beforehand when it will occur ?
Is that specific enough for you ?
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