You make some good points. I will try to articulate my thoughts as clearly. The best and most effective role of schools is in the modeling and demonstrating of behaviors. I'm not sure you can teach tolerance. You can enforce it, however. You can make certain behaviors unacceptable with clearly defined rules and subsequent punishments. I'm afraid that having formal lessons on certain issues regarding the desirability/undesirability of family structure and gender roles crosses the line into overt indoctrination. Too heavy handed by half.
I support promoting tolerance and acceptance of different family structures in an age appropriate way. Inviting kids to cross dress with nail polish and fake beards feels a little different to me but probably for a different reason than it may concern others. I think it might just be reinforcing the traditional gender-based stereotypes and expectations that many of us would like to see reduced. But maybe that would depend on details.
I see you’ve reduced a complex issue to a very simplistic statement. Nobody is arguing that someone becomes gay merely because they know gayness exists. The discussion in this presentation is the indoctrination that all forms of sexuality are normal. That ignores that throughout the entire human history, most cultures have declared most of those sexualities to be abnormal. It’s only relatively recent times that those sexualities are not only accepted, but approved and even celebrated as normal. That is the issue here. I also see that you’ve taken the Too Hot easy road of falling back on ad hominem attack. So please tell me, what specifically in my post was bigoted. I don’t want to know what you’ve read into my post. I don’t want to know what you assume I think. I want to know specifically from my post what is bigoted. Thank you.
I guess I would have to see it to judge. I just feel strongly that kids always know more than we think they do as parents, and that who they are is not that malleable long term, in. That intolerance is the far bigger problem. I might feel different depending on the individual class, but those are my general views
No wonder. Europe is all weird and stuff. No 3yr old has any business knowing what sex is. Adults reap what they sow. It's like lifting the veil at a time when a typical 3yr old doesn't even know there is a veil. Like I've said for 40 years, "give a 2 year a lit match and a stick of dynamite and 100% of the time he goes boom".
The posts I recall from you on these topics have been respectful. But it’s also true that you believe Christianity regards homosexual sex as inherently sinful. It is understandable to me that you wouldn’t want homosexuality or homosexual sex “normalized.” But if you didn’t think the issue of sin were involved, would you care at all, much less think that normalization is outrageous (worthy of outrage)? Of course, we could discuss the age appropriateness angle only. I get the sense your objections would not change whether the kids were 5, 10, or 15 years old - even if they already had sex education classes which are obviously relatively more sexual and explicit. I always wonder about shielding kids from learning about sex until later. Didn’t kids in the old days who grew up on farms see animals having sex and babies? They must have asked or figured it out?
No. The only thing "encouraged" is tolerance of differences. Besides, young kids e.g., 3 YO, often dress up in the opposite ESA's clothes and role play. Why are you and some others so hung up about this? However, I'm not quite sure what the teacher meant by "social construct". I tend to think society has nothing to do with it
One that seems judgmental and ignores 'love thy neighbor'. I found it interesting that in your initial post, you referred to my post as from "a liberal" and "the left". Not only did you politicize the issue, you misunderstand my political philosophy. I suggest to you that this has little to do with politics, but with Christian principles.
I don't feel like getting into a discussion that we will not ever agree. I will just say I believe you are being naive in thinking there isn't an agenda beyond just tolerance/acceptance.
You're assuming parents teach it at home. I suspect most don't. Similarly, I also suspect most children who are unsure of their sexuality or identify with the opposite sex don't discuss it with their parents.
I have 2 three-year old grandsons. Their parents are struggling to potty train them and to make sure they have pants on when they run out the door. Learning various family structures may be a bit complex at 3. Their grasp of the world just isn’t sufficient at that age imo.
I don't see an issue with a gay couple going to their child's family day and showing the kids using dolls that there are different types of parental units. That's a far cry from talking about sex. The kids are going to be curious anyways as to why their classmate has two dads.
Perhaps, but I also see little problem with the "let them find out" approach, with the notable exception that sometimes there will be a need for an important talk. I just don't see much need for this particular presentation given by an art teacher to 3yr olds.
I suppose many do, but speaking for myself I oppose it and have no agenda. My opposition has nothing to do with religious beliefs; just trying to think practically.
