Comments on: New Jersey school district under attack for teaching about gay and lesbian-parented families - Family Pride responds http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html love. justice. family. equality. Wed, 7 Jan 2009 01:33:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: sgr http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html#comment-9 sgr Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0000 http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html#comment-9 i actually grew up in the evesham school district. they regularly send home information about what will be taught (err, they did 15-20 years ago), such as the "becoming a man/woman" videos we watched in fourth grade. it gave an opportunity for the parents to either keep their children home for the day or discuss it within the family.<br />as a child educator, i understand that the purpose of this video is to help children be more accepting of peers who fall outside the nuclear mom/dad/child norms, but not having seen it myself, i find it hard to understand why the anger is <i>only</i> towards the same-sex parented families.<br />i'm trying to do more research on this controversy, as the first i'd heard about it was a friend sending me a foxnews website. i've yet to find substantial information about why this video is so wrong for children, aside from possibly raising more questions than it answers - but that involves actually seeing this video. i actually grew up in the evesham school district. they regularly send home information about what will be taught (err, they did 15-20 years ago), such as the “becoming a man/woman” videos we watched in fourth grade. it gave an opportunity for the parents to either keep their children home for the day or discuss it within the family.
as a child educator, i understand that the purpose of this video is to help children be more accepting of peers who fall outside the nuclear mom/dad/child norms, but not having seen it myself, i find it hard to understand why the anger is only towards the same-sex parented families.
i’m trying to do more research on this controversy, as the first i’d heard about it was a friend sending me a foxnews website. i’ve yet to find substantial information about why this video is so wrong for children, aside from possibly raising more questions than it answers - but that involves actually seeing this video.

]]> By: Family Pride http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html#comment-10 Family Pride Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0000 http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html#comment-10 In response to "anonymous,"<br /><br />Fact of the matter is that research shows that general discussions about bullying and respecting differences do not have the same impact as discussing specific kinds of differences and educating kids on those differences. Also, 8 year olds will learn about all kinds of different family structures whether their parents are ready for them to know or not. Talking about having two moms or two dads doesn’t require a discussion of sex or sexuality, and if this conversation happens at school it’s a perfect opportunity for parents who don’t share the same perspective to pass on to their kids their own belief system - much as they might about divorce or other topics about which they may have strong opinions. In response to “anonymous,”

Fact of the matter is that research shows that general discussions about bullying and respecting differences do not have the same impact as discussing specific kinds of differences and educating kids on those differences. Also, 8 year olds will learn about all kinds of different family structures whether their parents are ready for them to know or not. Talking about having two moms or two dads doesn’t require a discussion of sex or sexuality, and if this conversation happens at school it’s a perfect opportunity for parents who don’t share the same perspective to pass on to their kids their own belief system - much as they might about divorce or other topics about which they may have strong opinions.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html#comment-11 Anonymous Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0000 http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html#comment-11 <i>As parents, it is our responsibility to teach children that there are many different kinds of loving families.</i><br /><br /><br />Really? Why? Seriously. I'm curious why this is necessary instead of a general program encouraging students to treat everyone fairly and discouraging bullying in any form. And if indeed it is, as you yourself say, our responsibility as parents, then why is the state taking that responsibility from us? Perhaps some families feel that 8-years-old is too young to know about homosexuality. It's their right to choose when or if to have that discussion, not that state's. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach children that there are many different kinds of loving families.

Really? Why? Seriously. I’m curious why this is necessary instead of a general program encouraging students to treat everyone fairly and discouraging bullying in any form. And if indeed it is, as you yourself say, our responsibility as parents, then why is the state taking that responsibility from us? Perhaps some families feel that 8-years-old is too young to know about homosexuality. It’s their right to choose when or if to have that discussion, not that state’s.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html#comment-12 Anonymous Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:00:00 +0000 http://www.familypride.org/blog/2007/01/new-jersey-school-district-under-attack.html#comment-12 Hello, I am a producer at Fox News Channel and I was hoping I can get some information on this story. Is this video shown in any other schools across the state? Is it being shown and parents are happy kids are getting shown a diversity video?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Shira<br /><br />shira.weitz@foxnews.com Hello, I am a producer at Fox News Channel and I was hoping I can get some information on this story. Is this video shown in any other schools across the state? Is it being shown and parents are happy kids are getting shown a diversity video?

Thanks,
Shira

shira.weitz@foxnews.com

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