Saturday, October 14, 2006

Sudbury Elementary School and "Gay Rights"

We recently heard about a kids' magazine given out to 4th-graders at the Loring Elementary School in Sudbury. Called Kidz Magazine, it included a section devoted to "gay rights". Sounds like this town may be going the way of Lexington, Newton, Brookline, Bedford, etc. (Sudbury did just hire Ms. Joni Jay at another of its schools. She was formerly principal of Estabrook School in Lexington -- where she held her ground against David Parker's parental rights on this same issue.)

In the October issue of Kidz,
p. 5 discusses "election 2006," and asks little 9-year-olds to vote on these big issues which "are going to appear on many state ballots":
  • Educational Funding (3 questions)
  • Minimum Wage (1 question)
  • Eminent Domain (1)
  • Gay Rights (2)
  • Illegal Immigrants (2)
  • Alternative Energy (1)

So, out of 10 questions, two are on "gay rights"! (Also interesting that three are on school funding -- making sure the little ones grow up with the teachers' unions view that there is never enough money for the schools!) This is all about getting the littlest kids to question basic concepts like marriage and moral standards as early as possible!

Now imagine the classroom discussion opportunities these questions open up. Where does the teacher lead the discussion? Are there questions about what it means to be "gay"? The parents will never know what is said! This discussion is not part of the formal curriculum, after all! Here's the section on "gay rights":

--Colorado's ballot will include a vote to authorize domestic partnerships. Domestic partnerships would give gay couples most of the legal rights of a marriage. Do you think gay couples should be allowed the rights of marriage? (yes/no)
--At least seven states are letting voters decide if marriage should be defined in our constitution [state constitutions?] as a partnership between a man and a woman , making traditional marriage illegal for gay couples. Do you think marriage should be defined specifically as a partnership between a man and a woman? (yes/no) [Wow -- that's sneaky: defining real marriage down to a "partnership" -- just like "domestic partnerships"?]