Because Columbus is not sexual in nature, nor Homosexual. He is a LEGITIMATE Historical figure, that has been discussed for YEARS in our schools.
Harvey Milk is not a "legitimate historical figure" - what makes one legitimate?
And by the way? 6th Graders do NOT have 1st Amendment rights in school like adults have in every day life. Don't like that? Take it up with the Supreme Court.
That's pretty debatable - they seem to have some constitutional rights. For example, such rights were cited in a case that the ACLU took where a teacher attempted to ban the kids from bringing a bible to school with them. Obviously the courts seem to feel kids have some of those rights.
Further in real life if Susie showed up at work and wanted time to read her "report" it to would be subject to the rules of the work place and what the topic was. Ohh and the ADULTS would have the right to walk out if they found her piece offensive. 6th Graders do not have the right to walk out of class if they find something offensive. Thus Teachers must act in the best interest of the ENTIRE class, including the PARENTS of the children in that classroom.
The Teacher read the report and found it questionable so she took it to the Principle who read it and agreed that parents MUST be informed. ALL part of the authority, responsibility and DUTY under law of the Principle and the teacher.
What's offensive about an historical figure who also happens to be gay? Does that mean that if a teacher had issues with an historical figure that is black, found the report "offensive" they could suppress it? What was the actual rule invoked? Should parents thus be informed?
After the parents were informed, time was allowed to read the report to those that chose to listen or had their parents permission to listen. She was not censored in ANY manner regardless of the baseless claims by you, the ACLU and others on this Board. Had she BEEN censored, it would have been with in the power of the school to MAKE that call.
Baseless in what way? If the report included references or descriptions of actual sexuality you would have a point. However, it certainly didn't appear to and in fact the student chose the topic because she was influenced by the movie.
So, then students should not be taught about family either, since that's sexual.
Wrong as usual. Ohh and remind me when children are taught about FAMILIES anyway? I do not recall that class when I went nor when my children went.
No classes on any type of family. Social Studies gets into societies and how they operate, rather then pure history. But not about families.
It's not uncommon with historical figures to talk about their family or descendants, for example, George Washington and Martha Washington. I am guessing that you will agree with me we shouldn't do that because then we'd naturally have to explain what George and Martha do together and how they are (shudder) heterosexual and...we'd better inform the parents.
There are no classes on married versus divorced or separated families. No classes on who can and can not marry. No discussions at all in Elementary school about that at all, well except the new classes dealing with Homosexual couples and sex education in Elementary school.
As far as the article goes - none of the above (in a homosexual way) was discussed was it?
School books have specifically been changed to ADDRESS homosexual couples and families. To teach our children that being gay is normal and perfectly fine. Now where is my class on teaching those same children that CHRISTIAN Religion is NORMAL and fine? Or to teach them that Heterosexual couples are actually the NORMAL couples?
That's another issue unrelated to free speech and a student giving a report on an historical figure.
Less then 5 percent of the population is gay. They are NOT normal. It is also an at risk relationship, with increased risk of disease for both men and women. The reality is gays tend to be promiscuous, especially men. They CHOSE to engage in unhealthy sexual practices and situations.
That's not the issue being discussed.
Just like it is not the schools place to discuss NORMAL sex or relationships with elementary school children. It is NOT their place to go out of their way to discuss the Homosexual community, couples or sex.
You are misrepresenting the issue. Sex - whether normal or "deviant" was not discussed. As far as discussing the "homosexual community" or the issue of "couples" - the existence of homosexuals in the community is no secret and is part of the historical record.
The report was no more or less then a report on an activist -
Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay man elected to office. It's not a report either condoning or condemning the "gay lifestyle" nor is it about sexuality other than identifying him as homosexual and as an activist fighting against discrimmination towards homosexuals in law, employment and public treatment. Gay marriage did not even enter into it.
Whether or not schools at any level are the appropriate forum to discuss or learn about sex is a very controversial issue but utterly irrelevant since that was not what was being discussed. Sexual orientation is a matter of common knowledge by 6th grades even if the details aren't.
