Interesting article (1 Viewer)

[jdn9201]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/308282,CST-NWS-gay22.article

Didn't want to open up a can of worms, but this article is about a high schooler who is wanting to wear an anti-gay t-shirt, in response to other students and teachers showing their public support for gay students.

To me, this just reeks of a double standard. Why do teachers feel compelled to do this anyhow? Yeah, I'm sure high school students who are gay go through hell. But so did the fat kids, the nerds, the special ed kids, etc., but teachers didn't feel the need to go out of their way back then to stop what they are doing and support the fat kids. I will agree on principle, that the First Amendment covers both the people who want to support gays at school, and those who are against it due to their religious beliefs. But these people need to realize that if you go out of your way to take a stand on such a controversial topic, then you're opening the door for people on the other side to speak up as well.

 

[thewyrm]

When I was a child I railed against it, but the older I get the more I begin to think uniforms should be mandatory in school.

Public school is not the place for this. Wearing a shirt that is anti gay is just as un-acceptable to me as forcing students to observe a "holiday" supporting gay students. When I have children it will be my job, and not the school system's to teach my children about sexuality.

 

[saintmdterps]

Doesn't most everyone feel persecuted in junior high and high school? When I was 13 my parents moved us away from Baltimore, so I got to go through puberty in a new school with new friends. It Stunk!! The environment was completely different from what I was used to, and 8th, 9th and 10th grade were hell (relatively speaking). My grades suffered as did my self-esteem.

As far as anti-gay, you know what they say about most homophobes. For myself, I can't believe, with all the other more pressing issues in our society (crime, poor public education system, etc., etc.), why anyone would care about the sexual orientation of another. I just always figured it wasn't my business. Live and let live. To those who are anti-gay, does it hurt you? My 5 year old son asked me, "Daddy, why are those men holding hands?" I just said, "I guess they like each other." It seemed to suffice, and he moved on to another topic. I'm sure I'll have to try to explain in greater detail one day. I'll try to instill in him that people come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and all are equal.

Sometimes I feel the goal is just to survive those junior high/high school years. With the benefit of hindsight you look back and say it wasn't bad, or realize what you learned. Even with the benefit of hindsight, some of us still look back and say it stunk. I couldn't agree more about uniforms. If you happened to be the person whose parents couldn't afford to keep you in the latest styles, and you were trying to fit in, it was just another trauma. Another reason to stand out, when most people just want to blend in. I envied the exceptions to the rule who, it seemed anyway, did not care what others thought. I became less concerned about the opinions of others in this regard about 11th or 12th grade. When I got my car, coincidentally?

 

[thewyrm]

I'll try to instill in him that people come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and all are equal.

Unfortunately, people like you seem to be a rarity these days. Now public school is being used to raise our children instead of teaching them.

 

[saintmdterps]

Now public school is being used to raise our children instead of teaching them.

Dead bang on!! My wife has been a teacher for 10 years now, and that is the biggest barrier to actual education; teachers are expected to provide discipline, moral guidance, and a shoulder to cry on if need be. The schools are expected to feed children breakfast and lunch. So tell me, precisely what is it these so-called parents actually do? They're not parents, they're just reproducers (I borrowed that from Saintfanatik!).

I'm all for personal rights, but I still feel people shuold pass an effective parenting test prior to actually having children (I don't know how this would ever be practical, so it's tongue-in-cheek). The damage to the children and society is too great when parents drop the ball to let just anyone bear children. They're not like cars you can test drive and turn back in if they're not to the "parents" liking.

 

[varanook]

The girl should be allowed to express herself.
I don't see how it could be any other way.
Just as an aside I think all kids in school should wear unis, my kids do and it is sooooo much easier that way.

 

[saintmdterps]

The girl should be allowed to express herself.
I don't see how it could be any other way.
Just as an aside I think all kids in school should wear unis, my kids do and it is sooooo much easier that way.

So does my son. Dressing in the morning is a non-issue. He's 5, and don't start doing the math to find out how old I was when he was born!!