I'd give the school the benefit of the doubt on this one, and assume they're trying to indoctrinate children to not treat fellow classmates badly because they're gay. That ought to fall under the umbrella of teaching kids not to treat _anyone_ badly, but the schools gave up on that long ago, I think.

Karen, I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt as well. "Teaching Tolerance" is a worthy endeavor, but apparently it way beyond "tolerance." Giles writes:

Let me get this right:  Teachers and kids can’t talk about Jesus Christ, Moses or Biblical ethics—at least not in a positive, plausible sense—in the classroom.  But they can talk about Timmy and Tommy the Testicle Twins?  About Daddy’s male roommate?  About anal sex and oral sex between teenagers of the same sex?

Be careful about using phrases like "teaching homosexuality" when you mean "teaching acceptance/tolerance of homosexuality".

And, um, what exactly are "Timmy & Tommy the Testicle Twins" ???

Okay, a little googling turned up only a few reference to "Timmy & Tommy" - many of them were responding to Doug's post. The others refered to two guys who dress up as testicles and march in gay pride parades (not sure if this was a one time thing or a regular gig). It doesn't sound to me like this was actually a part of his daughters' school's "Okay to Be Gay" event.

Schools have to make sure that students of all kinds feel comfortable and safe; many gay students are bullied and abused in schools, with real affects on their academics. On the other hand, families do have different moral and ethical standards, and the efforts schools make to help some students feel safe/included should not make others feel unsafe/excluded or uncomfortable. That's a fine line to walk, though!

I think Doug's post was somewhat misleading for several reasons. The comparison of discussing religion in school vs. discussing homosexuality is not valid; being for/against homosexuality is linked to some religious beliefs but cuts across religious lines, therefore an "Okay to be gay" day is not a form of religious discrimination. Also, few people would have a problem with a teacher bringing up religion in a Social Studies/World Religions way, which is not promoting or bashing any particular religion. Many people would have a problem with a teacher bringing up homosexuality in a Scientific/Health Ed. context, yet I don't see that as different from the World Religions discussion! Anyway, I think Doug confuses the issue by trying to link it to church/state issues.

Doug is also misleading in that I think some of the examples he gave of what his daughters were exposed to were exaggerated or simply not true ("Timmy & Tommy" for example). Given the delicate balance schools must strike, a discussion is much more useful if it is concrete about what happened in the classroom, so that all parties can discuss whether it crossed a line or not.

Thank you, Ms. Frizzle, for your input.

While Mr. Giles may not have been quoting from the exact program in his kids' school, and while he certainly does not mince any words when describing his opinion of homosexuality, his overall point still stands:

Why are public schools teaching this?

Isn't morality one of those things schools should leave up to parents? If gay students are being harassed or bullied, then the situation is no different than if a kid with a really big buck teeth is being harassed or bullied: it's still unacceptable, and the parties responsible need to be punished.

Just don't shove the whole homosexual agenda down schoolkids' throats against the wishes of parents. Stick to the three Rs instead!

Well people welcome to America. Land of hypocrisy. Of course teachers can teach tolerance of gays and send those who don't to gay sensitivity classes. But then turn around and allow the fat kid to be bullied. I must ask, Where is the fat kid sensitivity class? It's a joke and so is the public education system. Maybe they should teach the homosexual agenda or that homosexuality is a choice(there is NO scientific evidnece of gay gene). But that's asking to much from our fine public school system. Forgive any spelling errors.

Teaching homosexual sex eduction is a great thing! Education leads to knowledge. Obviously, there continues to be more transmission of STDs within our gay young adults. Teaching how to do it safely will hopefully decrease these rates! I think it is sad those who are opposed to education of any type. How do students learn, if we do not teach? Shall we just let our children go into the world with narrow minds? Education opens up doors.

Rating a comparison of discussing religion in a non biased way and homosexuality as equivalent is insanity. How could you even think that discussing a belief that typically supports moral values to sexual deviance and its attached mental state is the same? I want my children educated, not have their heads filled with exposure to every disgusting activity to which this world is plagued in their school. I am perfectly capable and willing to discuss these things with my children, and do whenever necessary. The last thing I need is someone I don't know discussing what is happening with the morally deprived in our society.