Parents of third graders outraged at diversity tape

[Jeana (DP)]

I think they should be in one organized activity that takes in account their own talent. I think they should be social and play with friends. And by friends I mean black, white, Mexican, Chinese and GASP even the children of gay parents and that pesky Catholic kid up the street! They should be playing board games and watching Animal Planet or American Idol with their family AND friends. They should be eating dinner once in awhile at a friends and hosting them too. Riding bikes, shooting hoops, skating, pinewood derby' reading. Shoot my son even volunteered & talk two friends into helping dish out food for the homeless on the street with the church his school is connected to. I want him to know the world and his place in it.

You can't learn that sitting on the floor alone pushing around a little car.

I think an 8-year old playing hotwheels is fine. I think we're going over the edge here if we try to dictate what other people's children are too old to play with. I thoroughly enjoyed playing hotwheels with both of my sons and I was way more than 8 years old. Let's try to stay focused on the topic here people.

 

[Princy]

P-

My daughter is 14. Most of the kids are older. I totally agree that one video wouldn't have helped, but hate needs to stop.

I have my own beliefs and predjudices - but NO ONE is ever made to feel like they are less of a person because of my beliefs. I hope my daughter learned that from me. You don't have to be a gay lover, a black lover, a disabled lover - to treat people with respect.

If parents can't teach their children tolerance, I don't think I have a problem with the schools doing it for them.

GW-
I think if this idea of showing the video had been taken to the parents and let them view it before hand, then let them choose whether or not to allow their child to see it. I personally don't think that my son would have gone to school that day to watch it in the 3rd grade, he wouldn't have gotten the point of the video.
The thing is kids learn more by watching how their parents live and how they react to these scenarios than by watching a video.

Do you guys sometimes think that putting such a spotlight on topics such as these almost segregates the people who are actually living it? Makes it harder for them to lead a "normal" life?

 

[Linda7NJ]

Originally Posted by GlitchWizard
Boy is THIS relevant!

My kid just sent me text messages that she was trying not to cry. She had a gay male friend commit suicide last year, and she told one boy at school. He said "Good for him, all gays should kill themselves!" Others chimed in and they said the gay boy probably raped people, and other things, then spoke and pointed to her on occassion, but still were full of hate and teased her for crying. It was heart wrenching to me - my kid was crying. :-(

She is not a victim and doesn't cry easily. She believes in tolerance of other beliefs and other lifestyles, but was sitting there being taunted for it. I messaged her that people have been shot, cruicified and other things for standing up for what they believed in, and even though it wasn't easy to do - I was proud of her.

These kids... they are ALL in the Microsoft Information Technology Academy. Supposed to be the cream of the crop students - our future.


GW- How old is your kid?

The situation described above is very sad, I do not disagree with that. But I really don't think that you can guarantee that showing a video to a 3rd grader will make them more tolerant. What if it backfired? If the child came home and described to a homophobic set of parents that they watched a video on diversity that included gay marriage, and the parents were so outraged that they took it out on the kid, then don't you think there is a possibility that that child will turn around and take it out on anyone he or she presumes to be gay? Or his gay parents?


What about kids who are adopted? What about kids whose parents are dead? What about the kid whose parents beat them and they had to go live with another relative? What about the kid whose parent is an alcoholic?

These are all very different circumstances in which a child could be raised and some are far more common then being raised by gay parents, however I do not believe that the school systems have yet decided that this is important enough to put on a diversity tape. And I gaurantee that a lot of those kids are being made fun of.

I believe foster parents and adoptive parents were included. I also think another school program in public schools called DARE addresses drug addicts and alcoholics. Then they have the Private Parts / Good touch - bad touch thing.

I can't tell you how many times over the years I have had to call teachers on behalf of my foster children due to their lack of knowledge of the sheer number of foster children, family history, etc. Assignments demanding baby pictures, family trees, and my personal favorite.....Why Mom & Dad are good role models. That last one killed me....just how does this teacher know every child in her class even has parents, let alone "good ones"

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Now if we could just get the message to your party leaders...

I'd love to be able to. I wish I was smart enough to know how to do so.

 

[Jeana (DP)]

GW-
I think if this idea of showing the video had been taken to the parents and let them view it before hand, then let them choose whether or not to allow their child to see it. I personally don't think that my son would have gone to school that day to watch it in the 3rd grade, he wouldn't have gotten the point of the video.
The thing is kids learn more by watching how their parents live and how they react to these scenarios than by watching a video.

Do you guys sometimes think that putting such a spotlight on topics such as these almost segregates the people who are actually living it? Makes it harder for them to lead a "normal" life?

I don't know about anyone else's area, but here we were sent home an information sheet and they showed the video for any interested parents before it was shown in school. I didn't watch it because by then, my children already knew that the world is made up of all sorts of families and they should be judged on things other than their sexual orientation.

 

[GlitchWizard]

I'd have let Donna see it - but I don't think anyone can present "facts" in a video the way a parent would want them presented - no matter what side of the fence the parent stands. How many of us remember what we saw in the videos we saw as a kid? However, if they tell the parents they can preview the movie first AT LEAST you are giving the parents an opening to discuss the matter with their children. Many of us do anyway, but if a kid misses out on something as important as who they are sharing society with - someone needs to remind the parents their job is to prepare the kids for adulthood.

I don't think spotlighting diversity makes it harder for people, no. I think education is the answer to everything though.

As for hotwheels... I just gave a 45 year old man a purple hotwheels car I got off ebay since he said he remembered his favorite purple whatever it was from childhood. HE LOVED IT.

Let the boy play with Hotwheels.... any age.
BUT ALSO TEACH HIM TO ACCEPT HUMAN BEINGS FOR WHO THEY ARE AND NOT HATE ANYONE WHO DOESN'T PLAY WITH HOTWHEELS!

GW-
I think if this idea of showing the video had been taken to the parents and let them view it before hand, then let them choose whether or not to allow their child to see it. I personally don't think that my son would have gone to school that day to watch it in the 3rd grade, he wouldn't have gotten the point of the video.
The thing is kids learn more by watching how their parents live and how they react to these scenarios than by watching a video.

Do you guys sometimes think that putting such a spotlight on topics such as these almost segregates the people who are actually living it? Makes it harder for them to lead a "normal" life?

 

[Linda7NJ]

...games and watching Animal Planet or American Idol with their family AND friends. They should be eating dinner once in awhile at a friends and hosting them too. Riding bikes, shooting hoops, skating, pinewood derby' reading. Shoot my son even volunteered & talk two friends into helping dish out food for the homeless on the street with the church his school is connected to. I want him to know the world and his place in it.




Letting your kid watch American Idol is just teaching them that its cool to be mean and make fun of people, you'll make a ton of money!
Not so much, you saying that I think contradicts everything you've been talking about on this whole post.
And hot wheels is an awesome way for a boy to spend some free time.

Watching American Idol is a GREAT oppurtunity to teach your kids lots of things. It's called COMMUNICATION, just talk to your kids!~ ! Pretending mean people don't exsist isn't realistic. ADDRESSING it is.

 

[GlitchWizard]

Watching American Idol is a GREAT oppurtunity to teach your kids lots of things. It's called COMMUNICATION, just talk to your kids!~ ! Pretending mean people don't exsist isn't realistic. ADDRESSING it is.

Sometimes I pretend mean people don't exist. It infuriates them.

 

[Linda7NJ]

I'd have let Donna see it - but I don't think anyone can present "facts" in a video the way a parent would want them presented - no matter what side of the fence the parent stands. How many of us remember what we saw in the videos we saw as a kid? However, if they tell the parents they can preview the movie first AT LEAST you are giving the parents an opening to discuss the matter with their children. Many of us do anyway, but if a kid misses out on something as important as who they are sharing society with - someone needs to remind the parents their job is to prepare the kids for adulthood.

I don't think spotlighting diversity makes it harder for people, no. I think education is the answer to everything though.

As for hotwheels... I just gave a 45 year old man a purple hotwheels car I got off ebay since he said he remembered his favorite purple whatever it was from childhood. HE LOVED IT.

Let the boy play with Hotwheels.... any age.
BUT ALSO TEACH HIM TO ACCEPT HUMAN BEINGS FOR WHO THEY ARE AND NOT HATE ANYONE WHO DOESN'T PLAY WITH HOTWHEELS!

ROFL.....I agree really...nothing wrong with Hotwheels.

I was trying to make a point cause she bolded it. I failed to make my point. BIG TIME.
I am just gonna let it go until I figure out how to express it another way.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

I live in redneck country where my nice straight teeth and clean clothing and little Honda car set me up to be looked at weird. I do have a gun and the right kind of dog, though - and I'm forgiven since I happen to be single.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I live right in the heart of redneck country...and I would say you must stick out like a sore thumb on a right handed banjo picker! ;P

No worries, I raised a metrosexual whose wife is absolutely delighted I did! Straight teeth, clean clothing, cooks, decorates, and is hopelessly in love with her! (He is now in Seminary to become a youth pastor to do missionary work. Talk about differences in lifestyles! I don't believe in organized religion!! Good thing I also taught him tolerance, respect, and allowed him to make his own decisions on religion! LOL)

 

[Princy]

I am in the thick of the elementary life, I have one who's in 4th grade and 1 getting ready to start Kindergarten. I believe it is this spring that the "why girls and boys are different" video will be shown. However, I have never heard of the "diversity" video. I live in a pretty liberal area that has a large homosexual population. The boy/girl video is part of their science studies. I don't think that sociology topics- like this is capable of being fully understood by elementary students, should be shown in school.

 

[GlitchWizard]

I am in the thick of the elementary life, I have one who's in 4th grade and 1 getting ready to start Kindergarten. I believe it is this spring that the "why girls and boys are different" video will be shown. However, I have never heard of the "diversity" video. I live in a pretty liberal area that has a large homosexual population. The boy/girl video is part of their science studies. I don't think that sociology topics- like this is capable of being fully understood by elementary students, should be shown in school.

I don't think it's capable of being fully understood by anyone. Even the "Why girls and boys are different" video. Think about it. We all saw the video and now, as adults, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" is a best seller! :dance:

 

[Princy]

Watching American Idol is a GREAT oppurtunity to teach your kids lots of things. It's called COMMUNICATION, just talk to your kids!~ ! Pretending mean people don't exsist isn't realistic. ADDRESSING it is.

The context that American Idol is shown in is too make fun of the people who didn't make it. I saw ET the other night and Kathryn McVee (sp?) said she had no interest in watching that part of the show either.
So I did what she did "changed the channel"
I don't feel that doing that has deprived my child of knowing that mean people exist, they learn that at a very young age on the playground.

 

[GlitchWizard]

The context that American Idol is shown in is too make fun of the people who didn't make it. I saw ET the other night and Kathryn McVee (sp?) said she had no interest in watching that part of the show either.
So I did what she did "changed the channel"
I don't feel that doing that has deprived my child of knowing that mean people exist, they learn that at a very young age on the playground.

I remember my daughter saying I wasn't just evil, I was PURE evil.

Then she went to spend the night at someone's house and the father pulled the daughter out of her bedroom by her hair and struck her. (Yes, he was arrested.) She hasn't said I was evil since.


I don't watch anything where people are rude (except South Park). I just don't like rude.

 

[Princy]

I don't think it's capable of being fully understood by anyone. Even the "Why girls and boys are different" video. Think about it. We all saw the video and now, as adults, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" is a best seller! :dance:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Yea, still don't get that mental difference!

 

[Jeana (DP)]

I don't think it's capable of being fully understood by anyone. Even the "Why girls and boys are different" video. Think about it. We all saw the video and now, as adults, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" is a best seller! :dance:

I'm 43 and I still don't understand boys. I'm just glad I'm not one of 'em.

 

[GlitchWizard]

I'm 43 and I still don't understand boys. I'm just glad I'm not one of 'em.

Thankfully, it's the one thing I DO understand. I'm not going to write a book about it though - because they'll just deny it.

 

[Dark Knight]

Again, not everyone who feels homosexuality is a sin hates or wishes to cause Gay people pain. If they are hurt just because I don't aprove of their lifestyle, they have other issues that need exploring like, who cares what other people think. f someone is that die hard about their "choice" and freedom, they shouldn't give a rats butt about what I or anyone else thinks about their choices. However,teaching alternative lifestyles in a public school that is supported by EVERYONES tax dollars is forcing one set of beliefes down another groups throat in my opinion.

Agreed! Well said.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

I am in the thick of the elementary life, I have one who's in 4th grade and 1 getting ready to start Kindergarten. I believe it is this spring that the "why girls and boys are different" video will be shown. However, I have never heard of the "diversity" video. I live in a pretty liberal area that has a large homosexual population. The boy/girl video is part of their science studies. I don't think that sociology topics- like this is capable of being fully understood by elementary students, should be shown in school.

Let me explain how I learned about sex because MY parents didn't discuss it in our house until a much later age! Wasn't some video! Someone flipped me off when I was a THIRD...yes, I said THIRD grader...I first asked the teacher what it meant..she said to ask my mom. I asked my mom. She turned bright red then told me not to worry about it just not to do it back. I went to the public library and found nothing on it at all. Finally, I asked the school counselor who gave me same response as my teacher! I was soooo frustrated in not getting a real answer! I explained I had asked everyone and no one seemed to want me to know!

He finally said, "Sexual Intercourse" (as he turned twelve shades of purple) "is what it means and it isn't nice."

I went BACK to the public library and found every book I could on the subject...but when I was ready to check them out...the librarian told me I couldn't!! I threw a fit! She eventually agreed to allow me to read them, but ONLY at the library. So for weeks, I went daily and learned as much as I could on the subject. After learning, I couldn't imagine why all the fuss from the adults, but I NEVER mentioned it to my parents because it wasn't allowed!

When my sister turned 16 (4 years older than me), Mom gave her the book, Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex by Ann Landers. She politely handed it back and said, "If I want to know anything else, I can just ask my sister!" She thought Mom was going to faint! ROFLMAO

 

[GlitchWizard]

Let me explain how I learned about sex...

My Mom told me everything when I was about 5, kept me updated and informed and gave me lots of books to read on it.

Then I went to college, got a subscription to FORUM magazine and learned the REST of the story! ;-)