Gay Straight Alliance- MCPS middle schools

[Anonymous]

My MCPS middle school got one a couple years ago. A counselor got
it going with an administrator and interested kids. Straight allies joined too. It is subtly advertised so they don't become targets.
I am all for it. It helps kids feel they belong and have support and may prevent suicide in depressed, bullied kids. Parents have been supportive.

[Anonymous]

This is ridiculous. I say this as someone who grew up with gay friends and who was at Tracks with them partying before it became mainstream.

Some kids know they're gay. Others don't figure it out. We have one transgendered kid (boy to girl) at my daughter's middle school. Few people know about this kid. And we have one kid who doesn't know he's gay yet. But my daughter knows and has stood up for him when he was being bullied.

Having said all that, kids in MS are generally a hot mess. Yes, some have hook ups. Some get pregnant.

However, as one who's taught HS for many years in high-FARMs schools which many on DCUM "fear," I can count on one hand how many pregnant teens I've seen in my 20+ years in the system.

So MS kids aren't all having orgies and doing drugs and cross-dressing.

If you want schools to double as social programs (and we're mostly there), cough up extra tax $ to fund more programs. I can say that while I understand this issue, I'm a content-trained teacher. I'm not paid to facilitate group discussions surrounding this issue, nor do I wish to "donate" part of my instructional time with any sort of outreach group.

Hold these support groups during lunch or before and after school.

But imo, this only exacerbates the issue and makes it "cool" to hide your penis. Furthermore, tell me how we're going to deal with the challenges in the locker room during PE. Do you think young boys at this age will be compassionate toward a "boy" with breasts? So while hormones work, they take time, and I doubt may doctors would prescribe hormones to a kid this age.

It's easy to be open-minded about this issue until you really scrutinize the logistics.

[Anonymous]

The one mentioned earlier--if it's the one
at Pyle--meets after school. The teacher who sits in on the club does
it voluntarily. No one is giving up instructional time or using tax dollars. There are teachers who want to give back in this way. And it is giving back--it's not just about teaching tolerance, it's about self-acceptance. Whether you are gay or
straight or questioning, it's a safe place to find a sense of belonging and show kindness to others. These groups often do work to
educate their school community--they don't sit around and talk about sex all the time. And so I for one am grateful to counselors and principals who make
this happen, especially in the face of potential pushback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. I say this as someone who grew up with gay friends and who was at Tracks with them partying before it became mainstream.

Some kids know they're gay. Others don't figure it out. We have one transgendered kid (boy to girl) at my daughter's middle school. Few people know about this kid. And we have one kid who doesn't know he's gay yet. But my daughter knows and has stood up for him when he was being bullied.

Having said all that, kids in MS are generally a hot mess. Yes, some have hook ups. Some get pregnant.

However, as one who's taught HS for many years in high-FARMs schools which many on DCUM "fear," I can count on one hand how many pregnant teens I've seen in my 20+ years in the system.

So MS kids aren't all having orgies and doing drugs and cross-dressing.

If you want schools to double as social programs (and we're mostly there), cough up extra tax $ to fund more programs. I can say that while I understand this issue, I'm a content-trained teacher. I'm not paid to facilitate group discussions surrounding this issue, nor do I wish to "donate" part of my instructional time with any sort of outreach group.

Hold these support groups during lunch or before and after school.

But imo, this only exacerbates the issue and makes it "cool" to hide your penis. Furthermore, tell me how we're going to deal with the challenges in the locker room during PE. Do you think young boys at this age will be compassionate toward a "boy" with breasts? So while hormones work, they take time, and I doubt may doctors would prescribe hormones to a kid this age.

It's easy to be open-minded about this issue until you really scrutinize the logistics.

What are you even talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. I say this as someone who grew up with gay friends and who was at Tracks with them partying before it became mainstream.

Some kids know they're gay. Others don't figure it out. We have one transgendered kid (boy to girl) at my daughter's middle school. Few people know about this kid. And we have one kid who doesn't know he's gay yet. But my daughter knows and has stood up for him when he was being bullied.

Having said all that, kids in MS are generally a hot mess. Yes, some have hook ups. Some get pregnant.

However, as one who's taught HS for many years in high-FARMs schools which many on DCUM "fear," I can count on one hand how many pregnant teens I've seen in my 20+ years in the system.

So MS kids aren't all having orgies and doing drugs and cross-dressing.

If you want schools to double as social programs (and we're mostly there), cough up extra tax $ to fund more programs. I can say that while I understand this issue, I'm a content-trained teacher. I'm not paid to facilitate group discussions surrounding this issue, nor do I wish to "donate" part of my instructional time with any sort of outreach group.

Hold these support groups during lunch or before and after school.

But imo, this only exacerbates the issue and makes it "cool" to hide your penis. Furthermore, tell me how we're going to deal with the challenges in the locker room during PE. Do you think young boys at this age will be compassionate toward a "boy" with breasts? So while hormones work, they take time, and I doubt may doctors would prescribe hormones to a kid this age.

It's easy to be open-minded about this issue until you really scrutinize the logistics.

If they're a hot mess as you say, then it makes more sense to give them an additional support system.

[Anonymous]

This is so ridiculous. These are children who should have a lot of years to grow into their sexuality. No need to worry if they are bi, straight, gay, asexual now. They should begin by actually teaching these kids to do their studies first.

All these students doing poorly in a school system with very low quality of curriculum and they are just wasting their time on social media, chat groups, and trying to become sexual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? Middle school?

Two pregnant kids in middle school here. Middle school is too late

Teach abstinence and birth-control. Teach them the dangers of STDs.

Why are the parents letting them have the babies? They should terminate the pregnancies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are pulled into this lifestyle if it's promoted. Lots of people also turn to it because they are victims of sexual abuse as kids; I think it very attractive to this group of people. Every gay person I know has said they were sexual abused as kids. It's really sad. They need mental help, but instead of dealing with it, they get angry with the opposite sex. Every gay person I know was staight before.

You are extraordinarily ignorant. Hopefully your kids are will grow to be more enlightened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is so ridiculous. These are children who should have a lot of years to grow into their sexuality. No need to worry if they are bi, straight, gay, asexual now. They should begin by actually teaching these kids to do their studies first.

All these students doing poorly in a school system with very low quality of curriculum and they are just wasting their time on social media, chat groups, and trying to become sexual.

All middle school kids think about is sex and their sexuality. It is called..... wait for it..... PUBERTY!!

Your middle school kids are looking up everything they can online and having a field day on their bodies in the shower. But yes, let's all try to get them to only worry about "their studies" first. Go away Grandmom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so ridiculous. These are children who should have a lot of years to grow into their sexuality. No need to worry if they are bi, straight, gay, asexual now. They should begin by actually teaching these kids to do their studies first.

All these students doing poorly in a school system with very low quality of curriculum and they are just wasting their time on social media, chat groups, and trying to become sexual.

All middle school kids think about is sex and their sexuality. It is called..... wait for it..... PUBERTY!!

Your middle school kids are looking up everything they can online and having a field day on their bodies in the shower. But yes, let's all try to get them to only worry about "their studies" first. Go away Grandmom.

Also, it's a massive assumption that those two things are mutually exclusive, or that a kid who is in the GSA is doing poorly. Not sure how the poster arrived at that conclusion, since I could provide several counter-examples just among my own daughter's group of friends.

I also don't think it's a new thing for middle school age kids to be thinking about crushes and the like. I did when I was in middle & high school, and surprisingly enough I graduated with a 3.9 unweighted GPA and full merit scholarship to college. I also do not think I'm unique in that regard. Balance of time and priorities is important, and for many people it is achievable.

[Anonymous]

Private schools in D.C. Area are big into clubs for the Rainbow community. Thank goodness an open mind at last...

[Anonymous]

Private schools also do a better job teaching more than just sticking on a condom. They have more time to talk about self-respect and making good partner choices and how physical attraction doesn't necessarily mean it's the right person for you. Basically, relationship 101.