Same sex marriage education at pk/k at gds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should have known that going in at GDS. You'd probably be more comfortable at one of the several other privates that teacher love and compassion for everyone without explicitly addressing issues like same sex marriage in PK/K. I voted for same sex marriage in MD when it was on the ballot, but I'm not sure this is an issue I want my school to address to specifically cover with my 5 y/o. I've pointed out that some kids have two mommies or two daddies, but prefer that that type of discussion is between our family, not the school.

First, OP hasn't said if the school addressed it or it came from the kid in the class with two dads (though it seems like the latter). And second, even if a school addresses it, there's almost no chance it would go further in the PK class than what you've just described: some kids have two moms or two dads. End of story.

The school talked very formerly about different families. I support same sex marriage, but I am not sure I would like my 6 years old in a school which emphasize this in the curriculum.

06:32 back with another perspective. Our kids’ school recently talked about family structures as well, including theirs, with their two moms. That was pretty much the extent of it. It may surprise you to learn that that’s as far as I want them to go in school right now as well. It goes without saying that any explicit discussion is inappropriate, and I don’t even want their school to discuss the history or gay rights or the battle for marriage equality or bathroom laws or whatever, certainly not in Pre-K.

Our kids know that most boys marry girls and that most girls marry boys (as evidenced by the mostly heterosexual couples in the world, our neighbors, their grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc); still, they know that sometimes, a boy marries a boy or a girl marries a girl.

Our kids do NOT know that that woman who was at my mom’s funeral recently was my sister, their aunt, with whom I haven’t spoken in more than 16 years because she thinks Jesus hates gay people.

My kids don’t know those young adults there were the nephews I used to adore and babysit and take to Chuck E Cheese before my sister decided I wasn’t allowed to see them anymore – and those boys are their cousins. They don't know that my voice used to catch in my throat when I told friends how much I missed my nephews, but that all these years later, they're strangers to me now, so I just wish them the best from afar. They don’t know the younger girl is also their cousin, but I’d never even seen or met her before my mom got terminally ill.

They don’t know they have another grandmother – my partner’s mom who is their biological grandmother – who doesn’t give a shit about them because, nearly 20 years after we got together, she still isn’t over it. Or that when we go to the city where she lives semi-regularly, my partner calls to see if we can stop by, and the answer is always no.

They don’t know that their moms have been together for nearly 20 years (since college) but only married a couple of years ago because it was not legal before.

They have no idea there are entire organizations that exist with the sole purpose of stopping us from getting married (now, apparently, just bitching about the fact that we are).

They will learn these things in due time, but they’re happy and healthy and thriving, and I see no reason to burden them with these facts now.
So let me assure you that I have more at stake about this sort of information than you do. And right now, talking about different family structures is entirely appropriate. After all, the kids see us at school functions, birthday parties, etc already. We simply can’t – and won’t – pretend like we don’t exist.

PP thank you for sharing this story. I agree with the others; it is so sad that so much pain has come from your sister and in-laws in your life. While I am a Christian and disagree with gay marriage, I would never in a million years think or say that "Jesus hates gay people." On the contrary, I believe that Jesus loves us -- all of us -- far more than we can ever understand. At the same time, He did say "go and sin no more," which is why I, personally, believe that speaking out again gay marriage is acceptable. (I also believe that marriage itself is an institution created and ordained by God and is, by definition, one man and one woman. So the whole concept of something else being "marriage" is by definition incorrect.) HOWEVER I also happen to know what a sinner I am and that I am only forgiven through His grace. Homosexuality may not be my personal struggle, temptation or weakness, but I have many others, believe me, so who am I to cast stones at what another person is confronted with.

[Anonymous]

+1 Let's hear it for our wonderful kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember my grandmother not "approving" of the interracial couple that moved in down our street. She was polite to their faces, and immediately after leaving would say, "It's just not right."

I'd never actually experienced prejudice, and at 6 years old I truly didn't understand why she had a problem with them. She had to explain it to me.

In other words, she had to teach her prejudice to a child. Good thing I was a slow learner.

Exactly

Prejudice is taught. Young kids are kind, friendly, and inclusive to anyone that wants to smile and play with them. They learn to be assholes from their role models, whoever they are. Parents, musicians, athletes, pastors, grandparents, peers, etc...

Whoops. My +1 and praise for our kids was a +1 for this post, and not for the convoluted speculation on what one person guesses he or she thinks Jesus would do (I personally can't imagine Jesus being anything other than happy with all of our families, but that's just my speculation).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I love how the one mom here tells her child "we don't believe in that but treat them nice -they are lovely people."

How f'ing confusing is that to a child? How about you let your own child form their beliefs instead of pushing yours onto them. And if you don't believe in it, why be nice? Your non-belief won't make your child not be gay in the future? If they are, you basically told them you don't believe in their feelings. Just crazy.

I guess most kids are brighter than yours, if you think your child would be "confused" by the idea of being nice to people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should have known that going in at GDS. You'd probably be more comfortable at one of the several other privates that teacher love and compassion for everyone without explicitly addressing issues like same sex marriage in PK/K. I voted for same sex marriage in MD when it was on the ballot, but I'm not sure this is an issue I want my school to address to specifically cover with my 5 y/o. I've pointed out that some kids have two mommies or two daddies, but prefer that that type of discussion is between our family, not the school.

First, OP hasn't said if the school addressed it or it came from the kid in the class with two dads (though it seems like the latter). And second, even if a school addresses it, there's almost no chance it would go further in the PK class than what you've just described: some kids have two moms or two dads. End of story.

The school talked very formerly about different families. I support same sex marriage, but I am not sure I would like my 6 years old in a school which emphasize this in the curriculum.

06:32 back with another perspective. Our kids’ school recently talked about family structures as well, including theirs, with their two moms. That was pretty much the extent of it. It may surprise you to learn that that’s as far as I want them to go in school right now as well. It goes without saying that any explicit discussion is inappropriate, and I don’t even want their school to discuss the history or gay rights or the battle for marriage equality or bathroom laws or whatever, certainly not in Pre-K.

Our kids know that most boys marry girls and that most girls marry boys (as evidenced by the mostly heterosexual couples in the world, our neighbors, their grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc); still, they know that sometimes, a boy marries a boy or a girl marries a girl.

Our kids do NOT know that that woman who was at my mom’s funeral recently was my sister, their aunt, with whom I haven’t spoken in more than 16 years because she thinks Jesus hates gay people.

My kids don’t know those young adults there were the nephews I used to adore and babysit and take to Chuck E Cheese before my sister decided I wasn’t allowed to see them anymore – and those boys are their cousins. They don't know that my voice used to catch in my throat when I told friends how much I missed my nephews, but that all these years later, they're strangers to me now, so I just wish them the best from afar. They don’t know the younger girl is also their cousin, but I’d never even seen or met her before my mom got terminally ill.

They don’t know they have another grandmother – my partner’s mom who is their biological grandmother – who doesn’t give a shit about them because, nearly 20 years after we got together, she still isn’t over it. Or that when we go to the city where she lives semi-regularly, my partner calls to see if we can stop by, and the answer is always no.

They don’t know that their moms have been together for nearly 20 years (since college) but only married a couple of years ago because it was not legal before.

They have no idea there are entire organizations that exist with the sole purpose of stopping us from getting married (now, apparently, just bitching about the fact that we are).

They will learn these things in due time, but they’re happy and healthy and thriving, and I see no reason to burden them with these facts now.
So let me assure you that I have more at stake about this sort of information than you do. And right now, talking about different family structures is entirely appropriate. After all, the kids see us at school functions, birthday parties, etc already. We simply can’t – and won’t – pretend like we don’t exist.

PP thank you for sharing this story. I agree with the others; it is so sad that so much pain has come from your sister and in-laws in your life. While I am a Christian and disagree with gay marriage, I would never in a million years think or say that "Jesus hates gay people." On the contrary, I believe that Jesus loves us -- all of us -- far more than we can ever understand. At the same time, He did say "go and sin no more," which is why I, personally, believe that speaking out again gay marriage is acceptable. (I also believe that marriage itself is an institution created and ordained by God and is, by definition, one man and one woman. So the whole concept of something else being "marriage" is by definition incorrect.) HOWEVER I also happen to know what a sinner I am and that I am only forgiven through His grace. Homosexuality may not be my personal struggle, temptation or weakness, but I have many others, believe me, so who am I to cast stones at what another person is confronted with.

I'm the PP you quoted. You can speak out against gay marriage all day and that is absolutely fine. This is what I, as a citizen, know: you can get married in a courthouse without first stopping by a church, but you can't get married in a church without first stopping by a courthouse. It is a civil contract, and as such, I have as much right to enter into that contract as you do.

But you and some other PPs will be delighted to hear that your disapproval doesn't hurt my feelings in the slightest. Watching my mother die without the one thing she wanted more than anything - having her family together - that makes me sad. That my partner has been on the receiving end of some of the most vicious cruelty I've ever heard of from her own mother, that makes me sad. When you've been so hurt by family, you can't possibly be bothered by what some randos think of your family.

Best to you!

[Anonymous]

folks -go back and read the initial post. C'mon, this must be a troll. Stop responding to it please

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's legal for same-sex to marry, so of course it is going to come up at school. How odd to think otherwise.

Agree. You want to be against it? Go to Catholic school. Where they say to love thy neighbor, unless they are gay.

As a Catholic, I am offended by this gross mischaracterization. Glad it's okay to "bash" some groups but not others. Hope it makes you feel better to insult my Catholic children who go to Catholic school, but I don't see how that helps at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's legal for same-sex to marry, so of course it is going to come up at school. How odd to think otherwise.

Agree. You want to be against it? Go to Catholic school. Where they say to love thy neighbor, unless they are gay.

As a Catholic, I am offended by this gross mischaracterization. Glad it's okay to "bash" some groups but not others. Hope it makes you feel better to insult my Catholic children who go to Catholic school, but I don't see how that helps at all.

Why does this offend you? I am not bashing your religion. Your religion says being gay is a sin. Not me. Catholics are against gay marriage, abortion, pre-marital sex, birth control and a host of other things. They are your beliefs as a follower of that religion. Not mine. It is funny how forgiving you all are of you perverted priests but yet are so against 2 people who love each other and are doing no harm in this world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's legal for same-sex to marry, so of course it is going to come up at school. How odd to think otherwise.

Agree. You want to be against it? Go to Catholic school. Where they say to love thy neighbor, unless they are gay.

The Catholic Church teaches love your neighbor period, whether s/he is gay or straight. You may disagree with Catholic teachings but don't spread untruths about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's legal for same-sex to marry, so of course it is going to come up at school. How odd to think otherwise.

Agree. You want to be against it? Go to Catholic school. Where they say to love thy neighbor, unless they are gay.

As a Catholic, I am offended by this gross mischaracterization. Glad it's okay to "bash" some groups but not others. Hope it makes you feel better to insult my Catholic children who go to Catholic school, but I don't see how that helps at all.

Agree. I have no moral objection to same sex marriage I just hate that some liberals cannot accept that others have different views. It's so hypocritical.

[Anonymous]

Why is this a surprise? Once gay marriage became legal it was only a matter of time before it became common place and for young children to be introduced to it. They are taught that men marry women so why not learn of any other form of marriage? I personally don't agree with gay marriage but think it's strange people are surprised that children are learning about it. More and more people will begin to identify as gay or of another seX. Very few people were transgender 25 years ago and now we have a national crisis about where transgender people go to the bathroom. Next your daughter will learn that boys can use her restroom if they think they are a girl!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is this a surprise? Once gay marriage became legal it was only a matter of time before it became common place and for young children to be introduced to it. They are taught that men marry women so why not learn of any other form of marriage? I personally don't agree with gay marriage but think it's strange people are surprised that children are learning about it. More and more people will begin to identify as gay or of another seX. Very few people were transgender 25 years ago and now we have a national crisis about where transgender people go to the bathroom. Next your daughter will learn that boys can use her restroom if they think they are a girl!

Montgomery County kids have been "learning" about homosexuality for over a decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's legal for same-sex to marry, so of course it is going to come up at school. How odd to think otherwise.

Agree. You want to be against it? Go to Catholic school. Where they say to love thy neighbor, unless they are gay.

As a Catholic, I am offended by this gross mischaracterization. Glad it's okay to "bash" some groups but not others. Hope it makes you feel better to insult my Catholic children who go to Catholic school, but I don't see how that helps at all.

Agree. I have no moral objection to same sex marriage I just hate that some liberals cannot accept that others have different views. It's so hypocritical.

+1

[Anonymous]

Someone would be happy to take that slot at GDS if you're uncomfortable. Just saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's legal for same-sex to marry, so of course it is going to come up at school. How odd to think otherwise.

Agree. You want to be against it? Go to Catholic school. Where they say to love thy neighbor, unless they are gay.

As a Catholic, I am offended by this gross mischaracterization. Glad it's okay to "bash" some groups but not others. Hope it makes you feel better to insult my Catholic children who go to Catholic school, but I don't see how that helps at all.

Agree. I have no moral objection to same sex marriage I just hate that some liberals cannot accept that others have different views. It's so hypocritical.

+1

At the risk of derailing a thread that violated Godwin's Law 4 pages ago, the Catholic Church teaches certain things and, as an organization, professes certain beliefs and requires that it's adherents conform to those beliefs.

You don't have to share those beliefs (although your priest, bishop, archbishop and the Pope might disagree). You can be as much of a cafeteria Catholic as you want. But, when you say, "I'm Catholic," people assume that you hold the beliefs professed by the Catholic Church. If you said, "I'm sorta Catholic," or "I'm a C&E Catholic," or even, "I'm a lapsed Catholic," then people are less likely to make assumptions about your beliefs. But if you just stand up and say, "I'm Catholic," then you get the baggage that comes along with claiming allegiance.

It's not just true of Catholics. It's true of every group that expresses dogma - Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Baptists, Mormons, etc.