From the Mailbag
While two parents in Lexington, Mass., are upset about the fact their second-grade son was read a fantasy book in school about two princes getting married, what makes them even more angry is the fact the boy's teacher said because same-sex marriage is legal in their state there is no way a mother or father can opt out a child from such experiences.
"We are outraged," parents Rob and Robin Wirthlin told the local Article 8 Alliance. "This is a highly charged social issue. Why are they introducing it in the second grade? And we cannot present our family's point of view to our children if they don't tell us what they're saying to them."
According to a statement from the traditional-values organization, March 24 the Wirthlins' second-grade son came home from Estabrook Elementary School and repeated to his mother the story read to him earlier that day about men getting married to each other. His teacher had read the book "King and King" to the class, in which a prince doesn't want to marry any princesses, but instead falls in love with a princess' brother and marries him in a big palace wedding.
The Wirthlins say they immediately contacted the teacher, Heather Kramer, who acknowledged she had read the book to the class and admitted that it was not part of the curriculum.
It was explained to the couple that since same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, discussion of the matter is fair game — parents do not have to be informed before or after the issue is presented. Kramer reportedly told the Wirthlins that the theme of the day was "weddings" and the teacher wanted to present all points of view on the subject.
Does this kind of stuff even belong in a school, much less the second grade? No matter what your views are on gay marraige, this is a hot topic across the nation, and is a family values issue to many parents. In my opinion, this is nothing more than indoctrination of views that goes against the religious views of many families. To leave parents out of the loop on such a controversial topic, with no way to opt their child out and no notification so that an alternate view point can be presented is a pure attempt at indoctrination. If this were a debate topic in a highschool, I wouldn't have a problem…but it is clearly a one-sided view that has no place in a second grade classroom. Here's a note of advice for the gay activists: Trying to force your views on American children will not further the agenda of acceptance or tolerance, it will only cause backlash. Back off of the kids.
I agree...
posted by Richard at 08:42
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