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SignOnSanDiego.com > News > State -- Parents protest student pledge forms on gays
Since some of you don't trust Worldnetdaily nor FOX news I managed to find a different source for this story. Some parents are considering legal action. School is mum on if they'll take any action at all. The teacher passed out pledge cards from the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network and she had her 5 year old students sign the pledge cards. FOX news has a copy of the pledge cards from one of the parents. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,445865,00.html
Yes, but let's be clear here: the GLSEN pledge was merely a pledge not to use anti-gay slurs. I'm sure you're aware that the word "gay" is often used as a synonym for "stupid" or "displeasing," as in, "That movie was so gay! I was very bored." Though I think any aspect of adult sexuality besides "stranger danger" awareness should be avoided as a discussion topic in kindergarten classrooms, I don't find that it's ethically wrong to ask students to avoid using anti-gay slurs in class, but if I were a teacher, I would be more inclined to handle this on a case-by-case basis, i.e., "Billy, we don't use the word 'gay' that way because it insults people. If you didn't like the movie, it's sufficient to say you didn't like it."
I have a problem with their being put in a position where they're clearly pressured to sign a pledge, which I don't believe five-year-olds are capable of doing with the full emotional and intellectual commitment that any true pledge requires; however, I think we need to be very clear that the pledge was only asking that they not use anti-gay slurs. I would also think a responsible teacher would put a halt to any defamatory language, including racist slurs or expressions, sexist slurs or expressions, or expressions attacking a religious viewpoint, but I don't think a pledge is necessary.
I don't see a problem at all with having students sign a pledge agreeing not to use anti-gay slurs. I'm not sure why any parent, no matter how anti-homosexual, would defend their child's use of slurs in the classroom or out or be upset when it was made clear to kids that it is not ok.
I have students sign their names and post it on our rules chart as a symbol of agreeing to follow them. My K's and 1sts know this means "I am going to follow these rules". This is really no different than that except that it clarifies that slurs like "That's so gay" fall under that category, something children may not be aware of. It's good to make it clear that it is not ok before it takes hold in the classroom. You don't have to explain what "gay" is to K's to use something like this. I've had the conversation with preschoolers actually: "That's not something we say at school. It's something that can hurt people's feelings" (in response to "You're so gay").
The school where I am has paperwork that must be filled out by parents at the beginning of the year, and even the K's have to sign their names that they will not access internet websites that the teacher has not approved. To me, young children are far less capable of understanding that than simply saying "I agree not to use words that hurt other people's feelings".
I would not distribute anything that has the rainbow symbol on it in school, but the idea behind the actual pledge does not bother me a bit. And yes, if I were going to do something like this I would probably extend the pledge to any other kind of name calling rather than focusing solely on anti-gay slurs.
But why not make the pledge "no name calling," or "no slurs of any type" rather than "no gay slurs"? I would not think that anyone wants kids making derogatory remarks towards the mentally disabled, people of different races, or based on whether someone's parents are married, etc. I have a problem with having small children sign a pledge that they will in particular not make derogatory remarks towards or about homosexuals. Most five year olds are probably not even aware of homosexuals, and it would not occur to them to say anything bad about them without someone making it an issue first.
But why not make the pledge "no name calling," or "no slurs of any type" rather than "no gay slurs"? I would not think that anyone wants kids making derogatory remarks towards the mentally disabled, people of different races, or based on whether someone's parents are married, etc. I have a problem with having small children sign a pledge that they will in particular not make derogatory remarks towards or about homosexuals. Most five year olds are probably not even aware of homosexuals, and it would not occur to them to say anything bad about them without someone making it an issue first.
I totally agree! Why don't we just raise kids to be polite and respectful of ALL people without having to pander to any one special interest group? I personally find it asinine!
“I am taking a stand for a safe and harassment-free school for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression,†read the pledges. “As an ally, I pledge to not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) language or slurs.â€
This is stupid. I don't think a typical 5 year old would even understand this. What is the teacher supposed to say when little Susie raises her hand and asks what transgender means or bisexual?
Just teach the kids not to call names or to say something is 'gay'....unless it really is.
But why not make the pledge "no name calling," or "no slurs of any type" rather than "no gay slurs"? I would not think that anyone wants kids making derogatory remarks towards the mentally disabled, people of different races, or based on whether someone's parents are married, etc. I have a problem with having small children sign a pledge that they will in particular not make derogatory remarks towards or about homosexuals. Most five year olds are probably not even aware of homosexuals, and it would not occur to them to say anything bad about them without someone making it an issue first.
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This is stupid. I don't think a typical 5 year old would even understand this. What is the teacher supposed to say when little Susie raises her hand and asks what transgender means or bisexual?
Just teach the kids not to call names or to say something is 'gay'....unless it really is.
I definitely agree with both of these. I think just a "no name calling" pledge would make much more sense. Because basically you would have to make pledge cards for other things. Also as mentioned, a 5 year old is not fully capable of understanding everything involved with something like that.
I don't think any "pledge" is really going to be understood by 5 year old kids, period. Y'all want to know what my 5 year old apparently retained after a week full of "Drug free school" activities, special visitors, and related field trips? Not much, I'll tell ya. In the car a couple days afterwards, she tells us "Now remember guys, NO FREE DRUGS!!!"
Having said that, I do think that teachers should be paying more attention to the use of gay as an insult, as well as other homophobic and related hurtful comments. I know in my kid's classes, this sort of thing is allowed to 'slide' more often than any other racial slur or insulting term would be allowed to (i.e. never). I think more awareness for the teachers would be a better approach, so they can nip it in the bud if they hear it.
Of course then you get into the other extreme, like last year when my (then 10 year old) son's teacher told him he couldn't say the word "Gay" when he was simply referring to me, his mom, being gay, and he wasn't using it in any offensive manner, but she was so afraid of the word that she overreacted.
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