This is a tale of two editorials. The New York Times this morning applauds a New Jersey court ruling holding public schools liable when they fail to take measures to stop the taunting or bullying of gay students. Coincidentally, a Boston Globe editorial today applauds a Massachusetts court ruling upholding the right of the Lexington school district to expose elementary school students to children's books -- such as 'Who's in a Family?' and 'Molly's Family' -- that feature same-sex parents. This was done pursuant to a state law law that "requires that all public school districts develop curricula advancing respect for diversity, including for gays and lesbians."In the Bay State case, parents had claimed that their constitutional rights to free exercise of religion were violated, as were their rights as parents to raise their children as they see fit. The court disagreed, ruling that "options remain for the parents, such as private school or home schooling, so their rights were not abridged." Not only did the Globe declare the judge's ruling "reasonable," it opined that "the earlier most students learn [to 'respect difference'], the better."
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But wait a second. Isn't the essence of this ruling "let 'em eat cake"? Object to your kids being taught things that contradict your most deeply-held, religiously-grounded beliefs? Well then, pay to send them to private school. And what kind of alternative is home-schooling for the many parents who lack either the ability do so, or cannot make the sacrifice of the second paycheck that would be involved? Doesn't the Globe fashion itself the great champion of "working families" trying to make ends meet?
Would the Times or Globe in a million years applaud a court decision that told parents of gay students being taunted about their identities that their rights weren't violated since they could always send their kids to private schools or homeschool them? But when the public schools, with their curricula, in essence taunt traditionalist parents and their children regarding their identities, their most cherished beliefs, well, tough.
The case raises the broader issue of the problem of public education. Because of our current tax system, parents are forced to pay for government schools whether they choose to send their children to them or not. Many families simply cannot afford alternatives, and thus have children trapped in schools in which they are educated in values they find deeply offensive. If there is a solution to this predicament other than offering real school choice through vouchers or similar means, I'd like to hear it. In the meantime, let 'em eat cake is no answer.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Robert Byrd, Exalted Cyclops
February 24, 2007 - 10:30 ET by DontFeedTheTrolls"requires that all public school districts develop curricula advancing respect for diversity, including for gays and lesbians."
I expect, in the name of diversity, these kids will soon be seeing a film titled, "My Dad" (for example) highlighting a loving dad coming home from work, playing with the kids, helping with the homework, helping mom around the house, being firm but fair with the discipline, and spending time with his KKK buddies (a la Robert Byrd, Exalted Cyclops) on the odd weeknight and some weekends. This would truly show some diversity.
D
Want your elected reps to know what you think? Go to Congress.org, it's real easy.
You can also send faxes to your reps about immigration from Nu
So, Mark, where's the vouchers?
February 24, 2007 - 10:40 ET by acaiguanaSo, Mark, where's the vouchers?
It would be good to see the Gay ruling appealed if only to challenge the issue of the vagueness of 'diversity'. I would argue in court that it was an impossible standard; unless of course the legislature could be shown to mean that this was a 'special' law designed only to promote 'gay' agenda stuff.
And should this be highlighted in court; then the court would have to say that 'equal' protection clause was useless, would you not agree?
On the first issue of 'bullying' I am for stopping all bullies. Including those that post on Web sites as well as those you meet as an adult.
ACA
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Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
yet another example of the Ga
February 24, 2007 - 11:14 ET by Conservative in the Artsyet another example of the Gay agenda knowing it can't win it's wishes upon adults, so it looks to prey on our kids: "the earlier most students learn [to 'respect difference'], the better." Meaning that as long as you agree with me you're ok, but if you disagree, you're wrong.
I can compromise and say that these kind of discussions would be ok in High School (I'd still disagree) but it has no place in younger education where children are not even remotely expressing any sexual ideas. Children are not sexual beings dispite what the Gays want us to think. My two year old daughter has no clue what "sex" is other than daddy is a boy and mommy is a girl.
My wife and I are discussing what to do when she gets to school age. I for one would love school vouchers so we can send her to a local private Christian school. I was private schooled as was my wife and our education was far better than what our "government" could do.
This is absurd, how do childr
February 24, 2007 - 11:18 ET by msh1973This is absurd, how do children know if they are "gay"? My kids are in middle school, they come home sometimes talking about kids who think they are "gay". I tell them that kids 12-13 have no idea about who they are sexually! I want to scream. What is happening in our society?
"Gay Rights" in school
February 24, 2007 - 11:19 ET by SaseboSailorI'm sure the court will allow anyone withdrawing from public school to deduct that portion of their property taxes that goes to schools so they can pay their tuition to send their child to a private school!
The real outrage is that these parents are forced to pay property taxes to these homophile educrats to propogandize children and are then forced to pay a second time if they want to protect their children by sending them to a private school.
He who hesitates is last.
we the willing
February 24, 2007 - 12:02 ET by foolnomoreSadly, this is only the "beginning"
from the land of "ted the swimmer"& "le'kerry"
Bless and support All the troops -Liberalism is a mental disorder,
Repugnant mungheads definin
February 24, 2007 - 13:29 ET by JDWRepugnant mungheads defining our lives.
Imagine;
My public school keeps disgracing Iraq.
My gay father, third division Iraq, was just on EIB describing the success we have achieved and agreeing with the pres about more troops.
JDW
Wounded skier, beware of mistakes.
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
The Boston Globe doesn't care
February 24, 2007 - 13:31 ET by HumanEventsThe Boston Globe doesn't care about "diversity" or "tolerance of other religions" for there are many who consider homosexuality to be abnormal and sinful (including just about every single religion in the world except liberalism). Children can be taught to be respectful of others (as I was years ago when I was in a public elementary school) but that doesn't mean the school should indoctrinate the kids with books and other material presenting homosexuality as totally normal and moral! If a teacher merely stated to the class, "It's my personal opinion that homosexuality is wrong", The Boston Globe, as well as the entire MSM, would be up in arms and the teacher would probably be fired. And yet such a statement wasn't even mentioning God or the Bible (so the MSM couldn't shout their "separation of church and state" baloney that they always do).
No the Boston Globe and liberals despise tolerance and diversity. And here with homosexuality is a blatant example - they respect one view and one view only - that homosexuality is perfecty fine and should be promoted in all areas of society including elementary children.
I wonder how much longer before the libs will go after our own country's churches for preaching against homosexuality from the Sunday morning pulpit (as Sweden and I think Canada have already done).
Disgraceful, stupid, and frightening decision from that Massachusetts judge (even for Massachusetts, the bastion of liberalism that it is, complete with the Swimmer and Flip Flopper for its (career) Senators). At least the parents (for now) still have the right to teach their kids what the truth really is when they come home).
Just so you all know, I sat t
February 24, 2007 - 13:43 ET by BlondeJust so you all know, I sat through a four hour diversity thing this week.
And I didn't explode.
I wanted to, but I didn't.
My main "take-away" from this meeting was that the liberals want you to feel self-loathing for any non-diverse opinions you hold, or decisions you make. Even if you make judgements based on merit....that's not good enough. You must factor in diversity filters into your decision making.
Having said that, the indoctrination of children into this way of thinking is beyond the pale. Very nice catch, Mark. I am shaking my head in disbelief at the stupidity of it all. The Court's ruling, and the Globe's ignorant cheerleading commentary, saddens me.
Here's a March 15, 2006 artic
February 24, 2007 - 13:59 ET by ThisnThatHere's a March 15, 2006 article about the Massachusetts population decline, titled "Hub Losing 1 Person Per Hour". The population has declined two years in a row -- a year ago, MA was the only state to lose population.
Some quotes in this article are revealing. The first one points the finger at the Democrat legislature: "Most discouraging as a resident of the Bay State, the will of the people is most ostensibly ignored by the 85% democratic state legislature." The second one points the finger at the Judges: "All this, and I still haven't mentioned the SJC's imposing of gay marriage, and the legislature trying to keep the issue out of the hands of the citizens."
I might point out, also, that the Globe has been losing circulation for a while. But, let's keep pushing this agenda, shall we? These losers think there are no consequences to the destruction of American values, and they think that we are all sheep who will be led silently along until our values are twisted out of shape, bent to the will of an extreme minority, and then justified on the basis of "fairness". Bulls**T!
I see people either yanking t
February 24, 2007 - 14:01 ET by bigtimerI see people either yanking their kids out and more home schooling or private schools ect...or moving to other states that do not enforce this gibberish, to put it nicely.
Man, what our country has come to is unbelievable.