I read the article, and then, unfortunately, started reading the comments. I don't understand what it so wrong with telling kids "some of your classmates might have two moms or two dads or one of each." How is that "pushing a moral agenda"? It's not like you have to break down "and this is how their parents have sex!" Although I know it's not about acceptance and understanding as much as it is about hating the "other."
Yeah, explaining it that way . . . that some kids would have two moms or two dads . . . that's not really controversial, and that's all that kids really need to know. In the grandiose scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal. I'm sure that the parents would make a bigger deal out of it than the kids.
Do you remember when Obama was going to address public schools, and people cried about him indoctrinating their kids? :( I saw a woman cry.
I haven't actually read the article yet, but I agree with your gist of things. Some kids are going to have two moms or two dads . . . it's not a matter of saying it's right or wrong . . . it's just saying that it exists.
and some kids have one mom and no dad or one dad and no mom. every family is different! but so what? people are people.
and you know what, I don't think the idea of two moms or two dads is weird to kids, until they are told otherwise. I remember when I was little, I used to wonder when two women got married, did they both wear wedding dresses? it never occurred to me, until I learned otherwise, that it wasn't "normal" for two women to get married.
So let me see, Oak Park is basically one of those suburbs where a fairly liberal city/region/area houses it's upper class Republican douchebags? Yeah, don't venture into the comments. Unless you're into that sort of thing, I guess.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-07 05:27 pm (UTC)I read the article, and then, unfortunately, started reading the comments. I don't understand what it so wrong with telling kids "some of your classmates might have two moms or two dads or one of each." How is that "pushing a moral agenda"? It's not like you have to break down "and this is how their parents have sex!" Although I know it's not about acceptance and understanding as much as it is about hating the "other."
no subject
Date: 2010-02-07 06:01 pm (UTC)Do you remember when Obama was going to address public schools, and people cried about him indoctrinating their kids? :( I saw a woman cry.
I haven't actually read the article yet, but I agree with your gist of things. Some kids are going to have two moms or two dads . . . it's not a matter of saying it's right or wrong . . . it's just saying that it exists.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-07 09:32 pm (UTC)and you know what, I don't think the idea of two moms or two dads is weird to kids, until they are told otherwise. I remember when I was little, I used to wonder when two women got married, did they both wear wedding dresses? it never occurred to me, until I learned otherwise, that it wasn't "normal" for two women to get married.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-08 06:45 pm (UTC)I know (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pledge_salue.jpg), right?
no subject
Date: 2010-02-08 06:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-08 07:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-08 08:26 am (UTC)