N.J. School District ok with diversity except when it comes to gays

[Darius]

Homophobia alive and well in New Jersey.

School District Bans Diversity Video Because It Includes Gay Couples
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: September 3, 2007 - 4:00 pm ET

(Marlton, New Jersey) A video used to teach junior school students about diverse families will no longer be shown after some parents mounted an aggressive campaign against if for including a depiction of same-sex couples.

The Evesham Township School District, in southern New Jersey, voted 7-1 to discontinue using the video, "That's A Family," because had so divided the community.

The tape was shown last school year to third grade students at J. Howard Van Zant School. It included various types of parents and families - divorced, bilingual, mixed race, parents who have adopted, and step-parents.

But it was the same-sex couple featured that angered parents.

Parents opposed to the video began their campaign in January, shortly after it was first shown.

At a stormy school district meeting earlier this year one parent suggested the Golden Rule - treat others as you would treat yourself - had nothing to do with homosexuality.

"Treat others as you would want to be treated, you don’t have to teach all these horrible concepts to them about the golden rule, do you," the parent of one eight-year old screamed at the the school board.

"When does Evesham Township or any school have a right to show to my grandchildren something I believe to be morally wrong," asked another woman.

That opposition continued to grow throughout the summer. This week, as the school district began preparations for the fall term, parents brought the issue to a boil.

More than 200 people attended Thursday night's school district meeting.

"I look out here and see a community tearing itself apart," said board member Joseph Fisicaro Jr. "It's obvious this video is a lightning rod."

Among those in favor of the video were members of the Garden State Equality, New Jersey's largest LGBT civil rights organization.

"This saga is very far from over," said Steven Goldstein, the chair Garden State Equality.

He said the organization is considering filing a lawsuit over the district's decision.

New Jersey recognizes same-sex couples under its civil unions law, designed to give gay and lesbian couples the same rights as married couples.

©365Gay.com 2007

[fireweaver]

At a stormy school district meeting earlier this year one parent suggested the Golden Rule - treat others as you would treat yourself - had nothing to do with homosexuality.

"Treat others as you would want to be treated, you don’t have to teach all these horrible concepts to them about the golden rule, do you," the parent of one eight-year old screamed at the the school board.

Obviously someone does not believe in the golden rule or perhaps more importantly, does not understand it well enough to let it guide them in any meaningful way.

Something tells me that the kids are probably more accepting than their parents.

[Carlos]

Obviously someone does not believe in the golden rule or perhaps more importantly, does not understand it well enough to let it guide them in any meaningful way.

Something tells me that the kids are probably more accepting than their parents.

hopefully, but this kind of irrational hate is usually something that permeates through to the next generation. lots of children blindly follow their parents beliefs: with respect to religion, political party affiliation, abortion, gay rights, unions, etc. "if daddy said it, it must be so", is the way a lot of "adults" make up their minds.

[juppiter]

hopefully, but this kind of irrational hate is usually something that permeates through to the next generation. lots of children blindly follow their parents beliefs: with respect to religion, political party affiliation, abortion, gay rights, unions, etc. "if daddy said it, it must be so", is the way a lot of "adults" make up their minds.

True... I knew a girl in college who was a hardcore Republican... she did not know what "GOP" meant or that she was in it. She was the classic "bandwagoner."

Similarly, I knew kids in high school who were hardcore liberals but only because their parents were hippies... They were the classic "limousine liberals" who preached about how everyone else should live but had little in common with regular Americans.

Whatev... I have always had the inner debate over whether parents should try to instill their values in their children or let their children decide for themselves. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

[Magnum]

Values should not be taught inside schools. Values should be taught at home by parents because different families have different values. Schools should teach reading, writing, math, physics and academic subjects.

The solution to this problem is school vouchers. Give parents the freedom to pick the best school for their child.

[juppiter]

Values should not be taught inside schools. Values should be taught at home by parents because different families have different values. Schools should teach reading, writing, math, physics and academic subjects.

The solution to this problem is school vouchers. Give parents the freedom to pick the best school for their child.

Totally disagree... if you give a Catholic family a voucher to send their kid to St. Catherine's, you have to give Tom Cruise a voucher to send Suri to The School of Scientology.... which as a taxpayer I refuse to pay for!

[i love abby]

Values should be taught at home by parents

Instead of prejudice and ignorance. I agree.

[JROG]

Something tells me that the kids are probably more accepting than their parents.

I hope you're right. This is so retarded

DDD

[Magnum]

Totally disagree... if you give a Catholic family a voucher to send their kid to St. Catherine's, you have to give Tom Cruise a voucher to send Suri to The School of Scientology.... which as a taxpayer I refuse to pay for!

Taxpayers already paid for each childs education. Taxes would go down with vouchers.

Why send a child to a violent school with metal detectors? Allow parents to send their child to a better school. Vouchers allow parents to put their children in better schools.

[HoustonCougar]

Taxpayers already paid for each childs education. Taxes would go down with vouchers.

Why send a child to a violent school with metal detectors? Allow parents to send their child to a better school. Vouchers allow parents to put their children in better schools.

Taxes would go down with vouchers? Hardly.... Private School attendance is much more costly per child than private school attendance and would actually INCREASE the amount of tax revenue that is collected to fund the scheme.

[Magnum]

Taxes would go down with vouchers? Hardly.... Private School attendance is much more costly per child than private school attendance and would actually INCREASE the amount of tax revenue that is collected to fund the scheme.

That is not the way vouchers work.

I'll give you an example-- Say the state gives a public school $4000 in tax money to educate each student. If a student wanted to go to a private school the tuition may be $9000 per year. Private schools are generally better and more expensive than public schools. All a voucher does is take some of the $4000 the state is spending on the student and allow part of that money to be used for the private school, say in this case $3000. The state is saving $1000 because the state is not paying $4000. The $3000 helps the parents pay the higher tuition of $9000. Now tuition is $6000 with the voucher. Vouchers make it easier for parents to send their children to better schools. Vouchers save the state money. It is a win-win for everyone. Lower taxes. Better quality education. Everyone wins.

There is one more benifit to vouchers. Public schools will be forced to compete with higher quality private schools. The quality of education in public schools will improve.