California school's to teach glbt history by 2015

Prince Of Dorkness

aerial wrote:

Dorkness..........Well God creates miracles so that covers living in a whale.

For the record.

For the life of me I can't figure out WHAT you are talking about here.

At all.

It's like... the story of Jonah or something?

Who Princess

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

aerial wrote:

Dorkness..........Well God creates miracles so that covers living in a whale.

For the record.

For the life of me I can't figure out WHAT you are talking about here.

At all.

It's like... the story of Jonah or something?

I think he's mixed you up with this post by keeponrockin:

keeponrockin wrote:

aerial wrote:

If there is an option to opt out, I guess I could live with it. I personally feel sex should not be taught at school. There dropping sport activities yet they add this?
It is a travesty that some feel religion, morality or family values are Nonsensical.

Why do I think religion is nonsensical?

For starters, I don't think it's possible for a guy to live inside a whale... Or collect two of every species, or a snake to talk, etc...

snow_board_rider

I'm sure people were mad when they decided to teach Black History. Every generation has it's share of idiots.

Prince Of Dorkness

whoprincess wrote:

I think he's mixed you up with this post by keeponrockin:

Ah. Got it.

We look so much alike.

Prince Of Dorkness

snow_board_rider wrote:

I'm sure people were mad when they decided to teach Black History. Every generation has it's share of idiots.

It's why I support the Tea Party idea of ending Medicare. Way too many people from three generations ago still alive and voting.

bgivens33

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

But we can't learn about the Stonewall Riots. And, in case you didn't know... the Stonewall Riots were one of the most important events in American civil rights uprisings. And it happened in 1969. But we don't teach about that in school. Sad.

Was there a law prior to this stating gay history could not be taught?

Prince Of Dorkness

bgivens33 wrote:

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

Was there a law prior to this stating gay history could not be taught?

Not a written one, no.

But as all minorities know, our history is white-washed away, takes a back seat or is just ignored entirely. And as we can see in this thread, teaching about the Stonewall Riots is called "teaching about sex." Even though there's nothing to do with sex in the story, just a rather violent beginning to a civil rights movement.

Like I said, our history books are written by and for White, Christian Heterosexual men. So their history takes a front seat. You always make yourself the hero in your own story, don't you?

bgivens33

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

bgivens33 wrote:

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

Was there a law prior to this stating gay history could not be taught?

Not a written one, no.

But as all minorities know, our history is white-washed away, takes a back seat or is just ignored entirely. And as we can see in this thread, teaching about the Stonewall Riots is called "teaching about sex." Even though there's nothing to do with sex in the story, just a rather violent beginning to a civil rights movement.

Like I said, our history books are written by and for White, Christian Heterosexual men. So their history takes a front seat. You always make yourself the hero in your own story, don't you?

What about the history of contributions made to society by the disabled? How about veterans? Irish-americans?

Instead of looking at what flavor of person made the contribution, why not just look at the contribution? Would the history of the stonewall riots help contribute to an understanding of the civil rights movement? I don't know, I'm not an educator, but I certainly suppose it could. Laws like this take power away from educators and put them into the state government. If there is a problem with the education, it is much easier to deal with within the school district. This time, you happen to agree with the law, next time you might not.

Prince Of Dorkness

bgivens33 wrote:

What about the history of contributions made to society by the disabled? How about veterans? Irish-americans?

Have you not heard of veterans day or saint Patrick's day? Students DO learn all about the contributions of veterans and Irish Americans. We learn about Henry Ford, JFK a F Scott Fitzgerald.

And correct me if I'm wrong but there hasn't been an epidemic of Irish American teenagers bullied to death recently. That was kinda the whole point of this law... To teach the kids the gay community had at least some worth.

I'm not sure what you mean by "the disabled." that's a pretty broad term.

But kids learn about Helen Keller and president Franklin D Roosevelt.

Instead of looking at what flavor of person made the contribution, why not just look at the contribution?

Oh I wish it was that easy. Buy sadly it's not.

Laws like this take power away from educators and put them into the state government. If there is a problem with the education, it is much easier to deal with within the school district. This time, you happen to agree with the law, next time you might not.

Is it much easier to deal with within the school district? What makes you think that?

And following your argument, doesn't that just take the power away from educators and put it into the school district?

The gay community is pretty used to that "level headed this isn't the right place" argument. Gay marriage was decided in the courts and politicians all lost it and yelled about how "this is a matter for the legislature to decide." Until the house and senate voted to pass gay marriage in California and then-governor Schwarzenegger was able to get his Wang out of the maid long enough to say "I don't think the government should do this, I think this is a matter for the courts" and vetoed the bill.

SPEEDY MCCREADY

Ok...I will ask....

Just what is it that they are going to teach???

Seriously??

What is the topic of the 1st class session??

And yes I am being serious....

Go Beavers

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

Ok...I will ask....

Just what is it that they are going to teach???

Seriously??

What is the topic of the 1st class session??

And yes I am being serious....

I guess you could start at the beginning of recorded history and references to homosexuality, or lack of it. Certainly some time could be spent on religious texts and how the Bible has been (mis)interpreted as being anti-gay and repercussions from that. Historical figures that were gay or thought to be is always interesting. Explicit discrimination, such as laws against homosexuals would be worth covering. Emerging gay culture and how it compared to lesbian culture in the 1900's is worth some time. Laws allowing as well as banning discrimination and how they came to be. Stonewall riots (which I wish more people knew about) was really pivotal, as POD mentioned earlier. AIDS activism and its impact on the gay population in general. Representation in the media, gay marriage, and shifting attitudes of the general public, and psychological impact of discrimination for those out of the closet as well as those in the closet.

DressurGrl

As I read through the posts, it seems like many of us aren’t on the same page in our understanding of this issue. I listened to an interview recently with Mark Leno, the state senator who authored the bill. He really clarified the bill, which I’ll briefly summarize:

The new curriculum will be added to social studies classes, where the contributions that gay and lesbians have made to society will be discussed. The focus won’t be “outing” any historical figures…it’s more about civil rights history (i.e., Harvey Milk).

School bullying against LGBT teens has caused many of them to commit suicide, and is a very real and growing problem. Where schools that have already taken an “inclusive” approach to the curriculum, all types of bullying and harassment have significantly decreased.

The curriculum itself will take years to develop, and includes public input.

Teachers will teach gay and lesbian history in social studies class. That’s it.

If you would like to listen, the link is:
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/138484226/calif-public-schools-to-teach-gay-history

I hope I’ve helped clarify the conversation!

Prince Of Dorkness

DressurGrl wrote:

The new curriculum will be added to social studies classes, where the contributions that gay and lesbians have made to society will be discussed. The focus won’t be “outing” any historical figures…it’s more about civil rights history (i.e., Harvey Milk).

The curriculum itself will take years to develop, and includes public input.

Teachers will teach gay and lesbian history in social studies class. That’s it.

But but... no... they're going to TEACH SEX!!!!

Diagrams on the black board of 8 men doing it in front of a picture of the baby JEBUS!!!!