Secrets of the City

Minnpost:

Chaudhry also believes that when schools teach something at odds with what’s being taught at home, children are conflicted and the parents’ role is undermined.

I guess if you teach respect for others at school and that conflicts with your all hate all the time message at home you might have an issue.

Or vice versa.

We are drinking pee!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist!

Let the parents teach social things like this, not the schools.

Fine teach your kids whatever you want. But at school the offense of kids calling each other fa***t should be as punishable as them using n***** or other unacceptable slurs.

So, baker, if your kid comes home from school with a black eye and torn clothes because he got beat up by a group of kids, and they called him “fa***t” and said his dad is a “fa***t”, you don’t think the school should be involved? You don’t think a policy should be in place to address these “social things”? You seriously don’t think a school would be ahead of the game by proactively implementing a program to help students? I think you’d have a different take on it if your kid were a victim and the school refused to do anything (because it’s the responsibility of the parents).

When The Rat was little, he looked forward to starting school so he start beating up on the other kids again.

He kicked ass all over the place.

When The Rat was old he began referring to himself in the third person.

And sadly relived his glory days online.

So poetic.

i don’t teach all hate all the time to cubbie jr., but i’m quite capable of explaining to my son why johnny has 2 mommies. at 5 yrs old i don’t think my son will require professional training in dealing with “transgender issues”. kind of ridiculous.

also, me and cubbie’s mom aren’t married, and she’s mixed race. i want super special sensitivity training in his school, too.

Why exactly DOES Johnny have 2 mommies?

iRainy:

The Rat had to learn to fight because of his middle name

See below

Johnny is a lucky boy…

I thought it was Heather who had to mommies.

Johnny too?

@Cubbie, you are totally missing the point. It’s so common for kids to call others “fa**ot” or to say “Thats so gay…” and not even understand what those words/phrases really mean. By teaching the whole concept, kids gain a better understanding of why saying those things are NOT OK.

Your sarcastic last paragraph actually reaffirms the point the group is trying make. It’s not acceptable to bully kids for having divorced/unmarried parents, or for being of a certain race. And these are standards that are taught and reinforced in schools. So, why is this type of social education any different??

Can it really be considered “headlining” when it’s Ashlee Simpson? It’s more like, “Ashlee Simpson is going to be singing along to music at the MOA”.

I think you should get a bunch of people pretending to represent the “Lip Synchers Union Local 210″ to picket Ashlee’s show under the premise that she’s taking jobs from members.

@shorty – you’re missing my point. they get soooo much of that social education already – at some point it comes at the expense of why kids are at school in the first place. they don’t need ANOTHER sensitivity program, the GLBT’s issues are well covered.

grote:

Only if they team up with “Awkward Jig Union Local #434″.

Gary,
I just think that the parents should be in charge of shaping kids socially, not the schools. . I probably wouldn’t care if my kid’s schoools did somethng like this but I just don’t think it is necessary, that’s all.

@shorty – you’re missing my point. they get soooo much of that social education already – at some point it comes at the expense of why kids are at school in the first place. they don’t need ANOTHER sensitivity program, the GLBT’s issues are well covered.

Amen, do people really think that kids listen to the bullshit that is spewed about this social thing or that social thing. Teach the to live and let live if they can’t to that and they beat someone up throw them out of school for good.

Ace- I agree that parents should be in charge of shaping their kids socially, but it doesn’t always happen. I’ve reluctantly called a bully’s parents to have a conversation about some really bad instances of bullying, and been told that the teacher/school hasn’t brought it to their attention, so I must be over- reacting. All this program is doing is underscoring the discipline policy that MPS already has in place. If it wasn’t discussed at home in the beginning of the year when the kids had to sign a copy, or if they need reeiforcement, they get it. I see it as a positive thing. There’s a lot of really nasty bullying going on in the schools. Anytime we can bring more awareness of the consequenses to the kids it’s a positive.

“the GLBT’s issues are well covered.“

Where? On TV? Sure as hell not in school. Teachers are too busy tip toeing around GLBT issues for fear of having a shitstorm rain down on them to actually be able to talk about it.

A teacher covering a GLBT issue in class:
“…and Billy has two moms. Well that’s enough for today.”

Social education starts at home and continues in school.

This program is simply giving the schools age-appropriate material or ways of talking about things the kids already have to deal with. How old were you when you first heard some other kid use derogatory language or bully someone about anything? probably 5-6. Kids need to learn from the start that there are certain words or behaviors that are unacceptable at school or in society, including homophobic slurs. It’s even more helpful if they eventually learn why–because cruelty is harmful. If little Johnny’s parents use racist or homophobic language at home, the school can’t stop them, but if they do it at school they should be told to stop by teachers and administrators.

Can it really be considered “headlining” when it’s Ashlee Simpson? It’s more like, “Ashlee Simpson is going to be singing along to music at the MOA”.

Fricking media, always distorting the facts.

But seriously folks, let’s hold off from piling on the social stuff in schools until our schools have mastered the academic stuff, okay?

English would be good.

Yeah,they should be able to perform long division before we teach them that gay-bashing is a bad idea. We wouldn’t want to put ideas in their head or anything! And if they can’t find Minneapolis on a map, they should be shipped back to Jersey where they belong.

Hell, given the graduation rates I’d say if they can’t find Minneapolis on a map that’s a good thing.

the GLBT’s issues are well covered.
You’re being sarcastic again, right? Obviously they’re NOT covered if the need to implement such a program exists! The whole purpose of education is to teach kids knowledge to allow them to function as part of society, understanding differences is very much part of that wholistic knowledge.

And yes, swandog, kids will start to get the point if these issues are taught and if the corresponding respectful behavior is encouraged / enforced.

That is so gay.

Totally hetero.

Think it will catch on?

grote, your picketing plan is brilliant. Alan Abel would be proud.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Abel

As usual my hyperlink doesn’t work. It’s my work computer’s fault!

Or I’m just lame beyond words.

And yes, swandog, kids will start to get the point if these issues are taught and if the corresponding respectful behavior is encouraged / enforced

Right, the schools have done such a good job so far. Instead of bothering with this whole “free to be you and me” bullshit, start kicking out the bully’s and fining the parents. Furthermore, kids need to learn to handle them selves, the world is a cruel place and mommy and daddy are not always going to pick you up.

And yes, swandog, kids will start to get the point if these issues are taught and if the corresponding respectful behavior is encouraged / enforced

Right, the schools have done such a good job so far. Instead of bothering with this whole “free to be you and me” bullshit, start kicking out the bully’s and fining the parents. Furthermore, kids need to learn to handle them selves, the world is a cruel place and mommy and daddy are not always going to pick you up.

Obviously they’re NOT covered if the need to implement such a program exists!

there isn’t a need. it’s a special interest group – their job is to create a need. i’m sure educators will tell you bullying of any kind isn’t tolerated at school. wether they enforce it or not isn’t a gay issue, it’s an enforcement issue.

mommy and daddy are not always going to pick you up.
In the upper and upper middle classes, this statement rings very hollow. Mommy and daddy would totally do what they could for their children, and you know it. It just so happens that most do not have the means.

Dear Subjects,

Whether or not there is a need for me to act is of no concern to me. I’ll act anyway.

As you were.

With love,

Your government.
xoxo

In the upper and upper middle classes, this statement rings very hollow. Mommy and daddy would totally do what they could for their children, and you know it. It just so happens that most do not have the means.

Maybe we should call them the crybaby generation that was raised by the pussy generation that over spent and lost their home in foreclosure because Jr. needed a tuba. You might be on to something.

Kev-

We need to talk…