Kindergartners pledge to be nice to gay students

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) Nov 2nd 2008 3:00PM

Categories: Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, In The News, Education, Sex

You would probably agree that it is important to teach our children to be nice to others, to be accepting of differences and to stand up to those who aren't. But do you think it can ever be too early for certain lessons? Like, for example, asking kindergarten children to promise not to engage in harassment toward a specific group of people -- namely gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender kids?

That is exactly what Tara Miller, a teacher in Faith Ringgold School of Arts and Science in Hayward, California did. She had her kindergarten students sign pledge cards in which they vowed to "not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) language or slurs; intervene, when I feel I can, in situations where others are using anti-LGBT language or harassing other students and actively support safer schools efforts."

While I cannot argue with the sentiment behind the teacher's actions, I do question the appropriateness. School board member Jeff Cook agrees. "We have a general rule that all instruction should be age appropriate, and this clearly was not," said Cook.

In fact, those cards were created with middle and high-schoolers in mind. The average kindergartner has no idea what many of those words even mean. Now parents are mad and the school is backpedaling, admitting that the exercise was not age-appropriate. They won't say what action, if any, will be taken against Tara Miller, but at least one parent has already contacted a non-profit legal defense organization specializing in parents' rights.

According to this article, it is common for children in California to be taught about gay, lesbian and transgender issues as early as pre-school. Do you think that for children that young, lessons about acceptance and respect for others need to be that specific?

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Comments (39)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

daco 11-02-2008 @ 4:18PM

are all of u gay asss fagss!!!!!

Rene 11-02-2008 @ 7:45PM

ABSOLUTLY NOT!!! I have 3 kids ages 11, 8, and 4. They don't even know what gay means. I know that they could not handle the information right now. I still teach them to respect others and to always be nice and not call names, but there is no reason to get so detailed. If this teacher did this to my kids you can be sure that I would be having a few words with the school. We as parents need to involve ourselves with what is being taught at our public schools. If there are things that they do not agree with then speak up. We do still have rights. Request copies of information they are teaching. Inform the teachers of your beliefs and what you feel is appropriate material and if it is indeed age apprpriate.

xxcookiecutterxx 11-03-2008 @ 8:53PM

i think it is ridiculous that your children are that old and don't know what gay means. I was raised from the time i could understand english not to judge people based on sexual orientation, as well as race or gender. I'm assuming your children know what an african american is, or an asian. I'm also assuming that they have been told to treat them as equals. So why should a gay person be different? news flash: your 11 year old is going to find out soon enough anyway, so you should make sure he/she isn't finding out by someone using the wrong connotation.

king 11-03-2008 @ 9:30PM

You are right on...I would not tolerate what this teacher is doing andhas done.

king

kati 11-03-2008 @ 10:25PM

I have a 4 children, one of them is 9. He came home crying because a kid in his class called him a fag, but he didn't even know what it meant. He's in 4th grade... that child's parents took that talk away from an appropriate age. There are bullies of every age, just because you as a parent wait to teach what slurs mean, does not mean other parents haven't already used them several times in front of their children...hence sparkling wiggles!!!

ninainindia 11-02-2008 @ 7:55PM

I do feel it was a but much but to contact a legal defense team? It was an error in judgement, she didn't hurt anyone. She zhould just apologize to the parents and that should be the end of it.

me 11-03-2008 @ 8:18PM

Didn't hurt anybody? You know that for a fact, huh? There are parents out here who think that condoning the gay lifestyle could be very harmful to their kids, and do not want it promoted in the schools. Sure, teach the kids to be civil to everyone, but to single out gays? No wonder so many kids are being homeschooled nowadays!

colleen 11-02-2008 @ 8:22PM

I think this was a mistake. Kindergartners should be taught to be nice to everyone regardless of race, sexuality etc. Having the kids sign a promise card was awful.

Cedric C. Carter 11-03-2008 @ 9:11PM

I agre with you. This is just another tactic of the extreme left to indoctrinate our childrenat the youngest age they can get away with to accept this abberant behavior and twist these young minds into seeing it as normal. STUPID FOOLS!!! All little Susie or little Johnny has to do is go home and see his/her mother an father and their siblings to know intuitively and instinctively what is the PROPER family make-up. To require these children to sign or make a pledge is coersion at best and brainwashing at the worst.
Just teach our children the "Golden Rule" and they should be fine.
But then... that would be forcing "religion" down their throats and corrupting their young impressionable minds because the "Golden Rule" was stated by Jesus Christ in the New Testament of the Holy Bible! Heaven FORBID that we should expose our children to such an out-dated, narrow-minded text that has shaped a great part of human societies around the world historically for many, many years! WHERE HAS COMMON SENSE AND REASON GONE???

Merrily 11-03-2008 @ 11:15PM

Cedric, I don't know what alternate universe you are living in, but today's families are no longer "Proper" (aberrant) according to your definition. Everyone needs to realize that what we used to think of as "Proper" in the 50's is no longer applicable. In the 50's, we said negroes/niggers, then we said black, then afro-american, then now it is African American. In the 50's it was queer, homo, fags, etc. Now we say gay. Time do change but I guess you were left somewhere back in the 50's.

We should treat everyone with respect and kindness and there is no need to bring the Bible into the equation. It is obvious from some of the comments on here, there are still people who use nasty words when referring to someone who is gay. Someday we'll get to the place where people realize that being gay IS NOT A CHOICE anymore than it is a choice TO BE BLACK.

Nay 11-02-2008 @ 9:29PM

NO! I think that it's completely inappropriate. These types of subjects should be discussed by their parents. The parents should have the choice whether on not to discuss this at the level they feel that it should be suitable for their kids.

Susie 11-09-2008 @ 8:10PM

One thing that no one here seems to mention is the fact that homosexuality is a choice. For those who seem to think it is part of someone's genes, I'd like for you to show me the research. There is no scientific research that proves homosexuality is part of a person's genetic make up. Therefore, comparing homosexuality to the issue of race discrimination is not of any value. A person's race is a God given trait; people CHOOSE homosexuality. It is a sin, and it is completely relevant to point that out, in a loving, Christ-like manner.

SheriR 11-02-2008 @ 9:30PM

I don't think that any age is too young to learn that hate is wrong. People who hate people based on who they love is plain stupid, the same as people who hate people based on their race. I'd be fine with my son receiving this same instruction at this same age.

It's not like they taught them the mechanics, people. That would be inappropriate.

I wonder how many of the people who are opposed to this are opposed to it because they, themselves, hate gay people. If so, then would they oppose the same cards if you change the "GLBT" to black? Turn the other cheek, and do onto others, folks.

I don't hate you because you're American.

luvmydaisey 11-03-2008 @ 8:31PM

I think it is completely inappropriate for this teacher to have specified those words especially to those children. As far as I know, when I was in kindergarten I had no idea what that meant and when I did find out I was disgusted at the idea of people of the same gender being "in love". I believe that you CAN help who you "love" because I know that God has ordained in people the ways to biblically love others. Sure you can love someone of the same gender as a friend and a brother, but in a romantic sense that is sin. God put love on the earth to be shared by a man and a woman, and homosexuality is indeed a sin. I understand that kids need to be taught about this type of thing, but personally I believe that they need to be taught that this is wrong. People need to understand that the only way to be happy is to have Christ. He loved me so much that He gave His life for me! Not to look for love in any other aspect in life. Especially not in that sense. I do not hate gay people, black people, or anyone else from any other religeon, ethnicty, or background. They are in fact equals and deserve to be treated as such. I treat everyone the same and I try my hardest to help people see their need for Christ. And all of this is coming from a high schooler.

Jenni 11-02-2008 @ 10:06PM

Children need to be taught to respect PEOPLE, not matter who they are. To target a specific group to respect is rediculous. Plus, buy targeting a certain group you are only opening their eyes to other people's differences. If left alone, they may notice major differences, but the small differences mean nothing to them. Everyone deserves respect, it doesn't matter what their skin color or sexual preference.

Sandyone 11-03-2008 @ 1:48AM

Bingo!

I was 'upset with' PBS one year for introducing my kids to slavery and the 'fact' that black skinned folks are different than white skinned folks. Up until that time, my kids didn't know there was a difference (see? there *isn't*, but someone told my kids that there was).

It was a shame to shatter their innocence on the issue. We must all learn about our history, but there is such a thing as too early to learn specifics.

KMD 11-03-2008 @ 12:34AM

This is pathetic... this very in appropriate for 5-6 yr olds to learn about .. i get some people will say they have to be taught o be tolerant .. and that is fine but when you get specific because of sexual orientation.. then it's should havebeen upto the parents ofthese children to choose if they wanted their child to be taugh this in school.. ipersonally think that learningwhat they shoudlbe learning in school is being lost on all these that ar "P.C' rather than learning how to read and wriote like a chidl that young is going toschool for whetehr or not youare paying for school or inpublic school.. and no hating people for what ever reason is never ok .. but that is life.. and teaching my child about someone else's sexual preferences is not the place of the school what so ever and the teacher andschool board,
for that area should be dealt with accordingly .. i do feel that the parents that went and legal help for this were only acting with in their rights .. just as any .. sexualy decded person would if it were they other way around.. so they are doing what is their right THERE..
its all disgusting that our country has cometo this garbage in schools.

DZ 11-03-2008 @ 3:03AM

Hey you can "love" anyone you please, just don't expose my babies the sordid details. Teach them to respect people in general, don't try to indoctrinate them into your agenda.

SKL 11-03-2008 @ 10:08AM

If they need to promise not to be disrespectful or hateful to groups A, B, and C, doesn't that suggest there are some groups that it's OK to hate?

Respect for all fellow humans and all living creatures for that matter. That's what I teach my daughters and it really angers me that young children are actually taught to discriminate one way or the other.

I am glad the school has admitted its mistake. This one was quite obvious. The teacher needs some courses in understanding the mind of a five-year-old.

Emily 11-03-2008 @ 10:12AM

That is a little ridiculous to target a small group of people (who simply deserve the same rights as everyone else - no more, and no less) and then get into more details than any kindergartener needs. How about pledging not to hate anyone because they have anal fissures. Seriously. This is about as absurd.

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