Kindergartners pledge to be nice to gay students

I can totally understand the teacher. Look right now in California (where this happened) they have the vote for prop. 8. Commercials are all over the place saying vote yes (to ban gay marriage). Many of these commercials are using children to spread the word of intolerance. They see this on tv. They drive down the street and people have signs saying "god hates f-gs" It's not too early cause it's never too early to teach kids against hate..
Now, I agree that generally maybe they should just start with a pledge to be kind to others at this age -- but this is California where so much is being said about gays right now that I understand why this is needed. Kids pick up on what parents say -- and right now in Cali. a lot is being said that kids will pick up on.
And DZ I don't think that they showed pictures of sexual acts, so the sordid details is what saying the word gay.
I kind of find it offensive when people get so upset about using the word gay in front of kids. I grew up with straight parent, straight people on tv, straight people kissing in public, straight families in my neighborhood. I'm gay and all that didn't make me straight. I also grew up with the KKK trying to stop a girl from getting on my bus (in kindergarden) and my parents told me that they were hateful people and wrong and not to be mean to other kids because everyone is different in some way -- and I've lived my life by that.

I'm an Uncle who is also the daycare provider for my niece and nephew. We read all sorts of books, but we also have a book called "king and king". We read it if he wants, it's in the book bin. It's about a prince who mets all sorts of princesses but marries another prince instead. I got it for him cause well it's part of life, some people are gay and they have plenty of books that include straight families going to the airport, or princess meeting her prince and so on

just my thoughts

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5 and 6 year olds shouldn't know what gay means let alone say they'll "be nice" to people who are gay!!! this is just...wow...a paradox at the least!!!

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I think nobody should be making an issue of sexual ANYTHING to kids that young!

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This teacher should have known better - the info was not age appropriate. I'm sure no real harm was done though because most of the info probably went right over their heads. And Rene, I'm sorry to tell you that your 11 year old knows what being gay means unless you homeschool him/her. I teach in one of the last few "Beaver Cleaver" towns and sadly, even my students, ages 10-11, know what that means.

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Well, i think in a way this is a good idea. Introducing a topic like this right off the bat eliminates the chance for negative steriotypes, misconceptions, rumors ect to take root in a young child's highly impressionable mind. However, it would have to be prefaced by the 'birds and the bees' speech, which could be a bit watered down for this age group....I donno. With knowledge, I say the sooner the better, that's the way my parents brought me up and it's benifited me greatly. Lessons like this early on take the scandal and mystery out of things, they let you live as a less biased person. In the end that helps everyone.

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COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE!!!! I think parents who are contacting legal defense associations are doing the right thing. For the teacher to put those kinds of ideas into kindergarteners' heads and not get any punishment whatsoever is just wrong!

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Its one thing to educate its another to Brainwash! Parenting should be done at home. You (teachers) are educators not parents! With proper parenting at home these children will be able to make there own educated/ INDEPENDENT choices when thay are old enough to do so. Bieng gay/Lesbian is fine with me as long as you dont try to push your beliefs on me. I dont think think you deserve the rights as I do. If you you are a minority Black,Spanish etc... You had no choice in the matter and should be proud of who you are! Im white and proud of it but... I dont go around putting down people of color just because im white gays/Lesbians should do the same. LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

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definitely a good idea, but i do agree that it is a bit too young to do so.
i'd say 5th grade would be a good age.

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i think that anyone who destroys the innocence of little children that age or older ought to be convicted of child molestation and serve time in the big house. i'd bet that the only people who approve of such sickness are the gays themselves. this teacher definitely should not be teaching. maybe he/she ought to look for employment in a porno book shop. it would be a more fitting position.SICK AND BLIND. TEACHER, MY ASS

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WHAT IS GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA???? PARENTS NEED TO GET A BACKBONE AND STAND UP FOR THEIR CHILDREN! THESE TEACHERS ARE PUSHING THE LIMITS AND ABUSING THE YOUNG STUDENTS BY BRINGING ALL THIS STUFF UP BEFORE THE PARENTS CAN EVEN GET A CHANCE TO SHARE THEIR FAMILY VALUES. IT IS NOT THE PLACE OF A TEACHER TO TALK ABOUT THIS. TELLING CHILDREN TO BE NICE TO EACH OTHER IS ONE THING BUT THIS IS TERRIBLE AND EVASION OF THE PARENTS RIGHTS TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN.

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ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!! A CHILD WAS SENT HOME FROM SCHOOL FOR DRESSING UP AS JESUS LAST WEEK, PRAYER HAS BEEN BANNED FROM SCHOOLS, YET THIS IS OKAY???!!!

HUMANKIND IS NOT LONG FOR THIS EARTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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Um, I think that kids should be old enough to know what sex is before they know there are abberations to it.

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THE TEACHER IS PROBLY GAY. JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR THEM TO PUSH THERE FAGGET WAYS ON OUR KIDS. SHE SHOULD BE FIRED.

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Dear Susie
You said being homosexual was a choice, that you wanted documented proof it is genetic and not choice. Are you a lesbian Susie? How do you know it is not genetic? Have you lived as a lesbian so you know first hand? If you are not a lesbian, then how can you say it is genetic? Live in our shoes and see how it feel to be told daily, youre bad, youre a sinner, you chose this life. I did not choose to be gay. Why in the hell would I. To be degraded on a daily basis, being a second class citizen, told I am a sinner and I am going to hell. I was born a lesbian, I knew I had attraction to other girls at a very young age. I tried so hard to be hetro. I was miserable for most of my life. I am a decent, hard working, kind person. I don't judge anyone. If being gay is a sin, then let God punish me. No mortal has the right to judge me. As far as I can remember there has been only one "sin free" person, and that would be Jesus. "Let those without sin, cast the first stone." Any takers? Didn't think so.

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To Susie
Are you a lesbian? You must be since you know what it's like to be gay. You say show proof that homosexuality is genetic. You have no idea what it's like to be gay. Step inside my shoes for a momment, you really think I would choose to be humiliated, treated like a second class citizen, cursed at, told I am going to hell. Are you mad? Who would choose that life. I knew from a very early age I had an attraction to other females. I tried so hard to be hetro, and I was miserable most of my life. Who am I hurting by being a lesbian, how am I interfering with your life? If being gay is a sin, then let God judge and punish me, not any mortal on this earth. "Those without sin, cast the first stone". Last time I checked only one man was sin free. His name is Jesus. So any takers about the stone casting? Didn't think so!

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Kindergardener's are eager to learn to write their names at this point and are proud of their self for doing so. Don't use this to show them respect for others in this manner. I do not agree teaching this delicate subject without the knowledge to the parents first. This is like sex ed but alot different but parents should be educated on what is being taught to our children and not just send a child home "Mom I signed my first pledge card today so I don't call others gays, lesbians, etc." By the way if you are taught politness at home you won't have to worry much about it being taught at school but just to inforce it. Learning begins at home, doesn't it?

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Kindergarten is WAY too young to talking to kids about sex period esp sub cultures like gay/bi/transgenders. Its up the parents to decide when and how they teach their kids about sex when they are old enough to understand. Sexuality is a CHOICE not a race. I would never want anyone teaching my elementary student about sex in school and esp not about a alternate lifestyle choice to make it seem normal. Kids don't even need sex education until they are in 6th grade and it should only be done with the parents permission. Its so sick how twisted everything is now in 2008-We have to all agree gay/bi is NORMAL. Whatever, normal or abnormal it is a choice not like the color of your skin. I don't push my sexuality on anyone why should they be able to push theirs on me? I am not religious at all-but is it possible that the bible could be right? Hmmm-sounds like sodom and gemmorah all over again.

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I am a mother of two boys. I have friends that are gay & family members that are gay and lesbians. First, I was never taught about sexuality as early as Elementary school. My parents tried to keep my mind as innocent as a child not knowing that there are bad people, viiolence, rape, abuse, poverty,etc. and the general idea is to keep our kids innocent. Our kids have the rest of their lives to grow up and learn to behave however they belive is fit and not be brainwashed into beliveing what others believe; we all have that choice to make independently from how our parents raise us.That is why we have parents! Anyways being gay and/or lesbian, I believe is mostly a sexual thing that should not be discussed to little kids, even man and female sexuality should not be discussed because that is a very personal and private issue and should be discussed when the parents of the child think they are ready to discuss sexuality. My kids are taught to respect all adults and to be nice to everyone, regardless of color, race, how they act or look. However, kids are kids, some will rude people, bad, bullies, jealous or just not nice but that does not mean that our kids need lessons to educate those areas. We are all independent with different beliefs and characters. We should not expose sexuality to children or have to teach them how to act to others because of their sexuality. We already teadh our kids to behave. Let's not confuse the issue!

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