Humbug

[haguelovesyou]

Just remember, it's ok to be gay, unless you're honest in a straight-forward, non-offensive manner. Then it's an issue.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39584217/ns/local_news-portland_or/

He was leading a writing lesson when a fourth-grader asked him if he was married. Stambaugh said no. The student then asked why. Stambaugh replied that it would be

Comments

[dancing_hat]

This is crazy. As a future teacher who'll be going into schools next year, it actually scares me. I think for the most part Australian schools are more understanding and accepting, but I'm actually afraid I'll slip up when talking to a student and something like this could happen =/ Poor guy, sounds like he was very appropriately hoenst to me.

[tko_ak]

But a straight teacher can talk about their spouse with abandon!

[imaginarilee]

That's exactly what I was thinking as I read this article. I have teachers that are married (straight) and talk about it all the time; when I was in fourth grade my teacher's husband and dog came to class regularly. That's the same age as these kids. Obviously everyone needs to read "Heather has Two Mommies" as soon as possible. 0.o

(Incidentally I also have a teacher who does not believe in marriage. She's awesome. But that's high school and people are somewhat allowed to think for themselves-- but not too much, because that would set a bad example for the students, making them all tolerant and intelligent and stuff.)

[haguelovesyou]

Perhaps I'm paranoid, but I wouldn't be surprised if the question was planted by the parent who complained about his "inappropriate dress" earlier.

[starfish12]

I found this comment:

Wheeler said she could not talk specifically about the conversation, but noted it took place with "a fourth-grader, and that's a 9-year-old."

annoying.

I guess I think it's stupid that there is an implication that you can be too young to learn about it. It's just like answering questions from kids about the entire concept of marriage and how babies happen - answers should be tailored to the age of the child asking the question. I don't think there's anything he said that's inappropriate for a 9 year old!

[entropius]

+1

If it's appropriate to tell a fourth-grader about relationships and marriage at all ("Sometimes men and women love each other and choose to get married"), then it's appropriate to tell them that about one person in twenty is attracted to the same sex, for reasons that nobody really understands, and that it's okay.

The only part of healthy development that early education like this will interfere in is the development of a healthy sense of homophobia (that fundamentalists want to instill in their spawn).