Public schools have become ground zero in the culture wars. Increasingly, the incursion of gay advocacy groups into classrooms is forcing parents to redraw battle lines over what (and how) children learn about morality.
On April 26th, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) held their 10th annual Day of Silence, protesting harassment, prejudice, and discrimination faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. In North Carolina, students as young as 6th grade agreed to remain silent as an expression of solidarity and support. Last year, roughly 90 North Carolina public and private schools participated in the Day of Silence.
There’s no question that children need to be taught to respect one other, regardless of personal beliefs. And administrators should have zero tolerance for harassment. But schools (whose primary focus should be on teaching students how to read, write, and do arithmetic) have no business promoting alternative lifestyles.
Even North Carolina’s Governor’s School for the Gifted has become a venue for homosexual groups to proselytize high school students. This past summer, the Winston-Salem site held a seminar on “The New Gay Teenager,” based on the book by the same name by homosexual Cornell professor Ritch Savin-Williams. Not surprisingly, parents were not informed beforehand about the pro-homosexual subject matter offered to their teenagers.
But when parents are aware of gay advocacy and express concern, some schools turn a deaf ear. In Massachusetts, one 5-year-old boy brought home a book from school that depicted a gay family. When his father demanded notification prior to discussions of homosexuality in class, school officials refused. The parents have sued the school district in federal court, arguing their right to teach their children about morals is being violated.
The right to exercise free religious expression has also been sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. At Midway High School in Dunn, North Carolina, a 9th grade student was denied permission to wear a “Day of Truth” shirt and distribute cards supporting a Christian viewpoint on homosexuality the day after his school participated in GLSEN’s Day of Silence. He was suspended from school after ignoring the warning. Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund have since filed a lawsuit against the Sampson County school board.
What’s a parent to do? Start by being informed about what goes on in your child’s school, and know where to go for help. One great resource is the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). NARTH opposes gay advocacy in public schools, stating, “Schools should respect the right of families to convey their own social values to children.” Ultimately, as parents, it’s up to you to be your child’s best advocate. Insist on notification before sexuality is discussed and have your child opt out if necessary: by state law, parents have the right to opt children out of sex education or other activities that conflict with their religious beliefs.
Yes, the culture wars are here to stay. But parents – not children – need to be the ones on the front lines.