Schools

by James Lynne

Created on: February 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 04, 2009

Ideally, the home is the appropriate place for teaching children about social issues. However, even the most cursory review of history indicates society's failure to do so effectively. As with many significant social issues, responsibility for teaching children to understand the nuances of society-at-large falls to the schools. Homosexuality is a complex social issue with roots that deeply entertwine into religious belief. As such, schools do not need to take a moral stance on homosexuality, but it is important they address the issue honestly and compassionately.

Research supports that nearly thirty percent of adolescent suicides relate to the gender identity struggle. In a culture that teaches hatred of homosexuals, the child who views himself as one becomes fearful and isolated. Without healthy adult support, these fears can turn into self-destruction. Although religion would still have us believe that homosexuality is a choice, medical research is rapidly dispelling this notion. Socially responsible adults recognize the self-esteem damage that comes from allowing the bullying of children with gender identity issues. If for no other reason than to stop the bullying of children who appear different, schools need to teach about homosexuality.

Regardless of the orgin of homosexuality, nature or nurture, it is not going away simply because religion or schools prefer to judge rather than address it. In contemporary world society, homosexuality is coming out of the closet. Assuming that children become aware of their sexual orientation either in pre-adolescence or during adolescence this can be a confusing and startling awareness for them. Teaching "about" homosexuality in the schools is not the same as "teaching homosexuality" as some might misunderstand. Homosexuality is a reality of the Twenty First Century. Not teaching about it equals burying our heads in the sand regarding a significant social issue.

We are becoming increasingly aware that even though the home, parents, have the right to control "some" of the material their children are taught at school, this is not an absolute construct. Left up to parents to teach them, many significant issues and concepts would be taught in such a biased manner as to become socially destructive. In the United States, we have seen this in action related to science education, integration, civil rights, child abuse, birth control, abortion, and sex education in general. Because we are all part of culture-at-large, we must find common ground on divisive issues for the purpose of social accord. While respecting differing opinions we must still find ways to bring those differences to manageability within the greater context of society, apart from religions difference or traditional difference.

The religious claim that homosexuality is a sin and therefore should not be discussed in the school system ignores the reality of fact in much the same manner as the religious claim that Darwin's Theory of Evolution displaces the story of creation. Although in America citizens are guaranteed freedom of religion, that freedom does not extend into the area of total control of science and/or social issues. Precedence exists that limits some religious practices because of the greater concern for the public. Informational instruction regarding homosexuality will ultimately fall into this category.

The Mormon Church, Latter Day Saints, originally taught that polygamy is an acceptable part of its worship practices, and indeed, this has Biblical foundation. However, the government of the United States denies Mormons the right to multiple marriage partners. Snake handling was at one time a common worship practice among primitive religions in many states, and it too has Biblical foundation. However, the governments of most states have outlawed this practice because of the danger it poses to participants. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that life-saving blood transfusions contradict their Biblical beliefs. Yet, in numerous instances, government has stepped in, overriding the belief of parents, in order to save the life of their child in need of transfusion.

Although it is our belief in the United States that the home and family provide the cornerstone of our culture, there are exceptions that allow the greater concern of the culture at-large to override this reverence for parental control of education. Because of the diversity of the American culture, consensus on socially sensitive issues is virtually impossible. However, the government, including those who govern the education system, must consider a greater good than parents' rights to control curriculum and teach what benefits most citizens.

Left to parents, our schools would still be segregated. Blacks would still suffer from "separate but equal" educational opportunity, and Creationism would be the leading Biology curriculum. If American students are to be competitive in the international world of science, astronomy, medicine, finance, and politics, then American students must be not be sheltered from social truths in our education system. It is important that our schools teach about homosexuality to protect society from hatred of homosexuals that comes from religious bigotry.

It is no longer tolerable for children to grow up believing that mistreating homosexuals is acceptable. Merely because it has been a long-accepted social practice with roots in religious intolerance is no reason to deem it acceptable. It is no more acceptable to allow hatred of homosexuals than it is to allow racial bigotry to exist. It is important that schools teach children about homosexuality in order to teach it factually, in an unbiased manner. Doing so protects not only the developing homosexual child, but also it takes society one-step farther down the road to social accord.

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