Shouild Same-Sex Parents Be Featured In School Books?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10171005/Same-sex-parents-should-be-featured-in-school-books.html

Would this type of thing be beneficial to children as young as five, or only create confusion?

[ummmm]

Why would it be confusing?

It's a fact of life that some people are gay. Do you think children should be protected from that knowledge for some bizarre reason.

Ignorance is 'not' bliss.

[dave50]

No they shouldn't, it will only create confusion in such young minds. It is not the norm, no matter what the gay lobby say.

[Zeuhl]

Confusion precedes enlightenment

So is an inevitable part of the learning process in all contexts

This could only be a problem with someone who objects to the learning process and prefers reinforcement of existing stereotypes instead

[Davethedog]

Five year old would be far more accepting of same sex relationships, than a lot of adults.

[maggiebee]

Agree with Dave50.

[Zeuhl]

/It is not the norm/

dave, i think you'll find that restricting teaching just to 'the norm' will limit the syllabus somewhat :-)

[Octavius]

Agree with maggiebee

[rockyracoon]

My kids have known about gays since they were very young so I don't really see any harm in the book, plus they'll grow up not thinking it's strange.

I think most kids wouldn't give a carrot!

[Octavius]

Sorry I meant Davethedog

[ummmm]

They don't care, Rocky. I have 4 gay cousins so my kids have known about same sex relationships since day 1. They have never questioned someones sexuality, they just accept people for the way they are.

[mccfluff]

why is is confusing, there are same sex parents out there, its not a new fangled thing they are just parents.......

now if a book were to feature a gay muslim parents of mixed race's, well then i would be outraged, outraged i tell you!!!

[ummmm]

Octavius - I did wonder for about 1 second and realised you had the wrong Dave :-)

[Octavius]

AOG some of us 'younger generation' with young children have gay friends who are 'married' and have kids and they socialise and party with us like any of our other friends and their families.

[jim360]

Only if it's relevant to what is being studied. I'm all for inclusiveness but even the most passionate supporter of equality ought to be slightly put off by maths problems along the lines of "Mike and Haziz have ten carrots each...". And similarly I don't see that "Elton and David are preparing for their tenth anniversary and need to buy supplies for 500 guests..." would add anything.

Same-same parents/ couples shouldn't be ignored or redacted from education entirely, and it should be discussed when appropriate.

[grasscarp]

However two men or two women can not, of themselves, become parents. Personally I cant see why this would need to be featured in a school book for a five year old.

[joeluke]

Perhaps the publishers could call the books 'Jeremy and John'?

[grasscarp]

Can you imagine if Peppa and George's parents were daddy and daddy pig?

[Baldric]

1, Why not?
2, (a two parter) Yes and No.

[Baldric]

grasscarp,^^^^ What a crack(L)ing relationship that would be!

[anotheoldgit]

So some think that children as young as five understand about gay relationships? absolute Poppy-Cock.

Ask a group of children to draw a wedding, and I would guarantee that none would drawn a same sex couple walking down the Church Aisle together.