Flyers: This is About to Erupt
In the past few days, TeachTheFacts has received a number of emails and inquiries from teachers and students, regarding the fact that PFOX is using the schools to disseminate their strange and misleading literature.
Teachers don't see why they should be swept up in spreading a message that is fundamentally religious in nature, runs opposite to our community's values, and goes against scientific and medical understanding. Students are also upset when they see what the schools are allowing.
It looks to me like there is a real possibility of an eruption of resistance here.
PFOX is not an organization of people who used to be gay and now are not. The Executive Director of PFOX has a gay son, who she may wish could change, but ... people don't. PFOX's futile mission is to stuff gay people back into the closet, but the truth is, it's too late. Our society has turned the corner.
The American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other mainstream groups have all issued statements saying that sexual orientation is not something you choose, and it's not a disease. This position also reflects the values of our community, which is very diverse and respectful of differences.
The school district may have been painted into a corner, legally speaking, but they have to be responsible for the information they send home with students. Real damage that can be done by spreading PFOX's ugliness, and the school district should not be part of it.
Each school has its own dates for handing out the flyers. We have heard that a couple of them did it this week.
If you're at a school that's circulating these things, please do send us a note at info@teachthefacts.org and let us know what the reaction is. Our focal mission, of course, is the sex-ed curriculum, but these situations overlap. While TeachTheFacts is not taking the lead in any opposition to this policy, we'll certainly do our part to see that the right people get in touch with one another.
Teachers don't see why they should be swept up in spreading a message that is fundamentally religious in nature, runs opposite to our community's values, and goes against scientific and medical understanding. Students are also upset when they see what the schools are allowing.
It looks to me like there is a real possibility of an eruption of resistance here.
PFOX is not an organization of people who used to be gay and now are not. The Executive Director of PFOX has a gay son, who she may wish could change, but ... people don't. PFOX's futile mission is to stuff gay people back into the closet, but the truth is, it's too late. Our society has turned the corner.
The American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other mainstream groups have all issued statements saying that sexual orientation is not something you choose, and it's not a disease. This position also reflects the values of our community, which is very diverse and respectful of differences.
The school district may have been painted into a corner, legally speaking, but they have to be responsible for the information they send home with students. Real damage that can be done by spreading PFOX's ugliness, and the school district should not be part of it.
Each school has its own dates for handing out the flyers. We have heard that a couple of them did it this week.
If you're at a school that's circulating these things, please do send us a note at info@teachthefacts.org and let us know what the reaction is. Our focal mission, of course, is the sex-ed curriculum, but these situations overlap. While TeachTheFacts is not taking the lead in any opposition to this policy, we'll certainly do our part to see that the right people get in touch with one another.
posted by JimK at 11:40 AM
2 Comments:
Some students (mine, for instance) just put whatever is distributed in one of the backpack pockets and forget about it. If you'd like to know on your own what the distribution dates are in your child's school, here's the MCPS page with the links to the distribution dates:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/flyers/
Jim writes,
Our focal mission, of course, is the sex-ed curriculum, but these situations overlap.
"of course"? Yeah, right...LOL.
Thanks for the laugh.
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