ACLU to sue to force Gay indoctrination at schools

[ACPlayer]

The Federal Equal Access law under which the ACLU challenged the school and made it allow the group to function was actually sponsored by religious groups to give them the ability to start religious clubs.

[elwoodblues]

So the school settled a law suit with the ACLU. The original lawsuit was about the school banning a gay group on campus. The terms of the settlement included the school requiring a tolerance video. The school is not requiring attendance and the ACLU is suing to enforce the settlement and somehow we should be mad at the ACLU? If the school didn't want to require attendance, don't agree to the original settlement agreement. The ACLU is just suing to enforce a legally binding contract (the settlement agreement.)

[sillyarms]

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While I agree that schools cannot be in the business of teaching morality. We do want schools to teach our students to think - and preferably think for themselves.

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Your right about this. But this is teaching them to think how the school beleives they should think, not how to think for themselves.

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The tolerance video mentioned was not limited to Gay/Lesbian issues, in case people missed that.

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That's beside the point

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However, it is clear that the people of KY do need some tolerance training!

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This may be true, however it is not the place of goverment institutions to force it upon them.

silly

[elwoodblues]

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but a "tolerance training video" is designed specifically to teach our children how to think

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Schools teach tolerance so that the atmosphere of the school is such that the three r's can be learned by all types of kids. Students distracted by irrational intollerance of their peers don't tend to do well in school, they are outcast and don't succeed. Schools that don't have such programs are doing a disservice to their students.

[PhatTBoll]

[ QUOTE ]
So the school settled a law suit with the ACLU. The original lawsuit was about the school banning a gay group on campus. The terms of the settlement included the school requiring a tolerance video. The school is not requiring attendance and the ACLU is suing to enforce the settlement and somehow we should be mad at the ACLU? If the school didn't want to require attendance, don't agree to the original settlement agreement. The ACLU is just suing to enforce a legally binding contract (the settlement agreement.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Did the settlement say anything about forcing students to attend, or did it just require that the school show the video? In most areas, students can already opt out of sex education without any penalty. Why should these videos be different?

[ACPlayer]

But this is teaching them to think how the school beleives they should think, not how to think for themselves.

Exposing them to a tolerance video is not teaching them how the school believes they should think. If that is the case the school is doing a pretty poor job. Exposing students to information is not the same as teaching them how to think. If after the video the teacher stands up and says now it would be great if you go off and become gay or black or whatever that is one thing and clearly wrong. If all they are saying there are different types of people and encouraging discussion about the video then clearly that is a good thing.

You want them exposed to information and then have proper discussions around it.

however it is not the place of goverment institutions to force it upon them.

True no argument. But the people of KY need to take a close hard look at themselves.

Overall it seems that the ACLU actions to date have been sound and commendable. I am curious to see whether they force people to watch the videos -- as I said I doubt that report and have not seen any comment on the ACLU websites. However, another poster did make the valid point, that the ACLU is simply enforcing an agreement that was made. Clearly it must enforce its agreements - specially if the school has been guilty in the past of violating federal laws, as indeed it appears to have been.

[ACPlayer]

ACLU release
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The settlement requires that the district treat all student clubs equally and conduct an anti-harassment training for all district staff as well as all students in high school and middle school

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The club in question was the Gay-Straight Alliance formed to combat "rampant" harrassment. It is not a homosexual club per se.

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“This club has never been about anything but making a safe space for students who are harassed on a daily basis in our school,” said Kaye King, faculty adviser to the GSA. “We’re glad the school finally understands that and is taking steps to address the harassment in our district on a wider scale.”

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[PhatTBoll]

Thanks for the link.

I'm still not convinced though. A settlement can't override the rights of the parents and children involved. If they choose not to believe that homosexuality is worthy of their respect, then acceptance of gays shouldn't be hammered into them at government-mandated centers of education. Those who are open to the message will hear it and heed it. I still don't see why students should be allowed to skip sex ed but not these videos.

[ACPlayer]

I agree on the rights of the parents etc.

That is why I am interested in seeing how this plays out with the ACLU. I cant see then forcing the viewing and I cant see them walking away from an agreement. A renegotiated agreement is in the offing -- most likely.

Incidentally, this is right on point with Cyrus' little sermon on hate crime legislation in another thread. Until the people in KY realize that their position is wrong for our society (if that is so, as I believe it to be) you can not legislate (or criminalize) them into changing their opinion. Showing and discussing tolerance videos however improves the chances that the next generation will change.

[ACPlayer]

ACPLayer: The tolerance video mentioned was not limited to Gay/Lesbian issues, in case people missed that.

SillyArms: That's beside the point

Well actually it is not. The title of the thread is ACLU to force Gay Indoctrination. No one is forcing gay indoctrination. The video is about accepting gays and not about becoming gay (actually it seems it is about a lot more than just gays, but...).

Just as teaching kids that a condom can prevent AIDS and pregnancy is not the same as forcing them to copulate that afternoon (or ever).