Teacher resigns after reading students book about gay couple

[gotbeer]

Teacher resigns after reading students book about gay couple

 

Wonder where the NAACP is on this one?

[InsideThePark]

It sucks that society isn't ready for this yet.

[mtangelsfan]

So as long as you agree with it then it is ok for teacher's to push personal agendas upon third grade students?

 

Look, I don't like the idea of people losing their jobs over this.  Seems like it didn't need to happen, but I also don't think that personal agendas have any place in elementary schools.

[Glen]

What agenda was being pushed?

[mtangelsfan]

If you are asking that question then I can already tell you and I aren't going to have a real conversation.

 

Pass

[arch stanton]

What agenda was being pushed?

It's the agenda where in a free society you may come across people who are different and most you probably won't agree with or even like but you'll just roll your eyes, make a comment under your breath then get on with your own life.

[Glen]

I think the teacher was just trying to comfort an upset kid, and not push an agenda. A one-off occurrence does not equal an agenda.

[the dude abides]

lol @ "agenda".

[InsideThePark]

This wasn't planned so the word "agenda" doesn't apply.

[mtangelsfan]

lol @ "agenda".

 

Growing up gay and black in a small town in the eastern part of the state, his memories of middle school are of being a frequent target for teasing and slurs.

 

lol @ not a personal agenda.

[Stradling]

Just because he has a personal experience doesn't mean he has an agenda. He didn't own the book he had to borrow it. If I read the article at face value it reads like he was trying to help the student who was being picked on.

[nate]

Probably half of the old novels they read in school reference god and Jesus.  If the teachers are Christian then they are just pushing their agenda too, right?

[Blarg]

What agenda was being pushed?

Royal families. You would think we would have moved past feudal times.

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

I don't think it had to do with an agenda rather he was trying to use it as a teachable moment.  If this had been about race (i.e. racial slur used by a student) instead of sexuality how angry would the parents be if the teacher read a book about a mixed culture family?  To be honest though reading something like that to 9  year old children who aren't yours isn't likely to go over well with at least a few parents.    

[InsideThePark]

I don't think it had to do with an agenda rather he was trying to use it as a teachable moment. If this had been about race (i.e. racial slur used by a student) instead of sexuality how angry would the parents be if the teacher read a book about a mixed culture family? To be honest though reading something like that to 9 year old children who aren't yours isn't likely to go over well with at least a few parents.

Yeah, the ones telling him he's going to burn in hell didn't seem too pleased.

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

Of course and while I don't share their opinion he had to know some parents being unhappy or flat out pissed off was the likely outcome.  There were other ways he could have addressed the issue that didn't involve reading the book he chose that would have been less divisive.  

[Blarg]

Know your audience.

[Lou]

I don't think it had to do with an agenda rather he was trying to use it as a teachable moment.  If this had been about race (i.e. racial slur used by a student) instead of sexuality how angry would the parents be if the teacher read a book about a mixed culture family?  To be honest though reading something like that to 9  year old children who aren't yours isn't likely to go over well with at least a few parents.

Of course and while I don't share their opinion he had to know some parents being unhappy or flat out pissed off was the likely outcome.  There were other ways he could have addressed the issue that didn't involve reading the book he chose that would have been less divisive.

well said

[InsideThePark]

Of course and while I don't share their opinion he had to know some parents being unhappy or flat out pissed off was the likely outcome. There were other ways he could have addressed the issue that didn't involve reading the book he chose that would have been less divisive.

Oh I agree, which is why I said it sucks we're not ready for this. We'll get to a point in time to where jobs aren't lost over this.

Edited June 17, 2015 by InsideThePark

[Jay]

Sorry the guy lost his job.

 

On the other hand it's nice to know there are still places and people who are not afraid of the "social media backlash."

[Spirit]

He resigned?  What a quitter. 

[mtangelsfan]

Probably half of the old novels they read in school reference god and Jesus.  If the teachers are Christian then they are just pushing their agenda too, right?

 

Turn the scenario.  What if a teacher read from the Bible or other religious book in response to something that happened in the classroom?

[nate]

Completely different.

 

Race, prejudice and gender are academic.  Religion isn't.  It is also illegal to read from the bible in public schools.

[mtangelsfan]

Completely different.

 

Race, prejudice and gender are academic.  Religion isn't.  It is also illegal to read from the bible in public schools.

 

Ha!   Classic.

 

Because nobody has been discriminated against because of their religion. 

[nate]

The Christian oppression complex really is spectacular.

 

They can do it as long as the preface the bible as fiction.  I am fine with them explaining religious persecution, but using the bible is not how you do that.  Using history books and first hand accounts is how you do it.