Lying by ommission regarding biological facts is concerning to me; if people are born as they are, why not teach that? You don't think people are choosing their sexuality, do you?
You're doing a disservice to the state of Tennessee by pushing bills that limit classroom discussion and increase ignorance. I see that as a very ineffective "education" policy.
Gary,
There's plenty of good science that suggests that choice plays a significant role in sexual orientation. Which means that biological determinism is not a good way to go when you want to justify sexual orientation stuff, one way or another.
You can find great stuff online about this if you wanna go beyond propaganda. Here's a start, and it's not driven by religious fundamentalists: http://www.queerbychoice.com/
gay...ygenelinks.html
You should also check out the Council for Responsible Genetics. But there's a lot more.
Think critically. Act locally. Or something like that...
Your efforts to "ban anything that exposes students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade to homosexuality," as reported by KNOXNEWS.COM on February 13, 2008 are absolutely absurd, irresponsible, and at worst, tactically dangerous. Pretending that gays and lesbians do not exist by erasing their histories or their place in society from school classrooms will not erase gays and lesbians from existence, including thousands of STUDENTS that attend Tennessee schools every day. Instead you will be eroding support systems, desperately needed education and positive examples of tolerance and acceptance.
You also put Tennessee students in danger. Did you know that according to the Center for Disease Control/Massachusetts Department of Education Youth Risk Behavior Survey (1999), 33% of gay youth will attempt suicide? In fact, gay teen suicide attempts are four times that of heterosexual youth. Believing that this problem does not exist will not make it go away. Turning a blind eye will not exonerate you from the many deaths for which your negligence will be partially responsible.
Additionally, you state, "I don't think our schools have reading, writing and arithmetic down enough to start teaching about transgenderism." Where would you draw the line? I expect banning homosexuality could also mean banning the mention of well-known homosexuals. How do you intend to improve focuses in the aforementioned disciplines without mentioning, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Alexander the Great, or Leonardo Da Vinci? Not to mention Tchaikovsky, Socrates and Tennessee Williams and thousands of others who have made immeasurable contributions to music, art, literature, science, politics and government, but also who happened to be gay?
Your position is tired. Your rhetoric is ludicrous. And your type of asinine point-of-view will eventually be replaced with more progressive, educated and humane perspectives. For as long as bigotry, intolerance and injustice exist, people will persistently and tirelessly endure to see that it is eradicated from the human experience.
so proud that an east tennessee representative does something but lick the boot. we should be glad that campfield has the courage to fight the battles he fights for us. so many representatives just don't have the guts.
spacey,
you and your bills are 0-whatever in the legislature. i hate to see anybody go completely defeated in anything, so i'm pulling for you on this one. really. discussing gay "parents" in elementary school only opens up a child in such a household to some serious ridicule.
MBS
Jonathan,
No opinion or letting families talk about an issue when and as they see fit is not hate or inequality. It is returning control to the family and taking the power to teach/ indoctrinate away from the schools. Did you even think to notice that my bill would also protect a student from a teacher that might teach preach against your lifestyle?
If I said I were going to teach my religious beliefs in school or talk about religious figures in school or the religious foundations of our founding fathers would you be as open minded?
I also see that you want to expose children to what you seem to be saying is a dangerous lifestyle. Is that correct? Do you think teachers should teach how dangerous and mentally unstable you make the people who live this lifestyle out to be?
The law is the law. You seem willing to read something into it that is not there. I am just pointing out who it protects. Having no opinion or not talking about something is not the same as talking negatively about something. I just don't think our schools should should push an agenda one way or the other. You do. I think it should be left up to the family.
Scopes wasn't enough to make TN a laughingstock...now this? Welcome to the 18th century, moron.
Jonathan,
Can teachers not introduce all of the people you listed and discuss their various contributions to society without mentioning whether or not they were gay? I haven't been in school for a while, but I don't remember my teacher finishing every discussion about a historical figure with their sexual status. Why would that be important in any way?
Bravo Rep. Campfield!
It's about time that one of our representatives takes off the politically correct mask and does the right thing by our children.
You will have a huge amount of support by parents who are sickened by the notion that parental rights are superseded by government schools. These are our schools and our tax dollars pay for them.
Most parents want Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and other homosexual activist organizations like it OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS along with the educators and unions that support them. We know they are using "bullying", as a ruse to indoctrination our children. They fool no one any longer.
Advertise your bill!
Mal Sing
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