Teaching King and King in elementary school is OK but prayer is unconstitutional?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_&_King

Answer 1

These are two very separate issues.
First, I don't think that homosexual themes should be introduced into elementary school classrooms, that should be left up to parents at home. I am a strong supporter of gay rights, but this is a sensitive subject that needs to be handled by a parent not a teacher who does not share the same values of a parent. My son who is seven knows what the word "gay" means, because he asked me. I don't lie to my children. He has never considered this weird or different, because I teach him that it just is. I would be very upset if someone said anything different to him.

As for prayer in school, I'm all for it! I'm not talking about a teacher or administration led prayer because that would violate everything that I be live. I fully believe that children should be given the opportunity to express their faith at school and give prayers to whom ever they choose.
I would, however, not want to see my child forced to pray to a God that he does not believe in.

Answer 2

I think it has more to do with the fact that gay marriage has been put into law in Mass... kids ask questions. If a kid happens to see two men (or women) in the park kissing, they're going to ask their parents why.

I suppose some schools feel it should be taught to kids earlier, rather than later, in life... maybe it will help them to be able to tolerate the idea of gay marriage easier, when they grow up.

In regards to prayer in school... my school did a "moment of silence" right after the pledge where those who wanted to pray were able to do so. As I've been out of school for a good 10 years or so now, I'm not sure if they've kept up that idea. Or if they're even allowed to...

Answer 3

Would you rather them be teaching our children to be gay, or to be tolerant of those who are?
Parents have a hard enough time trying to explain the birds and the bees to their children, just be thankful you don't have to teach them about the bee and the bee.

Prayer in school is not unconsitutional. Only forcing children to pray is.
While they can't force a child to pray, they likewise cannot prevent them from doing so, at appropriate times.

That is the beauty of the idea. A child can pray every recess, and all recess long if he/she so wishes, and not one school official can say otherwise. It protects both sides, and people like you have a problem understanding that simple little concept, because it doesn't allow your type to retain control over everyone else.

Answer 4

They do not teach children about gay people in elementary school. They only tell them that there are different types of families. It is up to the child as they grow up to decide if they want to be homophobic or not. This has NOTHING to do with prayer. There are students who do not believe in God and who are of different religions. To add Christian prayer into schools is not fair. You either add all prayers for EVERY religion or NONE at all. It is just easier to keep it out.

Answer 5

Sudents can pray all they want. The only rule is that school officials can't lead such prayers, nor can listening to them be mandatory.

No one is stopping students from praying, though -- in fact there are lots of religious clubs in public schools (there's a "meet at the flagpole and pray" thing every week at the local high schools here). Just not mandatory ones.

Why do you need the government to tell you how to be religious anyway?

Answer 6

I'm not religious, but does this sound like what is happening right now.:

2 Tim 3:1 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, 3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, 4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.

Answer 7

Wow tough question. If a religious belief is being disputed by dogma, and that dogma is "required" then is the dogma unconstitutional? I see a constitutional challenge coming up.

Answer 8

i would pull my son out of school and put him in private school if i found out gay stuff was being taught to my 7 year old...diversity is all good but he hasnt even asked where babies come from or anything like that so i certainly dont want homosexual things being his first impression of sex...ive spent this long keeping him innocent and im not gonna let some new wave of gay school ciriculum writers and so forth put this unnatural non-sense in to his head so early...let him figure out the birds and the bees first before he watches brokeback mountain in school

my son should be able to pray at school but it shouldnt be manditory

Answer 9

Gays are not deities. They are real people. Gods are not real. And prayer is not unconstitutional. Officials leading prayers is unconstitutional. Don't they have churches where you live to teach superstitious drivel? If not, maybe you should move.

Answer 10

This is precisely why I'm going to eventually take my son out of public school and place him into private.
People have become so depraved they don't even know what's right from wrong anymore.