Gay penguin book shakes up Ill. school

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Because it's part of the liberal agenda to convince everyone that same-sex relationships are normal and equivalent to heterosexual relationships. So, they figure it's better to start teaching kids this as young as possible.

That horrible liberal agenda... forcing people to accept and love one another. Putting all that emphasis on "love makes a family."

Shouldn't we be teaching our kids that one man and one woman and their offspring are the only people that make a family? Didn't Jesus himself say "hate thy neighbor?"

I didn't say the liberal agenda was horrible, I just said it's the agenda. Just because you don't accept someone's lifestyle doesn't mean you hate them. And I think even Jesus would say to love everyone but not neccessarily what they do.

Because it's part of the liberal agenda to convince everyone that same-sex relationships are normal and equivalent to heterosexual relationships. So, they figure it's better to start teaching kids this as young as possible.

I am proud to say YES!

Finally an honest one!

I have a question here. Seeing as you can't control what your child sees when you're out in public - how would you explain it if they asked you why 2 men are kissing nearby?

Stopping them reading a book which features "gay" penguins doesn't stop them from being exposed to homosexual lifestyles in other ways. At least the book provides something of a controllable context, but that's just my take.

I'm not sure there's any reason to think that this one book is harmful, and short of actually reading it noone can say exactly how it handles the concept of homosexuality. Its a fairly good bet that as with other book for young children, sex isn't even alluded to as they're too young even understand their parents heterosexual relationship.

[sparkofcreation 0]

I have nothing against homosexuals or their raising children (after all, heterosexual couples have brought up some pretty terrible kids, so how bad can homosexual couples do?), but let children be children -- especially in grade school. There's no need to introduce them to heterosexual or homosexual lifestyles at that age. All elemenary school-age kids should be concerned with is adapting to their new scholastic environment, homework, and having fun during recess.

So what you're saying is that you'd be equally opposed to children ages 4-8 being able to read a book about a male and a female penguin adopting an egg and raising the chick?

And also that children in elementary school shouldn't concern themselves with things like reading, art, or anything else that's not the three Rs (I mean four--I forgot recess!)?

I would be opposed to any forced learning of love and relationships, heterosexual or homosexual, at that early of a stage of childhood development. I don't believe young children need to deal with such things. If we were talking about junior high or high school students, that'd be different -- then they'd be intellectually, emotionally and psychologically mature enough to handle the concepts.

As for what elementary students should concern themselves with...I did say they would be "adapting to their new scholastic environment, homework and having fun during recess." All of that includes reading, art, math, and writing within homework and daily studies; the recess portion is obvious.

So my parents were wrong when they sat me down at the age of five and explained that people have children together when they love each other very much, and because they loved each other and loved me, and we all loved each other so much we had enough love for someone else, they were going to have another child and I was going to have a baby brother or sister?

I don't know what rock you live under if you think it's even possible to keep children from knowing what relationships are! By the time I was two, I certainly knew that my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and my parents' friends mostly came in pairs because some adults loved each other enough to want to be together all the time.

[DeadPoolX 9]

So my parents were wrong when they sat me down at the age of five and explained that people have children together when they love each other very much, and because they loved each other and loved me, and we all loved each other so much we had enough love for someone else, they were going to have another child and I was going to have a baby brother or sister?

I don't know what rock you live under if you think it's even possible to keep children from knowing what relationships are! By the time I was two, I certainly knew that my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and my parents' friends mostly came in pairs because some adults loved each other enough to want to be together all the time.

I was four years-old when my brother was born. My parents didn't tell me anything about the "birds and the bees" or "love and relationships" at that age. Why? Because it would've been premature and knew there's no way in hell I would've understood (or cared about) what they were telling me.

I don't think young children have a very good grasp on the whole "love and relationship" idea. I doubt very many adults do either. It's a difficult concept, if you really think about it. Oh sure, many people think they know or understand love, but in most cases, it's infatuation. There's a huge difference between the two.

I didn't even know such a thing as sex existed until I was about ten years old. I certainly didn't know the biological processes of it. I also didn't care to know -- all I cared about at that age was Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and playing with my friends. Sex (and especially concepts such as "love and relationships") wasn't even an afterthought.

As for "love and relationships," there was a period of time while as an adult I didn't feel as if I truly understood either. Fortunately, I do now...or at least, I understand them as best I can. Everyone has their own understanding of "love and relationships" as there is no one right answer; it's a very subjective thing all-around.

So do try and realize that if something worked for you, it may not work or be reasonable for others. Everyone is different and requires an equally different approach.

[garya505 2]

So my parents were wrong when they sat me down at the age of five and explained that people have children together when they love each other very much, and because they loved each other and loved me, and we all loved each other so much we had enough love for someone else, they were going to have another child and I was going to have a baby brother or sister?

I don't know what rock you live under if you think it's even possible to keep children from knowing what relationships are! By the time I was two, I certainly knew that my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles and my parents' friends mostly came in pairs because some adults loved each other enough to want to be together all the time.

I was four years-old when my brother was born. My parents didn't tell me anything about the "birds and the bees" or "love and relationships" at that age. Why? Because it would've been premature and knew there's no way in hell I would've understood (or cared about) what they were telling me.

I don't think young children have a very good grasp on the whole "love and relationship" idea. I doubt very many adults do either. It's a difficult concept, if you really think about it. Oh sure, many people think they know or understand love, but in most cases, it's infatuation. There's a huge difference between the two.

I didn't even know such a thing as sex existed until I was about ten years old. I certainly didn't know the biological processes of it. I also didn't care to know -- all I cared about at that age was Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and playing with my friends. Sex (and especially concepts such as "love and relationships") wasn't even an afterthought.

As for "love and relationships," there was a period of time while as an adult I didn't feel as if I truly understood either. Fortunately, I do now...or at least, I understand them as best I can. Everyone has their own understanding of "love and relationships" as there is no one right answer; it's a very subjective thing all-around.

So do try and realize that if something worked for you, it may not work or be reasonable for others. Everyone is different and requires an equally different approach.

But some people here want us to believe that children know they are gay at the age of 3.

[Alex+R 0]

But some people here want us to believe that children know they are gay at the age of 3.

Way to twist words Gary. Some kids actually *do* know they are different in some way, their entire lives.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

But some people here want us to believe that children know they are gay at the age of 3.

Way to twist words Gary. Some kids actually *do* know they are different in some way, their entire lives.

And a book isn't going to make that much difference. Rather trivial IMO.