question

[Maya]

I am possibly opening my own kindergarten/school. Now as the samesex marriages are a factum in this country they are pushing hard in to the kindergartens that we should treach all kids about homomarriages as they are called here. That we should have books aso about those marriages and that we should read them to the kids and tell them it is normal.

What happens if I dont do that? Can they sue me? And HOW could I teach something that is against my faith (not meaning LDS)? Can I start my kindergarten/Shool at all?

Ofcourse if we get a kid from such a marrage we would take care of that kid like any kid, but we would not talk about the relationships of the females/males that come with her every morning, as we dont talk any speially about other parents either. I been working with kids for over 30 years... I NEVER seen the parents kiss while getting their kids or bringing them so if the gays do, they do it just to protest.

I once had a little kid whos mother had gone in bed with one of the gay pair guys and this kid was visiting two mothers and two fathers every second week or something. I did not have a place for the kid, as I had enough sisters who were the first in line and others that had stod in line longer... but then a place become open and I called them to ask if they were stil interested... all she did was, that she laughed mockfully. I said; I take that as no, and closed the phone. I am sure she thought that we would not call then as they were lesbos... so I just got to the next kid in line.

Edited January 26, 2010 by Maya

[GaySaint]

Maya,

EDIT:: Oops, sorry. You're in Norway. Hopefully some of this will help anyway :)...

Would you be talking about marriage at all? It just seems kind of silly at that age.

If you have a child in your class that has gay parents, I suppose it might come up and you may have to mention it (especially if you give an assignment to draw your family, or something like that). If that happens, I think it would be easy to say “We respect all families, and all mommies and daddies who love their children. Families come in all shapes and sizes. Look at Suzie who lives with her grandma!” or something, that way it will at least stop children from making fun, expose the children to the facts of diversity, but stop short of making moral judgments or endorsements (which is something the children should learn at home).

The last I checked, there weren’t any requirements for books on same-sex marriage at all in any state at any level (there may be a “diversity” requirement, but that can be satisfied by a children’s book about divorce, for example). It may be mentioned in history class as a current civil rights issue, or it may be brought up in a “gay history” type context at the older ages (and I’m sure it is allowed to be brought up in some health class contexts), but I don’t think anyone is going to be upset if you DON’T mention it to 5 year olds.

[Guest Alana]

Do private schools there have a lot more freedom as to how things are taught and how as they do here in the states? Here, a private school can have anyone they want as teachers, they don't need to have a teaching degree. They do the regular state testing but as to how fast they teach things each grade and what is completely up to them. If there were laws enacted where you live that have to do with specific things that need to be taught about marriage and you're not comfortable doing it, then you need to talk to a lawyer there. Best of luck with your endeavors!!! Isn't working with kids great?:)

[Maya]

I am from Norway... hahah you edited while I was writting. I think Gaysaint that your answer was very good and exactly how I would handle it! Thanks!

Here all teachers weather in Kinder garten or in School have to have first the usual teahers qualification to be able to have a permanent job in any shool private or not. In a way that is good but oh how lame the usual teachers qualification is at least after montessoriteachers qualification. Even though aquired partly by lettercourses and only 3 weekly meetings and a few weeks intensive teaching. I may have bachelor in education, but I stil consider the montessoriteachers 3-5 year course the best and most comprihensive.

I need to see in the laws over here. Luckily I dont have that many years left to work, but I feel that new laws are forcing people to do things against their soncious. It si an other thig when you are young you can hange your profesion but when you get older, you kind of have learned to do waht you do adn then you should chose something completely different just beause of somethign like that. Today they simply dont qualify people with different ideas to jobs where they have changed some things alike this one, no matter how good they otherways would be. There is an other similiar excample, but I cant recall what at the moment.

[Blackmarch]

I am possibly opening my own kindergarten/school. Now as the samesex marriages are a factum in this country they are pushing hard in to the kindergartens that we should treach all kids about homomarriages as they are called here. That we should have books aso about those marriages and that we should read them to the kids and tell them it is normal.

not quite yet...

Do what you can in your power to not get those books.

What happens if I dont do that? Can they sue me? And HOW could I teach something that is against my faith (not meaning LDS)? Can I start my kindergarten/Shool at all?

They shouldn't be able to sue you. Also you'll need ot check with the local school education laws and requirements, but i'll wager if you are starting your own private school you can put a clause in the contract, both for when you found the school, and in what parents have to sign for their kids to be in it, that you will not teach or have material that references or promotes homosexual unions. (sorry I don't call them marriages).

I think that right there would help prevent a lot of grief.

Ofcourse if we get a kid from such a marrage we would take care of that kid like any kid, but we would not talk about the relationships of the females/males that come with her every morning, as we dont talk any speially about other parents either. I been working with kids for over 30 years... I NEVER seen the parents kiss while getting their kids or bringing them so if the gays do, they do it just to protest.

I once had a little kid whos mother had gone in bed with one of the gay pair guys and this kid was visiting two mothers and two fathers every second week or something. I did not have a place for the kid, as I had enough sisters who were the first in line and others that had stod in line longer... but then a place become open and I called them to ask if they were stil interested... all she did was, that she laughed mockfully. I said; I take that as no, and closed the phone. I am sure she thought that we would not call then as they were lesbos... so I just got to the next kid in line.

Again if you have the information available to the parents in what they have to sign to enroll their kids an dmake them aware of it before they sign their kids up, those who want their kids to not be exposed to pro-homosexual union material will more likely sign up, whereas those parents who differ can sign their kids up at a different school.

Now if you want government financial assistance, that is where it's going to get tricky. I'd suggest finding out what laws are in place in regards what the Gov is able to provide funding for, and give them a real careful read.

[Misshalfway]

Well I don't know the laws in your country to know if they could sue you but I wonder if its like other things. Teachers don't necessarily teach their opinion about things. They can just describe the world as it is. Like evolution. If its presented as one theory, there are no judgments or coersions either way. It's just presenting how people think about the world and allowing the student to think for themselves.

And this world does have SSmarriages as part of it. And kids have questions and want answers that fit their developmental level. So I can see that perhaps the subject of how families sometimes look might be appropriate.

I am not sure that forces you into teaching their political agenda though. And if your school is a private school, like BYU is, then don't you have the right to teach from a certain point of view? If the kindergarten isn't a state school, then you should be able to define the parameters of your own curriculum and those who disagree with you can educate their children elsewhere.

[Loving_Wife]

What private schools are allowed to do and not do has a lot to do with if they are federally funded as well. If they accept federal funds for the school then they are subject to federal law. Of course this in the U.S. I'm not sure about Norway and would check your laws to see if the same applies.

If the school is completely private with no federal funding they have more leway in what is taught or not taught in their schools. Pray in school is one example.

Edited January 28, 2010 by Loving_Wife
typo's

[Guest]

I wish all gay people are like GaySaint.