Homeschooling

[soliloquy]

All sex ed was opt in at my school. This just sounds very strange to me, this fearmongering.

Interesting. The definition of fearmongering or homophobia (same thing) has apparently been broadened in popular culture to include those who just plain disagree. Throughout history fear of the unknown has lent itself to violence or hostility. I am not a part of any hate group and I would vehemently stand against anyone who would attack a homosexual or use violent language in an attempt to harrass or intimadate them.

What you and many others are doing with the word fearmongering and homophobia is mearly an attempt to deflect a genuine criticism (or at least an opinion) that homosexuality is an immoral and unhealthy practice.

Obviously and sadly, there are people and organizations - some who profess to be Christians (but are not) - who have developed an irrational hatred towards gay people and these same people are prepared to use violent means to make their point. However, you and many other supporters of the LGBT lifestyle now resort to accusing anyone who opposes homosexuality of harboring similar hatred or fear. You and other supporters attempt to pigeon-hole Christians who believe that homosexuality is an unnatural sin as violent lunatics who hate for hatred’s sake or as fearmongerers who fear out of ignorance.

This is what it comes down to for me. What the government and society at large claim is that we need to be tolerant of the LGBT lifestyle so as not to be labled a homophobe or a fearmongerer. Originally, tolerance meant to acknowledge that others have differing beliefs and accept that it is their right to do so. In this way, Christians are to absolutely be tolerant - according to the original definition. However, once again, words are being mainpulated. Tolerance is no longer defined as an acknowledgement that others have a differing belief. It has come to mean full acceptance of those beliefs and that if we fully accept those beliefs we must also indoctrinate our children with those beliefs. To request this is counterintuitive because it precludes any personal opinion or belief at all. There is a difference between tolerating someone else's belief and accepting their belief as true. The latter is something I cannot and will not do.

Using the term homophobia to refer to anyone who opposes the LGBT lifestyle is a manipulation and a distraction - not an accurate representation of the truth.

[sanantone]

Would you include in your definition of bully, someone who tells another member she "might want to find a new forum to post on"?

Defscarlett is just warning Westerner that she might catch the gay flu because there are gay people on this forum.

[soliloquy]

I believe all schools give you the option to either opt-out or opt-in. I mean, students can even opt-out of dissecting frogs.

Your belief is incorrect.

All states are somehow involved in sex education for public schoolchildren.

As of January 1, 2014:
22 states and the District of Columbia require public schools teach sex education (20 of which mandate sex education and HIV education).
33 states and the District of Columbia require students receive instruction about HIV/AIDS.
19 states require that if provided, sex education must be medically, factually or technically accurate. State definitions of “medically accurate" vary, from requiring that the department of health review curriculum for accuracy, to mandating that curriculum be based on information from “published authorities upon which medical professionals rely.”
Many states define parents’ rights concerning sexual education:
37 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to allow parental involvement in sexual education programs.
Three states require parental consent before a child can receive instruction.
35 states and the District of Columbia allow parents to opt-out on behalf of their children.

State Policies on Sex Education in Schools

You can be sure that as the government becomes larger and larger, parents will have fewer and fewer rights regarding what their children are taught in school.

http://theadvocate.com/news/8631350-123/...xpected-to

[sanantone]

Your belief is incorrect.

All states are somehow involved in sex education for public schoolchildren.

As of January 1, 2014:
22 states and the District of Columbia require public schools teach sex education (20 of which mandate sex education and HIV education).
33 states and the District of Columbia require students receive instruction about HIV/AIDS.
19 states require that if provided, sex education must be medically, factually or technically accurate. State definitions of “medically accurate" vary, from requiring that the department of health review curriculum for accuracy, to mandating that curriculum be based on information from “published authorities upon which medical professionals rely.”
Many states define parents’ rights concerning sexual education:
37 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to allow parental involvement in sexual education programs.
Three states require parental consent before a child can receive instruction.
35 states and the District of Columbia allow parents to opt-out on behalf of their children.

State Policies on Sex Education in Schools

Okay, so 35 states and the DC let you opt-out while 3 states require you to opt-in. Oddly enough, most of the states that don't have opt-out/opt-in are conservative. Most of them stress abstinence. I only saw one that requires the coverage of contraception, and even that one stresses abstinence over contraception.
http://www.siecus.org/document/docWindow...rmatId=267

[sanantone]

Interesting. The definition of fearmongering or homophobia (same thing) has apparently been broadened in popular culture to include those who just plain disagree. Throughout history fear of the unknown has lent itself to violence or hostility. I am not a part of any hate group and I would vehemently stand against anyone who would attack a homosexual or use violent language in an attempt to harrass or intimadate them.

What you and many others are doing with the word fearmongering and homophobia is mearly an attempt to deflect a genuine criticism (or at least an opinion) that homosexuality is an immoral and unhealthy practice.

Obviously and sadly, there are people and organizations - some who profess to be Christians (but are not) - who have developed an irrational hatred towards gay people and these same people are prepared to use violent means to make their point. However, you and many other supporters of the LGBT lifestyle now resort to accusing anyone who opposes homosexuality of harboring similar hatred or fear. You and other supporters attempt to pigeon-hole Christians who believe that homosexuality is an unnatural sin as violent lunatics who hate for hatred’s sake or as fearmongerers who fear out of ignorance.

This is what it comes down to for me. What the government and society at large claim is that we need to be tolerant of the LGBT lifestyle so as not to be labled a homophobe or a fearmongerer. Originally, tolerance meant to acknowledge that others have differing beliefs and accept that it is their right to do so. In this way, Christians are to absolutely be tolerant - according to the original definition. However, once again, words are being mainpulated. Tolerance is no longer defined as an acknowledgement that others have a differing belief. It has come to mean full acceptance of those beliefs and that if we fully accept those beliefs we must also indoctrinate our children with those beliefs. To request this is counterintuitive because it precludes any personal opinion or belief at all. There is a difference between tolerating someone else's belief and accepting their belief as true. The latter is something I cannot and will not do.

Using the term homophobia to refer to anyone who opposes the LGBT lifestyle is a manipulation and a distraction - not an accurate representation of the truth.

I think the fear mongering is more in reference to people being afraid that their child will turn gay if a gay person sneezes on him/her or that they will turn gay if a teacher even utters the words "gay" or "homosexual." It is quite obvious that some in this thread are indeed afraid of hearing opposing views.

[sanantone]

Just for clarification, when a state is not listed as one that mandates opt-in/opt-out, it does not automatically mean it is forcing all school districts to offer sex ed to everyone. Kansas, for example, leaves it up to the school district to decide.

[Leebo]

My reference to fearmongering was this idea that craven teachers want to turn turn children into deviants. Believing homosexual behavior is immoral or unhealthy is just misguided or misinformed.

[sanantone]

Your belief is incorrect.

All states are somehow involved in sex education for public schoolchildren.

As of January 1, 2014:
22 states and the District of Columbia require public schools teach sex education (20 of which mandate sex education and HIV education).
33 states and the District of Columbia require students receive instruction about HIV/AIDS.
19 states require that if provided, sex education must be medically, factually or technically accurate. State definitions of “medically accurate" vary, from requiring that the department of health review curriculum for accuracy, to mandating that curriculum be based on information from “published authorities upon which medical professionals rely.”
Many states define parents’ rights concerning sexual education:
37 states and the District of Columbia require school districts to allow parental involvement in sexual education programs.
Three states require parental consent before a child can receive instruction.
35 states and the District of Columbia allow parents to opt-out on behalf of their children.

State Policies on Sex Education in Schools

You can be sure that as the government becomes larger and larger, parents will have fewer and fewer rights regarding what their children are taught in school.

Mandatory sex education expected to spark fracas | News | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

I see you edited your post with a new link. I guess you didn't read this part of the article.

Students could be excused from the classes on the written request of a parent or guardian.

[soliloquy]

I think you are missing the point. The trend is towards parents having fewer rights, not more rights. As the government becomes larger and the various movements towards universal relativism and acceptance is forced upon us, parents will begin to lose these options. I didn't forget or neglect to read what I posted. At this point, I think we are digressing from my primary point. You want to point out that parents still have rights in "most" cases. But, if there is even one district in this nation where parents do not have the rights to make these decisions for their children, that is one district too many.

[Leebo]

Are there actually any districts where they're just gonna hold your kid down and force them to watch the material like in whatever movie that was with the thing that holds the guy's eyes open? When I was in sex-ed it wasn't even graded material or anything, so it's not like there would be any tangible impact to missing it if they for some crazy reason absolutely refused to let anyone opt out.

Let's keep in mind that sex-ed comprises like 1 week of a full public school education. This is such an insignificant thing.