Championing a Minority
In "Supporting the Invisible Minority" (April 1997), John D. Anderson establishes that schools unjustly discriminate against homosexuals. I fully agree. We must do everything we can to prevent prejudices from poisoning a learning environment.
What I found very troubling, however, was the thesis that we can reduce this discrimination by promoting the homosexual lifestyle as commonplace and socially and morally acceptable. Significant numbers of educators—including Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims—believe that homosexuality is a serious transgression against God. Anderson is in effect asking these educators (dare I call them "minority educators"?) to act contrary to their deepest religious convictions.
In championing the welfare of his chosen minority, Anderson also suggests that homosexuals deserve special attention. Of the hundreds of identifiable minorities in our schools, why are we to give special recognition to homosexuals ahead of such abused groups as ugly kids, or fat kids, or Jewish kids, or poor kids, or all the rest?
I feel the same way about Ann Edwards's "Let's Stop Ignoring our Gay and Lesbian Youth" (April 1997). If you choose to run articles of this type, I would suggest you concurrently run articles representing other viewpoints.
These articles have, however, been of some use to me; they have helped me decide to send my children to private schools.
—Andrew C. Seibert, Graduate Instructor, Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Offensive Lifestyle
By printing the articles by John Anderson and Ann Edwards, you have condoned a lifestyle that many find deeply offensive. By accepting this lifestyle as normal, schools would cause some students who might otherwise have resisted their homosexual feelings to "come out," as they say. My view of homosexuality is rooted in my religious beliefs. By law, however, I cannot teach or even refer to those beliefs in the classroom. I respect this law; I don't want someone teaching my child their religious beliefs.
Verbal slurs and violence against any student are intolerable. Still, I do not believe that homosexuality should have a place in the curriculum. This is a fight in which you should not have become involved.
—Liz Barton, Searcy, Arkansas
Affirming Support
Thank you for publishing the articles by Anderson and Edwards on gay and lesbian youth in education. I applaud the authors for bringing attention to these issues in an affirming manner.
—Robert Schaecher, The Calhoun School and Professional Interest Network contact for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Youth, American School Counselor Association, New York, New York
An Encouraging Sign
I hope this is one of the many letters of congratulation that Ann Edwards and John D. Anderson receive for "Supporting the Invisible Minority" and "Lets Stop Ignoring Our Gay and esbian Youth." It is encouraging know that a growing number of educators are publicly advocating for gay and lesbian students. As an active ASCD member for more than 20 years, I commend you and ASCD for providing the necessary leadership through the "journal of choice" in our profession.
—Charlotte I. Spungin, Education Consultant, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Appalled at Recognition of homosexuals
I was appalled to see the two obviously pro-homosexual articles in the April issue. America, and especially the educational system, seems to be catering to every whim of every group that demands recognition. Homosexuality is an abomination in God's sight. The homosexual lifestyle is not a gene one is born with; it is a choice made or a choice forced upon an unsuspecting child. Children were not confused about these things until homosexual teachers began "coming out of the closet."
What we really need is to get the Bible and prayer back in the schools and to allow teachers to discipline students and be teachers—not cultural sociologists. Children need and long for adults to provide standards for their lives.
I suspected that ASCD might condone the homosexual movement and have a homosexual network when it cited "diversity" as one of its goals—"lifestyle diversity" obviously included. These two articles confirmed my suspicions. Does ASCD have a fundamentalist Christian network as well? I doubt it.
—William E. Garner, Hartsville, South Carolina
