Christian Newswire | Chip White | Oct. 11, 2008
In the same week that the No on 8 campaign launched an ad that labeled as “lies” claims that same-sex marriage would be taught in schools to young children, a first grade class took a school-sponsored trip to a gay wedding. Eighteen first graders traveled to San Francisco City Hall Friday for the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian partner, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The school sponsored the trip for the students, ages 5 and 6, taking them away from their studies for the same-sex wedding. According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the public school field trip demonstrates that the California Supreme Court’s decision to legal same-sex marriage has real consequences.
“Taking children out of school for a same-sex wedding is not customary education. This is promoting same-sex marriage and indoctrinating young kids,” said Yes on 8—ProtectMarriage.com Campaign Co-Manager Frank Schubert. “I doubt the school has ever taken kids on a field trip to a traditional wedding,” Schubert said.
When asked by the Yes on 8 campaign, The San Francisco Chronicle reporter said she did not know if the school had ever sponsored a field trip for students to a traditional wedding. Telling the Chronicle that the field trip was “a teachable moment,” the school’s principal believes it is perfectly appropriate for first graders to attend a same-sex wedding. Officials in other school districts disagree.
“Prop. 8 protects our children from being taught in public schools that ‘same-sex marriage’ is the same as traditional marriage,” said Santa Ana Unified School District board member Rosemarie “Rosie” Avila. “We should not accept a court decision that results in public schools teaching our kids that gay marriage is okay. That is an issue for parents to discuss with their children according to their own values and beliefs. It shouldn’t be forced on us against our will,” Avila added.
The lesbian teacher’s wedding was officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Newsom is featured in a Yes on 8 television ad, released last week, in which he arrogantly declares of same-sex marriage: “The door’s wide open now. It’s gonna happen, whether you like it or not.”
The Yes on 8 campaign’s ads explain that if the voters do not overturn the California Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling, teachers will be required to teach young children that there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage.
“It’s totally unreasonable that a first grade field trip would be to a same-sex wedding,” said Chip White, Press Secretary for Yes on 8. “This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to understand it.”
The trip underscores the Yes on 8 campaign’s message that unless Prop. 8 passes, children will be taught about same-sex marriage in public schools. “Not only can it happen, it has already happened,” White said.
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Outrageous stuff here.
It’s worth pointing out that every single student who attended the wedding had their parents’ permission.
In fact, the field trip was organized by parents, and it was a surprise to the teacher.
Here’s a link to the SF Chronicle article in question:
Class surprises lesbian teacher on wedding day
So, what’s “outrageous?” Are you saying, Michelle, that parents shouldn’t have a right to know and influence what their children are exposed to in school? I thought that was the whole point of all the “what about the lessons that children are being taught” whinging. Here’s a clear-cut case where parents made a decision about what their children would see, and both Christian Newswire and Orthodoxy Today write about it as if it’s a bad thing.
Which is it? Parents should have rights, or parents shouldn’t have rights? Or, should parents only have rights when they agree with your religious views?
Furthermore, while Banescu and “Orthodoxy Today” probably didn’t know that the story was being presented grossly out of context by the Christian Newswire, Chip White and the Newswire must have been well aware that they were bending the truth to make it sound like a teacher or a school district were including “gay marriage” in their lesson plan against the wishes of parents.
There’s nothing wrong with a conversation about our publics schools, and parents’ rights, and what our states’ children are taught. But when a purportedly Christian organization resorts to distortion and lying to try to make a political point, it’s sickening. Did Jesus say, “The ends justifies the means?”
What were these parents thinking if they allowed their children to attend a “field trip” like this? Please tell me there was a permission slip sent home to parents advising them of what the field trip would be.
Can you picture what this must have been like for a 5 or 6 year old little girl to want to attend her teacher’s wedding. (Or little boy for that matter too.) Most children adore their teachers. How hard that would be for little children that don’t understand to have to miss a field trip their classmates would be going on. Look at the pressure that must have put on some young parents who are still in the process of developing their own moral values and how they may have caved from ”peer pressure.”
I don’t know that teacher and she may be a very sweet lady and a very competent teacher in every other aspect but she gets an F in her judgement on this field trip. She will be held accountable at her judgement day.
This is reprehensible. What is next? Do these people have no shame? A 5-6 year child is innocent and should not be subjected to this type of education. I am utterly appauled. Why not take your 1st grader to see a PG-13 or R rated movie sanctioned by the school district with alternative lifestyle thematic elements. Please elighten me as to what the difference would be.