Opinion on teaching 'King & King' re: parental consent

The following paragraph is a facebook message from a friend who is seeking diverse opinions on the subject of teaching Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland's book "King & King" in the elementary classroom.

Hey everyone! Looking for some feedback on this one. I've been asked to help with a presentation to the Education Dept @ JSU. My role of the presentation would be to introduce the children's book "The King and King" and why it's important to have in the classroom and why it should be allowed. If your not familiar, the book simply normalizes homosexuality and same-sex marriage on a child's level. Obviously it's been known for it's controversy. My question to you all is your opinion. Should there be required "parental consent" for this book to be read in a classroom and why/why not?

Info on the book, it's sequel and a previous case of parental consent at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_&_King

Any opinions and elaborations are welcomed. Thanks for your help!

Understand that my friend is giving a presentation to the University Education Department (Jacksonville State University in Alabama) that will influence what education students are taught regarding this book, it's place in the classroom and how to best anticipate parental concerns.

Otherwise it looks like you're trying to sneak the idea in behind the parent's backs. If it's a worthy idea, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. If you're afraid of the response, maybe it's not the best idea.

I agree that the perception of 'sneakyness' can fuel cries of 'they're trying to indoctrinate our children with the gay' from parents who are inclined to think that way. And in Alabama... let's just say we have one or two who fit that description.

Thanks again for your input!

Otherwise, the religious morons will try to literally crucify her. They will anyway, but with parental consent, and the option to keep their hell-spawn away from anything that might pierce the cloud of ignorance Jeebuz has cloaked over their heads, they will have much less of a leg to stand on.

My friend is a he, but that's not really relevant... just sayin'.

My gut reaction was that parental consent should not be required, but the reality of the situation seems to counsel in the other direction.

However, given the reality of the religious maniacs in this country and the fact that they are taken seriously by far too many people, it is essential.

In real life...esp., one suspects, in Alabama... a teacher will catch hell for not asking for consent. However, since it's theoretical ( i.e. ed. dept; college or post grad level)

"no" is more easily defended.

Now that I think of it, teech will catch hell it Ala. (and a lot of other places for that matter) for even proposing the *idea* of King and King. In NYC, by comparison, they'll make you submit it as a proposal in writing then just let it sit on someone's desk in the bureaucracy for two hundred years; killing it THAT way.

Real progress involves taking some risks and bending some rules. A la Montgomery bus boycott and Rosa Parks. ( Just up the road!)

So screw the permission slips.



Here's how it went in Mass. by comparison. Your results may ( and probably WILL) vary.

Parent's lawsuit against district re. king and King:

From wiki


>>>>>>>>We felt like seven years old is not appropriate to introduce homosexual themes. <...> My problem is that this issue of romantic attraction between two men is being presented to my seven-year-old as wonderful, and good and the way things should be. <...> Let us know and let us excuse our child from the discussion. ”

The judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying "Diversity is a hallmark of our nation"<2> <3>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It seems that, in Alabama, to ask is to be denied.

I wonder how many teachers would actually put their job on the line to teach this book without parental consent, though. Even if a judge came to a similar conclusion to the Mass. case, the teacher would likely be effectively screwed and ostracized already.

Again, I would say teach it and let the chips fall where they may... but if my livelihood were on the line, I'd probably be less courageous.