Evesham errors

By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
Collegian Editor
February 21, 2007

Do you know how I learned about sex? While sitting at a third grade cafeteria table, some kid asked me how many times one goes into zero. After thinking about the mathematical answers to his question, I was able to read between the lines and discover the mysteries of the universe.

That definitely wasn’t the most efficient way to learn about the birds and the bees, and the next few years saw me fumbling with how the biology, chemistry and anatomy (especially anatomy) of it all really functioned. Other than the one small bit of information, I was pretty much in the dark about sex until my health class in fifth grade shed light on the subject.

As a local South Jersey school district quarrels over the extent of sex-ed in its elementary schools, the topic has jumped to the forefront again. It seems showing 8-year-olds videos featuring homosexuals is a hot topic and a lightning rod for controversy.

This begs the question regarding what should kids know about not just sex, but sexuality. If Americans expect people to be tolerant, shouldn’t they first be educated on the topic?

In Evesham, N.J., parents debated ad nausem the topic of what their kids should learn. It seemed a very split verdict was reached with no clear cut conclusion.

People need to throw out their preconceived notions, prejudices and reservations about sex. According to a Feb. 14 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the video shown by the school was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education, an executive department which traces its authority back to President George W. Bush, who, if you didn’t know, isn’t the most embracing fellow when it comes to gay relations.

Aside from its authority, the video had absolutely nothing wrong in it. Simply put, the video, entitled That’s a Family! depicted various types of families, from nuclear to mixed-race to, the topic of discussion, homosexual. Imagine, a video stating the truth: not everyone comes from homes that have a mom, a dad, a brother and a sister. Imagine, children being taught that people come from different backgrounds.

The major source of dissent is that these kids are too young to learn about this stuff. However, what happens when one child plays over another child’s house and realizes his/her friend has parents of the same gender? Teaching kids that people come from all sorts of backgrounds has zero negative effects.

If parents have a problem with their children being taught to accept people, then they are free to take them to any of the fine private institutions our country offers. If they can’t afford it, then they can have the kid sit in the library while the rest of the child’s friends learn what it is like to live in the real world.

People are different. Homogenous people need to start accepting homosexual people. Why not start when kids are good and young? And not just homosexuals: transsexuals, hermaphrodites and cross dressers are people, too. They say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten. Tolerance sounds like a good lesson to me.

scavuzzos1@lasalle.edu