Elementary social engineering

By Kylie Jane Wakefield
Collegian Editor
February 21, 2007

Once again, the morality, ethics and opinions of the general American population have come into question. This time, parents in Evesham, N.J. are in an uproar over a video shown to 8-year-old students that shows different family dynamics. The video, titled That’s a Family!, depicts numerous types of families, from “mixed-race, divorced and single parents, as well as adoptive parents, guardians and same-sex couples,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer (“Gay-parent film debate rolls on in Evesham,” Feb. 14).

The central issue that is gaining opposition, and little support, is whether or not young children should be taught sex education and morality in a classroom setting, especially at a young age. I, personally, am in 100 percent support of the idea. Many believe that life lessons and tolerance should be taught in the home, not in an educational setting. But what happens when parents aren’t preaching equality, tolerance and even acceptance? Children are heavily influenced by what they hear, see and are taught in school, if not by teachers, but by peers as well.

Growing up, my peers were whom I looked to for acceptance, and therefore, I’d try and fit in with them. But they often used homophobic slurs and hateful language, often because they just wanted to “fit in” as well. As a 10-year-old, I couldn’t comprehend that I didn’t have to use this language to also gain friends, so I participated in it for some time, seeing no harm in my actions. I was uncomfortable using the slang and was only perpetuating its existence every time I said one of these popular words. Of course, I stopped after a few months, realizing that if I wanted to fit in at school, I shouldn’t have to sell out on my morals to do so.

The point is, most children will try and ingratiate themselves to their peers no matter what, even if that means using slurs or even going so far as to hate someone for being different. If my peers had been shown the video from Evesham in our elementary school, I have no doubt that we would have thought twice before acting hatefully. For a country that tries so hard to be politically correct, I’m amazed that this video’s usefulness in a classroom has even been brought to the forefront.

The other issue at hand is whether or not children should be taught about sex as early as third grade. The video does not teach sex-ed, but simply understanding and hopefully tolerance of all types of families. It’s painfully obvious that the parents complaining are more concerned about the homosexuality portion of the problem more than anything else. With the gay marriage debate and now this, I’m disgusted with America’s prejudice against anything that doesn’t suit “the norm.” Children should be taught important lessons at a young age so they will know where they stand on moral ground by the time they are adults. With the media to confuse them, it’s vital that they can learn some valuable lessons in the classroom, rather than just memorizing a times table or knowing state capitals. I can only hope that this video and similar ones will be shown in classrooms, teaching children the importance of tolerance. In America, a country with such diverse backgrounds and morals, it’s key that children know where they stand early, before they end up only sustaining such dangerous ignorance.

wakefieldk1@lasalle.edu