Awesome kid / dumb school

[Plantaganet]

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/163141/ny1-exclusive--school-prohibits-fifth-grader-from-giving-speech-on-same-sex-marriage

Kameron for president (eventually!)

[WillParkinson]

1. Video link

[ladjf]

3. The obviously bright child did a good job of reading a well written

essay on the topic of same gender marriage. He and the paper's author should be commended.

However, the fifth grade already had a teacher. The speech had an obvious bias toward same sex marriage. To be perfectly fair, other children who's views are against same sex marriage should also have the right to state their position to the fifth grade class. At what point would the teacher be forced to shut down debate of the parent's views and continue with the 5th grade curriculum required of the school system?

The school system shouldn't be put in a position of judging the ethicality or rightfulness of every topic any student might want to present in the open classroom, particularly at such a low grade level. They have required information to teach, set up by the school system.

The suggestion that the principal be fired over her/his decision shows a profound lack of understanding about the role of public schools as they relate to the best interest of all of the students.
Such a dismissal would be reversed by the courts at some level.

Finally, I state that I, personally, am a staunch advocate of the right to same sex marriage and were I a high school principal, I would approve of such a speech in civics or social studies classes at the Junior or Senior level where the discourse would likely be the creative thinking of the students rather than related adults who are pushing an agenda and the listeners would be interested and receptive to such a topic.

[FreeState]

4. Marriage description has ended in NY so why is it inappropriate

I don't get it - when I was in with grade I understood what a family was and what marriage was.

[ladjf]

6. I believe the debate here is caused by different interpretations of the

word "inappropriate".

In the most common use of the word, it can mean something that should be said or done as though it might be bad manners, vulgar or something along those lines.

In the school setting, I feel that when the principal ruled the speech out saying it was "inappropriate", he/she meant that the 5th grade was not where such a topic could best be discussed.

Had the child been a Junior or Senior in a social studies class, it's likely that the principal would have allowed. At least, I would have if I had been the principal. It's an important, contemporary topic that
needs to be discussed in school settings.

[William769]

5. You are never to young not to be taught to be a bigot.

Equality is equality no matter how anyone tries to say otherwise.

Not only should the principal be fired, his teaching credentials revoked.

Not letting the speech be permitted is a obvious bias against same sex marriage.

[William769]

2. Inappropriate?

It's the law in New York!

The principal should be removed. God forbid tolerance is taught at such a young age.