Second grader punished for talking about his gay mom

[Chewbacca]

This type of 'political correctness' is by far the most ridiculous and insidious. Gay is not a curse word. Gay is not profanity. Gay is not bad. Gay is not dirty. Mmmkay?

Link

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana (AP) -- A 7-year-old boy was scolded and forced to write "I will never use the word 'gay' in school again" after he told a classmate about his lesbian mother, the American Civil Liberties Union alleged Monday. Second-grader Marcus McLaurin was waiting for recess November 11 at Ernest Gaullet Elementary School when a classmate asked about Marcus' mother and father, the ACLU said in a complaint. Marcus responded he had two mothers because his mother is gay. When the other child asked for explanation, Marcus told him: "Gay is when a girl likes another girl," according to the complaint. A teacher who heard the remark scolded Marcus, telling him "gay" was a "bad word" and sending him to the principal's office. The following week, Marcus had to come to school early and repeatedly write: "I will never use the word 'gay' in school again." A phone message left for Lafayette Parish schools superintendent James Easton was not immediately returned. The ACLU is demanding the case be removed from Marcus' file and that the school apologize to the boy and his mother, Sharon Huff. "I was concerned when the assistant principal called and told me my son had said a word so bad that he didn't want to repeat it over the phone," Huff said. "But that was nothing compared to the shock I felt when my little boy came home and told me that his teacher had told him his family is a dirty word."

[Azred]

Having lived in Louisiana for years (that was quite a while ago, though) I am not surprised. However, the school should apologize to the boy and his family and subsequently remove any disciplinary action from his file.

I have an aunt named Gay. Perhaps she shouldn't visit Louisiana anytime soon. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[LordKathen]

Pathetic conservative control. When are these people going to get with it and realise that it is not the 40's or 50's anymore? This is rediculous.

[ 12-02-2003, 03:49 AM: Message edited by: LordKathen ]

[Timber Loftis]

I better tell cousin Fag to cancel his Mardis Gras plans.

[Azimaith]

Originally posted by LordKathen: Pathetic conservative control. When are these people going to get with it and realise that it is not the 40's or 50's anymore? This is rediculous.

I can't believe i'm still seeing this. RIDICULOUS! I I I!!

Anyhow, "gay" to some might be tomorrows "■■■■■■" (i'm only using this term for relationship, please don't ban me!)

Anywho, its a common term now and theres no reason why this kid should be punished for using a word so completely slathered all over the media thats its impossible not to hear.

Also note that this doesn't have anything to do with Conservative Control, far right bible thumpers would be screaming gay if it was considered a bad word as homosexuality is not positively looked at, instead its obviously another case of PC, the most worthless creation ever, and for once I finally see the ACLU DOING SOMETHING RIGHT! Thats right, the ACLU actually did something worthwhile FINALLY! In the 40-50's when there was ALOT of people who despised homosexuals they would not only call them gay, but an assortment of other worse names, your looking at this backward. Back on topic, the teacher should shut his arse, we don't need this PC crapola in schools, if the kids going to use a term thats so commonly spewed all over the place then leave it be, you can't turn on the television to anything, even news channels which are usually considered respectable wiithout hearing the word gay.

[johnny]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: I better tell cousin Fag to cancel his Mardis Gras plans.

ROFL Bottoms up Timber.

[WillowIX]

Aaah there's nothing like subtle discrimination. Or wait that wasn't very subtle was it? Somehow I don't think it is so much political correctness that it is small mindedness.

i'm not one to often give the benefit of the doubt, but it's entirely possible that the teacher only heard the word "gay" and not the context in which it was used. i can easily picture a teacher hearing that word ring out from the background noise, grabbing the student by the ear, marching him to the principal, who's right on the phone to mom... without ever getting the child's explanation.

of course the rate at which taboo words are quickly becoming not-taboo indicates just how far behind that little corner of west virginia is... but i digress.

anyway, let's hope it was an "innocent" mistake

[ 12-03-2003, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: sultan ]

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by LordKathen: Pathetic conservative control. When are these people going to get with it and realise that it is not the 40's or 50's anymore? This is rediculous.

"Pathetic conservative control"????

Funny, I didn't see anything in the article about the teacher or principals' political affiliation. Guess you must know something I don't. [img]graemlins/dontknowaboutyou.gif[/img]

I was very surprised and disappointed to see this kind of arbitrary blanket-blaming statement from you, Lord K. [img]graemlins/verysad.gif[/img] That's not the kind of comment I would expect from you.

[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by sultan: i'm not one to often give the benefit of the doubt, but it's entirely possible that the teacher only heard the word "gay" and not the context in which it was used. i can easily picture a teacher hearing that word ring out from the background noise, grabbing the student by the ear, marching him to the principal, who's right on the phone to mom... without ever getting the child's explanation. of course the rate at which taboo words are quickly becoming not-taboo indicates just how far behind that little corner of west virginia is... but i digress. anyway, let's hope it was an "innocent" mistake

sultan - I'm afraid the fact that the student was made to write "I will never use the word "gay" in school again" repeatedly the following week negates the possibility of this just being an "innocent mistake". I honostly cannot figure out where these school officials are coming from. The article said it was a parish school, so I assume that it is a private religious school. However, most religions don't consider "gay" to be a "bad word". In fact, they usually use the more blunt term "homosexual". I can't fathom why they would consider the word "gay" to be "bad".

Well, I have to agree that A.C.L.U. was right to step in this time. I don't agree with the A.C.L.U. very much because I think they often make a mountain out of a molehill and scream "discrimination" where none really exists...but in this case they are absolutely right on target. There is NOTHING wrong with what the child said and this incident should definitely be removed from his permanent record (IF it was recorded there, which it may not have been). I also agree that the principal AND the teacher owe the student AND his mom an apology. It doesn't have to be public, but they should definitely be big enough to meet the mom face-to-face and apologize for the incident.