Last week Kettering City Schools’ Van Buren Middle School hosted an assembly for their young students, ages eleven to fourteen. It was for ‘Coming Out Day,’ one of several LGBT events that schools around the country are scheduling throughout the school year. One Van Buren parent vented her frustrations to The Ohio Star.
She shared a letter that she penned in response to the situation.
“My 11-year-old son came home and told me about a guy who came in to talk to the entire school, [all the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders], during a school assembly about his ‘coming out about being gay in the 6th grade’,” she wrote.
“The guy’s name is Malik Pancholy and he used to be a voice in Phineas and Ferb. Van Buren Middle School invited this man into the school without notifying the parents that this man would be promoting his book, ‘The Best At It‘ about a 6th grade boy coming out as gay,” she continued.
“Clearly, this was an underhanded attempt of school officials to go behind the backs of parents to indoctrinate children with a set of beliefs that they know many parents would adamantly disagree with and never approve for them to teach to their children,” the mom added. “This is why they didn’t notify the parents ahead of time, and had my child not shared this with me I never would have known.”
And she had questions.
Sharing one’s sexuality to 11-year-olds, many who aren’t even thinking about sex, has absolutely no place in our publically funded schools. Why did they think this was appropriate? And why did they think it was okay to teach our children without our knowledge or consent? And on top of that, use our tax money to teach our children beliefs we disagree with?”
Linda Harvey, founder of Mission America, learned about the incident and wrote an article on Thursday.
“Schools have no right to assume that a pro-‘LGBT’ worldview is an appropriate official position for a public school, and an all-student assembly carries the implied endorsement of the school. Families who are Christian, Jewish, or Muslim are completely disregarded and disrespected by the assumption that affirmation of homosexuality and gender deviance is an acceptable message. It’s the establishment of one viewpoint while foolishly promoting a morally, spiritually and medically high-risk behavior,” Harvey stated in ‘Surprise Coming Out Middle School Assembly Angers Parents’.
Harvey has also provided a calendar of LGBT events for schools in a recent write-up. It includes celebrations suggested for September, October, November, January, March, April, May and June.
The Ohio Star published an article earlier this month about Delaware County Middle Schools participating in a “health” survey that included questions about middle-schoolers’ gender, with “transgender” and “other” being options, and asking them about their sexual orientation.
On the issue of ‘Coming Out Day,’ the anonymous mom had more to say.
“Merriam Webster defines ‘bully’ as: ‘to cause [someone] to do something by means of force or coercion’.” she declared.
“Another definition describes it as: ‘a person who habitually seeks to harm or intimidate those whom they perceive as vulnerable’.,” she added.
“There’s nothing more ‘vulnerable’ than our children and no doubt there was an agenda to ‘coerce’ our children into accepting and exploring homosexuality. And the school has used their authority by promoting this agenda, which certainly can be intimidating to any students whose opinion or beliefs differ from this.”
“I would certainly call that intimidating!” she exclaimed. “So, as the school hides behind the ‘anti-bullying’ facade to deceptively promote the LGBT agenda behind parents backs, it would appear by definition they are the big bullies here. And with this parent, that’s not okay. Not on my watch.”
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Beth Lear is a reporter at The Ohio Star. Follow Beth on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Van Buren Middle School” by Van Buren Middle School.
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I applaud the Kettering City School district ( my school district) for taking a stance and informing our children that it is ok to be different. Someone needs to let the children of closed minded parents know it is ok, and that there is help and support out there for them. That being said, I do not agree with them doing so on the sly. You cannot use public monies to fund a school district and then force your views on those that may not want their children subjected to said views even if it is to better their children.
Most of the “coming out” type things is more letting everyone know it’s ok/safe to be that way and let people know. That is in no way forcing it on someone. As far as not letting people know that the event was happening I don’t blame them. There are too many close minded people. And if you want to talk about the definition of bullying try turning that same definition on religious people. Pushy and in your face check. Telling you your going to hell if you don’t believe what I believe check. And there has been plenty of times violent behavior because of said religious beliefs. Maybe that parent needs to reevaluate her thoughts on everything. Is she going to stop loving her child when they are an adult and bring home someone of the same sex?
Learning about homosexuality is the first step to acceptance of all things “not heterosexual “, and what is wrong with that??? I informed my children that they were one of many gender types, for lack of a better description, well before high school, and that was in the 90s. Wake up people!!!! Are you really serious?
I have 2 granddaughters in that age group. They are just now understanding what sex and relationships are all about. I am also against the agenda of alternative lifestyles being discussed in school. Family and close friends are appropriate to talk and listen to. I have no problem with lgb lifestyles. Schools are busy enough with curriculum learning.
This is absolutely inappropriate on many levels. Religion and parents beliefs being the highest. Age is definitely a huge concern. Kids this age are extremely impressionable. It is completley inappropriate for the school to allow this and go against MANY parents’ beliefs. When I attended, parents still had to sign permission slips just to have their children taught regular sex ed. What makes the school think this is ok without even telling the parents first? I am extremely ashamed of my hometown school district tonight.