14 Answers

No, it was not fair and neither is the compromise. Gay marriage is legal in New York where this boy goes to school. His freedom of speech was denied. The compromise is not any better than the ban. Separate but equal does not work. This is the compromise. He can give his speech but separate from the majority of the kids who would have heard it on the day he was suppose to give it. His speech was about tolerance and acceptance. Not about what the married couple do in the bedroom. NY kids have to get use to it. Homosexual marriage is legal in NY and these couple s have kids in school from kindergarten on up. This boy wanted to educate that these kids should not be picked on, bullied or harassed because they have legally wedded same sex parents. You can't hide homosexuality Randy. That closet does not have a door anymore. Kids can and do find it on the internet now. They are educating themselves when their tiny minded parents don't. 

11 years ago. Rating: 12
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I would fully expect both teachers and principals, to be far more aware of the topics which are currently discussed by school children.  Children should be given guidance at school with the boundaries firmly in place.  Giving free rein to kids to "discuss any topic" in a speech, seems to be rather foolish in the first place.  Think of the endless possibilities!

11 years ago. Rating: 10
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And so it begins again...Just another attempt to stifle the truth! I'm glad he gets to do the speech but not so much about the way they went about it and the fact that it will be a "special" assembly versus a public one! The truth shall reign...just when exactly is another question...

11 years ago. Rating: 10
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If the topic can be virtually anything, the student should have been allowed to proceed.  This is just an opinion of one child.  The school created the rules, they must abide by them.  However, before the next assignment, the school may modify the rules (before the assignment is given to the students).

11 years ago. Rating: 10
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Sorry no 5th grader should be talking about Sex and marriage of any kind, and the teacher who assigned it should have said so.

11 years ago. Rating: 10
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I think that we should let anybody, children included, what the rules are from the start of the game or speech.  If they said no restriction, that is what it should be. However!!! Many people do not want their 5th graders to hear a sex related topic.  That is good.  Kids get too much exposure to too many things at too young an age.  Before they are ready to digest it properly.  Teacher sould have thought ahead regarding boundaries allowed for the speech.  Otherwise this is what you get. We all must live with things that we do not think through.  Now teachers are not the highest paid people, but that do ok.  So part of teaching includes what are the ramifications of what i am asking my students to do.  Wake up teachers.  Don't blame the kid for this. 

11 years ago. Rating: 10
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From the somewhat confusing article, it does appear the student followed the rules and took the assignment seriously.  I didn't like the student being referred to as "he" in some paragraphs and "she" in other parts of the article.  The name "Slade" was the only one given for the student (that I saw); confusing for me. 
Personally, the student followed the guidelines and the speech should have been accepted.  

11 years ago. Rating: 9
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The student worked within the guidelines set forth and this child has to learn a lesson just as my eldest daughter had to learn.  In my daughter's case she could not create an elephant (her favorite animal) for an art project that was anatomically correct ( a male elephant )... and this child has to hear, "Ssssshhhhhh, don't talk about Mommies being married to Mommies and Daddies being married to Daddies!".

A special presentation... give me a break.

My daughter had to cut the penis off the elephant... apparently there are no male elephants permitted in school!

11 years ago. Rating: 8
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Hmmm- the "schools are trying to promote understanding and decease bullying-  I think this is a great topic for both!!!!  Th school officials are dead wrong!!!

11 years ago. Rating: 8
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Good for the kid!!..And imho his peers..Not so good that there are parents who still live in the Dark Ages..this kid is giving his speech to educate O kids(thou )Personally I think  a lot of the parents need educating...NOT pushing their Biases ON kids!!:-(..The speech is from the child`s heart about non-predjudice!!...WHY send your kids to school at all if it`s not about teaching them open-mindedness...??!...I`m totally open with my kids..No topic is off bounds and they are cool with that..Kid`s who are not ready to "Take on a topic"...then in my experience..they won`t take interest until they are ready!!....As a parent..isn`t it OUR responsibility to be honest with are kids...(Hiding away topics which don`t make the ADULT feel comfortable will leave the kid feeling more confused!!..I THINK SOME PEOPLE DON`T GIVE THEIR KIDS ENOUGH CREDIT re how children much kidsare capable of taking on board!...They`ll learn at their own rate...LIVE and LET LIVE!!..I admire this kid!!:-)

11 years ago. Rating: 8
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The  principal should be fired and replaced by wonderdyke. 

11 years ago. Rating: 4
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The teacher left the subject open. If the subject and content of the speech was not received well, then the fault lies with the teacher who expressed that there was no limit to a topic. Not an effective way to run a class. Nor am I pleased that the school is teaching the entire fifth grade to feel one way about marriage when there is clearly more than one. What is the lesson that was learned from all this?

11 years ago. Rating: 3
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what country do they live in? if its america its out right to free speech! so...the prince can build a bridge and get over it...wooooow havnt used that fraze in a long time lolz

11 years ago. Rating: 2
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Oh, fifth graders shouldn’t be writing about any sex.  All they “should” do at the age is whisper to their same-sex friends, and talk to their parents.  

 

11 years ago. Rating: 1
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