This first grade classroom is going to the chapel
Oct 14, 2008 In my humble opinion
Some first grade students in San Francisco went on a field trip. Ok? So what’s so exciting about that? First graders go on field trips all the time.
Well this first grade class went on a field trip to city hall. To surprise their teacher at her wedding. Her wedding to her same-sex partner.
As you can guess some people are outraged (especially those behind Prop 8). They ask, “What does this have to do with school? Why is a school *gasp* subjecting six- and seven-year-old kids to homosexuality?”
First, the field trip was a parent’s idea. The parent approached the school about having the kids surprise their teacher at her wedding. And, after some consideration, the school decided that was a great idea. Eighteen students went on the field trip with their parent’s permission. Two kids stayed behind in other first grade classrooms at their parent’s request.
Second, this is a great learning opportunity for these kids. Will a 6-year-old “turn gay” because he went to a same-sex wedding when he was in the first grade? Um, no. But it will teach him to accept all types of people, even those that are different than him and his family
Third, it’s practically a history lesson. These kids just became part of history. Same-sex marriages just became legal in the state of California earlier this year. So far only three states in the Union acknowledge same-sex marriages. So it’s pretty amazing that they got to be part of one of those legal ceremonies.
Kids are very tolerant. At this age they are just beginning to learn to hate others (either because of what their parents are teaching them or because of what they hear from their peers). Up until this point kids are very accepting of people no matter what their skin color, their religion or their choice of life partner. That’s part of what’s so awesome about kids. The fact that they are so innocent and accepting. It’s a perfect time to hold on to that innocence and remind them that everybody is unique and that’s okay.
And 6-year-old Nolan Alexander said it best when he said marriage is “people falling in love.” Why does it matter what sex they are?
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Tags: field trip, gay marriage, same-sex marriage
October 15th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I think that field trip was awesome!! And, kudos to the parent who organized it. I am sure that the kids loved the idea of surprising their teacher and I imaginge that the teacher was really touched by the surprise (I would be!!).
It sounds to me like the parent and school did everything fine – parents had the option to not allow their kids to attend (which a couple did – though I feel sorry for those kids missing such a big event in their teacher’s life and being left out of an activity that most of their school mates attended).
Mom
October 15th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Very well written! Kudos to the school and the parents that granted permission. Kids need to know that people are just people and deserve the same kindness as anyone else.
Mrs. Schmittys last blog post..The Bullet Catch Up
October 15th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
“If only I could see the world through the eyes of a child, all would be bright and beautiful again.” I don’t know who said that, I can’t recall, but its one of my favorite quotes. Its so sad that as we age, we also become biased in our views and rigid in our opinions. Children don’t see “same sex”. They see people. What a wonderful point of view.
Farmer Janes last blog post..City Sex, Writer’s Block, Functional Disfunctionality
October 17th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I heard about this on the radio & missed the beginning of the story. I mainly caught the callers that didn’t agree with it. I thought it was the teachers idea & I thought I’d be mad myself. It seemed an inappropriate field trip for the kids. I would have felt the same way at a wedding with a man & woman though as well.
Now seeing it was a parents idea to surprise the teacher, I don’t see anything wrong with it. I think it is nice they let them go & the parents did have a choice in the matter. I’m sure the kids enjoyed sharing that moment with their teacher.