During the last week in January, kids in public schools across the land will be participating in yet another event sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

But this time the event in question—No Name-Calling Week—is aimed primarily at elementary and middle school kids. While No Name-Calling Week does have some laudable goals, such as “eliminating harmful name-calling,” unfortunately, the event also emphasizes the usual homosexuality indoctrination that has made GLSEN infamous.

If you’ve discovered that your child’s school is celebrating GLSEN’s No Name-Calling Week, here are some things you might want to be aware of …

 Reading assignments from The Misfits, by James Howe

According to GLSEN, its No Name-Calling Week was inspired by this book, which GLSEN lists as a resource for kids as young as third grade. The story features best friends who form a “No-Name” party to influence the school’s student council elections—and at the same time encourage their classmates to stop insulting each other. The plot is creative and some of the characters are engaging. Unfortunately, the positive components are intermixed with liberal and pro-gay messages throughout the book. In fact, there are times when The Misfits reads like talking points ripped straight from gay advocacy groups’ press releases.

Below are some excerpts from The Misfits that may be of concern to many parents. (Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive review—just enough to give you the basic idea.)

*One of the book’s heroines refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance in class: “Well, admittedly, what is pledged is allegiance—or loyalty—to one’s country. But isn’t there the implication of a promise of liberty and justice for all? And do we have liberty and justice for all in this country? I think not” (Page 19).

 *Another main character in the book is a gay-identified, seventh-grade student named Joe. Joe is first presented to readers as a four-year-old wearing a dress. “I never knew a boy who wore a dress,” I told him. “There’s a lot you don’t know,” he said. … It wasn’t the last time Joe wore a dress. He kept taking stuff from his mother’s closet and trying it on until his mother finally gave him his own box filled with clothes she was through with and he could dress up to his heart’s content” (Page 34). Readers are then led along a romantic-suspense storyline about the now middle-school aged Joe, as he discusses his desire to hold hands with another boy and eventually begins his first same-sex dating relationship.

No Name-Calling Week Middle School Level Lesson Plans

GLSEN also provides specific lesson plans to go along with No Name-Calling Week. Some of these lessons will cause concern for parents.

 To read more, click here.

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