Under the pretext of developing “safe school” curriculum, a textbook publishing company is releasing middle school curriculum to address the needs of gay-, lesbian-, and transgender-identified students.
In response to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) national school climate survey, which indicated that just 6 percent of school libraries contained gay-related resources, Mason Crest Publishing will introduce this fall a 15-book series called, “The Gallup’s Modern Guide to Gay, Lesbian & Transgender Life.”
The curriculum purports to address significant topics, including social and political stigmas, bullying, family structures, etc.
“For us, it’s a crucial age where you can develop the thinking and the awareness and the open-mindedness to students,” says Louis Cohen, principal and creative director for Mason Crest Publishing.
The values students acquire outside of school are purposefully challenged by this book series.
“Maybe their peers or their parents or their social networks,” says Louis Cohen, “aren’t going to really spell things out for them in a way that lets them, you know, take a good opinion of something and they’re very impressionable.”
Candi Cushman, CitizenLink’s education analyst, said this educational trend is one-sided, irresponsible and potentially damaging – in terms of their spiritual, psychological, emotional and physical health.
“We’re seeing more and more advocacy publishers targeting kids – at younger and younger ages – with materials that promote homosexuality,” said Cushman. “Children may then be pushed into prematurely embracing a sexual identity they may not be ready to handle.”
Cushman said that social science data has shown that a significant percentage of children, starting at age 12, are unsure about their sexual identity and that uncertainty may not solidify until the age of 17 or 18.
“Clearly, the middle and high school years are a crucial and vulnerable time for children who are developing in many ways,” said Cushman. “Schools certainly shouldn’t be opening their doors to messages that push children into prematurely embracing a sexual identity based on the demands of outside advocacy groups.”
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