Los Angeles: parents stormed school board meetings because it ordered school curriculum promoting homosexuality, transgenderism, pre-marital sex, and

[Pattylt]

I have a teenaged granddaughter and maybe it’s just a local thing but…many of her classmates, both boys and girls went solo. My granddaughter even bemoaned the fact that she had a date but would have preferred going alone. “They danced with everyone and I was stuck with my date all night!“

Kids don’t really date like we used to. They prefer to do things in groups much more than one to one dates. I’m seeing this more and more. Last year, my husband and I went out to dinner at a nice restaurant and it was one of the HS prom night. There were several tables with 5-7 kids, no one seemed to be paired up though some might have been. They were dressed to the max…so lovely to see! But you could tell that many of them weren’t with just one date! I only saw two other tables with just one boy/one girl. I think there were around five other tables that were groups.

I’ll have to ask my granddaughter if most kids consider dating at all or just rarely? Interesting…I love the idea of having no pressure to date nowadays. Much healthier and better left to when you’re of a more marriageable age…and can afford it!

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Why are Amerixan teenagers so obsessed with pairing up at such a young age? Why not just go stag, hang out with your friends and have a good time?

It’s just a cultural thing… but that is changing. See @Pattylt’s comments above.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

LilyM:

Why are Amerixan teenagers so obsessed with pairing up at such a young age? Why not just go stag, hang out with your friends and have a good time?

It’s just a cultural thing… but that is changing.

I’m noticing this too.
There’s is also indication that pre marital sex rates are declining in teenagers.

However, I think it’s for all the wrong reasons…

It seems to me that teenagers are increasingly socially inept. That they spend more time on screens than in real person face-to-face interaction. That there are definitely increased rates of anxiety and depression and other blocks to normal interaction.

Not that I endorse kids having sex, but it one thing to decide not to have sex because of the spiritual path you’re on, and another thing entirely to not have sex because you simply don’t have the social skills in your repertoire to attract a partner.

 

[Pattylt]

Not that I endorse kids having sex, but it one thing to decide not to have sex because of the spiritual path you’re on, and another thing entirely to not have sex because you simply don’t have the social skills in your repertoire to attract a partner.

I agree that kids today don’t seem to have the same set of social skills we had at that age, I do think they are developing social skills…it’s just very different from ours. Is it better…debatable…but, these kids still talk about sex a lot. They are much more educated about it than I was at that age and they are much more picky about engaging in sex. The casual sex of the 90’s seems to have shifted. Most aren’t more picky because of religious reasons but because they are rejecting the attitude of just having sex for sex’s sake. Certainly not all of them but in greater numbers. It might be due to less face to face interaction but many seem to be consciously choosing to have sex within a meaningful relationship first. Many, boys and girls, are valuing their virginity. They understand it’s a one time experience to lose it.

It will be interesting to see how this progresses into the future and I’m certainly not going to make any predictions!

 

[HomeschoolDad]

I agree that kids today don’t seem to have the same set of social skills we had at that age, I do think they are developing social skills…it’s just very different from ours. Is it better…debatable…but, these kids still talk about sex a lot. They are much more educated about it than I was at that age and they are much more picky about engaging in sex. The casual sex of the 90’s seems to have shifted. Most aren’t more picky because of religious reasons but because they are rejecting the attitude of just having sex for sex’s sake. Certainly not all of them but in greater numbers. It might be due to less face to face interaction but many seem to be consciously choosing to have sex within a meaningful relationship first. Many, boys and girls, are valuing their virginity. They understand it’s a one time experience to lose it.

There are other things in the world besides social skills. And sometimes, people with superlative social skills can be horribly manipulative, attempting to get a constellation of people around them to do their bidding — and sometimes succeeding at it. It is refreshing sometimes for people just to “be what they are”, “what you see is what you get”, and not have to dissect what they say, what they do, and what their motives are.

That said, I also find it refreshing when young people go through such outdated rituals as time-of-day-appropriate salutations (“have a good evening”, not the vapid “have a good one”) and saying who they are when they call someone on the phone before asking to speak to so-and-so.

 

[Pattylt]

they call someone on the phone before asking to speak to so-and-so.

To me, that’s just manners taught by parents. I was taught thus as I also taught my children. When I get a phone call asking to speak to someone, if they haven’t identified themselves, I’ll ask, to whom am I speaking? I’ve found that about 80% of them are spam callers and don’t want to identify themselves! If they don’t, then they don’t get passes on to whomever they wanted. If they’re spammers or cold callers, they don’t get passed on either. Normal people calling always identify themselves immediately or when asked.

Since kids don’t make phone calls anymore, we developed texting rules. Phones are turned off or left in the bedrooms during meals…including breakfast as that when all the kids are trying to connect with friends the most. Back in the Stone Age of my youth, no one called during dinner hours or after about 9pm. It just didn’t happen unless it was an emergency. As a matter of fact, when my phone rings after 9pm, the first thing I think of is, Who Died!

 

[Salibi]

and saying who they are when they call someone on the phone before asking to speak to so-and-so.

Do some young people really not do that? I’m a young person (19) and I’ve never called a friend’s house and immediately asked to speak to that friend. Usually I would make a little small talk with the parent or grandparent or whomever answered the phone (Hello Mrs. X! How are you doing today?) unless I don’t know them completely in which case I would just say, “Hello, this is Salibi, X’s friend. May I please speak with him?”. If I know something about the person who answered I might ask about it (Y told me you weren’t feeling well, are you better now?). That’s basically what everyone I know does when calling. I’ve never heard or had someone call and immediately ask to speak to someone else. Frankly I would find that too brusque for my taste and answer gruffly, “Who is this?”.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

they call someone on the phone before asking to speak to so-and-so.

To me, that’s just manners taught by parents. I was taught thus as I also taught my children. When I get a phone call asking to speak to someone, if they haven’t identified themselves, I’ll ask, to whom am I speaking? I’ve found that about 80% of them are spam callers and don’t want to identify themselves! If they don’t, then they don’t get passes on to whomever they wanted. If they’re spammers or cold callers, they don’t get passed on either. Normal people calling always identify themselves immediately or when asked.

Beginning a phone call with “can I speak to so-and-so?” is an American thing, and Americans have come to prize efficiency over decorum. In Poland, you always begin an outbound phone call with “HomeschoolDad mowi” (pronounced “movie”), meaning “this is HomeschoolDad calling” — Polish can be a very terse language. I hope that hasn’t changed.

I always refer to Poland because that is the non-American culture with which I have the greatest familiarity, having spent a considerable amount of time there earlier in my life. I don’t know what they do in other cultures. I do know that France has a very elaborated culture around the service industry — you do not just barge into a store and start telling them what you want. That is considered disrespectful of the shopkeeper. You begin a polite conversation. That, too, I find very refreshing.

 

[27lw]

What teenagers call somebody’s house phone? Not very many people have house phones any more.
When do they even call each other at all, rather than texting, Instagram, etc?

 

[Salibi]

What teenagers call somebody’s house phone? Not very many people have house phones any more.
When do they even call each other at all, rather than texting, Instagram, etc?

I use both with about equal frequency, and get both the same. Some people text me more than they call me, others vice versa.

 

[LilyM]

HomeschoolDad:

and saying who they are when they call someone on the phone before asking to speak to so-and-so.

Do some young people really not do that? I’m a young person (19) and I’ve never called a friend’s house and immediately asked to speak to that friend. Usually I would make a little small talk with the parent or grandparent or whomever answered the phone (Hello Mrs. X! How are you doing today?) unless I don’t know them completely in which case I would just say, “Hello, this is Salibi, X’s friend. May I please speak with him?”. If I know something about the person who answered I might ask about it (Y told me you weren’t feeling well, are you better now?). That’s basically what everyone I know does when calling. I’ve never heard or had someone call and immediately ask to speak to someone else. Frankly I would find that too brusque for my taste and answer gruffly, “Who is this?”.

Movies and TV give the impression that pretty much no-one in the US identifies themselves on the phone (except the occasional police detective) or says ‘thanks, bye’ when they end a call.

I suppose in these times of near universal mobiles and caller ID, most folks tend to know that there is only the one person who will answer their call. Or will know who is calling and be more likely to answer with something like “hi Salibi, how are you?” without the caller having to say who they are.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

Salibi:

HomeschoolDad:

and saying who they are when they call someone on the phone before asking to speak to so-and-so.

Do some young people really not do that? I’m a young person (19) and I’ve never called a friend’s house and immediately asked to speak to that friend. Usually I would make a little small talk with the parent or grandparent or whomever answered the phone (Hello Mrs. X! How are you doing today?) unless I don’t know them completely in which case I would just say, “Hello, this is Salibi, X’s friend. May I please speak with him?”. If I know something about the person who answered I might ask about it (Y told me you weren’t feeling well, are you better now?). That’s basically what everyone I know does when calling. I’ve never heard or had someone call and immediately ask to speak to someone else. Frankly I would find that too brusque for my taste and answer gruffly, “Who is this?”.

Movies and TV give the impression that pretty much no-one in the US identifies themselves on the phone (except the occasional police detective) or says ‘thanks, bye’ when they end a call.

I suppose in these times of near universal mobiles and caller ID, most folks tend to know that there is only the one person who will answer their call. Or will know who is calling and be more likely to answer with something like “hi Salibi, how are you?” without the caller having to say who they are.

It sounds like our friend Salibi had some good home training, as people in the South would say. Identifying oneself before talking is becoming almost unheard of. @Salibi, are you in the United States?

My take on it, is that Americans (a) are becoming less and less able to see other people as “real”, and think only of themselves and what they want — carried to an extreme, that is a trait of autism — and (b) everything is oriented towards what is immediate, efficient, and “cuts to the chase” — things aren’t allowed to unfold and “flow”, social niceties aren’t seen as important, and instant meeting of one’s own needs is the “bottom line”. This may be fueled by use of the Internet. When you want to know something, you just Google it. When I was in college, you had to go to the library, track down information, extract it from books, take notes, and so on. This took time. Now it’s all available on demand. This has to be affecting people’s minds.

My son (age 13) has no concept of anything except video on demand. I once showed him a TV Guide that I had from my childhood — I explained to him that we only got four of those channels, and you looked up the show you wanted to watch, you made arrangements to be at home when the show aired, and if you missed it, that was too bad (VCRs didn’t exist yet). He found this to be very gross! (Strangely enough, he comprehended the idea of popping popcorn in a pan with oil on the stove top, we didn’t have microwaves then either.)

“Walked to school every day, three miles there and three miles back, uphill both ways, in the snow, carrying my brother…”

 

[TC3033]

I’m a little late to the dance, but here we go.

But in the face of fierce and widespread resistance, the school board finally cancelled the program.

I did go to (let’s say a less biased site) but the best I could find was from February. That site above could work on it’s reporting (I’m not a big fan of “probablys” in news stories…specifically when speaking of motives). Eitherway, California is an opt out state anyways…

I just take it as a “given”, that any public school will eventually indoctrinate, to a greater or lesser extent, on issues such as homosexuality, premarital sex, contraception, and abortion.

Sorry, it’s not a “given”

And as far as prom dates go, if I were running the school, there would be no “prom dates”

Wow…I’m glad you weren’t running my school.

Have you ever been a high school girl who didn’t get asked to the prom, and had to stay home while the more “popular” girls got asked? Go to school the next morning, or on Monday if it was on a weekend, and be “the one” who didn’t go?

Neither have I.

Then that’s probably where you should stop. I also had a bunch of friends who went to prom as just that…friends.

That’s a “life lesson” I think a lot of girls would gladly live without.

How can you say that, while not a girl and never been in that situation…to a female that has been in that situation… That’s like “man-splaining” 101.

I know in my youth I could have used a lot more focus on school and extracurriculars without the added pressure and distraction of girls. I can imagine it is similar for girls as well.

Really…I didn’t think it was that big of deal?

and looking at it from the standpoint of 40+ years ago, in a school where everyone knew who got asked, knew who didn’t get asked, and knew pretty much what the reasons were — normally girls who, putting it as kindly as I know how, didn’t win the aesthetic birth lottery and weren’t willing to give up their virtue to attract boys.

I guess this is where we differ. In my HS, which was bigger…but not huge, I had not idea who didn’t get asked and didn’t care. I know groups of girls (and guys) who just came together in a group. It wasn’t a big deal.

I take it from your profile that you’re a male, is that right? It’s different for girls.

And from your profile, I can tell the same. A female up-thread put in her $0.02 and you kind of blew it off.

So…It would be your plan to ban anyone from bringing a date…From asking a girl/guy to go with them? How would that even work?

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

I just take it as a “given”, that any public school will eventually indoctrinate, to a greater or lesser extent, on issues such as homosexuality, premarital sex, contraception, and abortion.

Sorry, it’s not a “given”

And where are these public schools that don’t do that?

HomeschoolDad:

Have you ever been a high school girl who didn’t get asked to the prom, and had to stay home while the more “popular” girls got asked? Go to school the next morning, or on Monday if it was on a weekend, and be “the one” who didn’t go?

Neither have I.

Then that’s probably where you should stop. I also had a bunch of friends who went to prom as just that…friends.

Perhaps I’m dating myself (no pun intended). This was the late 1970s in a small school, in a small town, where everybody knew everybody else’s business, and “noticing what the other guy does” was elevated to the level of a parlor game (often with witheringly malignant comments on “what that other guy does”). FWIW, one year we did have a bunch of girls who all got together and came “doe” (female equivalent of “stag”). This absolutely screamed “we couldn’t get dates to the prom because nobody wanted to ask us!”. Seen another way, though, it was actually an assertion of their dignity. But that said, it was still “we couldn’t get dates”. Things may have changed since then.

HomeschoolDad:

That’s a “life lesson” I think a lot of girls would gladly live without.

How can you say that, while not a girl and never been in that situation…to a female that has been in that situation… That’s like “man-splaining” 101.

If a woman is good with receiving that life lesson, fine. I wouldn’t want to see my sister or daughter (I have neither) have to learn that kind of lesson. A man tries to be kind and chivalrous, and it’s “mansplaining”. No wonder so many men are “going their own way” these days.

HomeschoolDad:

and looking at it from the standpoint of 40+ years ago, in a school where everyone knew who got asked, knew who didn’t get asked, and knew pretty much what the reasons were — normally girls who, putting it as kindly as I know how, didn’t win the aesthetic birth lottery and weren’t willing to give up their virtue to attract boys.

I guess this is where we differ. In my HS, which was bigger…but not huge, I had not idea who didn’t get asked and didn’t care. I know groups of girls (and guys) who just came together in a group. It wasn’t a big deal.

See above.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

I take it from your profile that you’re a male, is that right? It’s different for girls.

And from your profile, I can tell the same. A female up-thread put in her $0.02 and you kind of blew it off.

So…It would be your plan to ban anyone from bringing a date…From asking a girl/guy to go with them? How would that even work?

I would have the girls to come in groups, and the guys to come in groups or individually, as they see fit. If two of them are “a couple”, let them “couple up” once they get there.

Maybe I’m just too tender-hearted about things like this. It actually caused me great pain to see girls who didn’t get asked to the prom. I’ve always pulled for the underdog. High school is enough of a Darwinian lottery as it is.

 

[TC3033]

And where are these public schools that don’t do that?

They’re all over the place. I went to a public school (worked in a Catholic school for a bit), my kids go to public my wife teaches in one and both of my sister-in-laws teach in one (all in different districts and areas). I have yet to see this “indoctrination” curricula. We are indeed an opt out state, so if a parent even thought there was a hint of anything in a “sex ed” course (here it isn’t even a course, but maybe a 1-2 week unit) the student can be “opted out”

Perhaps I’m dating myself (no pun intended). This was the late 1970s in a small school, in a small town, where everybody knew everybody else’s business, and “noticing what the other guy does” was elevated to the level of a parlor game (often with witheringly malignant comments on “what that other guy does”).

Probably…and a small town in a small school…ya, everything is going to be under a bit more of a “microscope”. Around here, every year there’s a “fluff piece” about the little school that only has 13 boys and 10 girls (or vice/versa) a prom.

Going “doe” has been a thing for quite a while.

A man tries to be kind and chivalrous, and it’s “mansplaining”.

I don’t know if it was chivalrous…I just wouldn’t get into it with a woman when it comes to how girls feel (or are supposed to feel) when I wasn’t one.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

A man tries to be kind and chivalrous, and it’s “mansplaining”.

I don’t know if it was chivalrous…I just wouldn’t get into it with a woman when it comes to how girls feel (or are supposed to feel) when I wasn’t one.

Well, it was intended that way. If a high school girl doesn’t mind staying home on prom night, or going to the prom with a group of friends (all female or mixed-gender), fine. Back in my day, a girl’s status on prom night was an unspoken commentary on her desirability. That’s been over 40 years ago. Things may have changed. There is a greater tolerance of various personality types and communication styles, and there is a broader concept of “beauty” in the world today, than in the little monoculture where I grew up back in the Stone Age. Being a “nerd” is cool today, and many “nerds” make money hand over fist. Back then, it was the kiss of death — everything was all about conformity, beauty, and social skills.

HomeschoolDad:

And where are these public schools that don’t do that?

They’re all over the place. I went to a public school (worked in a Catholic school for a bit), my kids go to public my wife teaches in one and both of my sister-in-laws teach in one (all in different districts and areas). I have yet to see this “indoctrination” curricula. We are indeed an opt out state, so if a parent even thought there was a hint of anything in a “sex ed” course (here it isn’t even a course, but maybe a 1-2 week unit) the student can be “opted out”

Glad to know that. As a practical matter, for many, “opting out” means homeschooling. In our homeschool, we are finishing up the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christendom, getting ready to study in great detail the thousand-year history of Catholic Europe. You’ll never get that in any public school, and I have to wonder how many Catholic schools would spend a whole year discussing “the ‘Dark’ Ages” [sic] in history class. All he learned in his nominally Catholic grammar school was American history. (He is a dual US/EU citizen, and the history of Europe is just as much a part of his heritage, as American history is.)

 

[TC3033]

As a practical matter, for many, “opting out” means homeschooling.

That’s your call. For others, opting their kids out of a 2 week unit is very practical.

In our homeschool, we are finishing up the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christendom, getting ready to study in great detail the thousand-year history of Catholic Europe. You’ll never get that in any public school, and I have to wonder how many Catholic schools would spend a whole year discussing “the ‘Dark’ Ages” [sic] in history class. All he learned in his nominally Catholic grammar school was American history. (He is a dual US/EU citizen, and the history of Europe is just as much a part of his heritage, as American history is.)

I took Ancient History my junior year of HS, most history classes were one semester. This one was two as it also covered through the middle ages… I’m not sure what that has to do with the OP though.

 

[27lw]

Referring to the original story, how are parents supposed to opt out if they can’t see the curriculum or material?

In terms of prom, I think it’s pointless anymore. I know you have good at heart, @HomeschoolDad, but nowadays you could easily have openly out gay / lesbian students who arrive as a couple. Kind of would make your restrictions pointless –
Straight kids couldn’t arrive as a couple, but LG kids could?

 

[jeannetherese]

Opting out is becoming an increasing challenge in areas, where materials are delivered online and parents are less likely to review what is being taught. A two week unit is going to cover some ground, with additional information being added as students move through the grades.
Then there is always the question who creates and delivers the materials.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=553755832201006