Talk of race, sex in schools divides Americans: AP-NORC poll

[brooklynite]

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are deeply divided over how much children in K-12 schools should be taught about racism and sexuality, according to a new poll released as Republicans across the country aim to make parental involvement in education a central campaign theme this election year.

Overall, Americans lean slightly toward expanding — not cutting back — discussions of racism and sexuality, but roughly 4 in 10 say the current approach is about right, including similar percentages across party lines. Still, the poll from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows stark differences between Republicans and Democrats who want to see schools make adjustments.

About 4 in 10 Republicans say teachers in local public schools discuss issues related to sexuality too much, while only about 1 in 10 say too little. Among Democrats, those numbers are reversed.

The findings reflect a sharply politicized national debate that has consumed local school boards and, increasingly, state capitols. Republicans see the fight over school curriculum as a winning culture war issue that will motivate their voters in the midterm elections.

[LiberalFighter]

1. How exactly are children taught about racism and sexuality?

Do the people taking the poll know what the curriculum is in the schools. And the grades involved?

[Caliman73]

2. My take

One side (Democrats/Liberals/Progressives) is using the discussion of race/gender/sexuality to increase inclusion of historically marginalized CITIZENS of our country into the mainstream of society. To expand the minds and engender acceptance of people with different life experience.

One side (Republicans/Conservatives) is using the discussion as a weapon to arouse feelings of anger, fear, and hatred towards people who are different. They want to return the United States to a period of time when White men had overwhelming control of all societal norms, laws, and economic power. Discussion of equal dignity for "others" is repulsive and seen as an attack on the "natural order" of things.

Of course I am way biased, but someone put out a cohesive argument different than the one I put out. Show me how I am wrong.

What we have to decide as a nation is whether we want to change with the times, with the science, with knowledge, or regress to a time when civil rights only existed for one segment of the population.

[Phoenix61]

3. You nailed it!

I’m in Florida and I have a female friend who has a wife. They have adopted several children. When their kids go to school and the teacher asks them to talk about their family it’s going to be about their two moms. WTAF is the teacher supposed to do/say when another student asks, “Why does she/he have two mommies?”. It’s such a teachable moment for inclusion but apparently it’s against the law here now. Ducky, ducky, ducky. (I’m working on making my language child friendly. I’m volunteering with the local library to get books to kids)

[AZProgressive]

4. Glad I went to school before "parental rights" became a thing