What? Is there such a thing? No. (well not that I know of) But that's a great example of how specific language can be irresistibly compelling and that's a lesson in and of itself isn't it? Haha! Sorry :)
For real though, here's the topic:
What do I teach my children, as a home ed parent, about homosexual marriage?
The answer is this - Nothing.
That might sound annoyingly trite but it is my honest answer to that question. I don't teach them anything about it. It is what it is and we discuss social and political issues as they occur in our society and we all learn and grow together. I've changed my opinion about many sociopolitical issues over the years because intellectual plasticity enables evolution of thought. (it's supposed to anyway)
Children are not immune to that and in fact young humans are usually more intellectually flexible than adults. Sure, youthful inexperience lacks wisdom but what is wisdom without open-mindedness; and either without execution?
See, there isn't anything there to teach except the dry aspects of the political process and how it affects social change. We discuss the mechanics of the system and we discuss the anthropological aspects of ancient and contemporary civilizations and how homosexuality has been viewed and politicized, or not, over the millennia. We discuss the religious aversion and discomfort and why some religions equate it with sin, and why others do not. We discuss what others believe and do not believe without automatically committing our own beliefs, and we discuss how others feel, what drives the feelings and what actions they take based on their beliefs, feelings and ideas, and how those actions affect human culture and society in different ways. We discuss why even the ideas with which we do not agree, are deserving of respect and why anger is usually fueled by fear, how people on either 'side' of this issue experience vehement emotional anger, and how we can personally avoid that negative spiral for ourselves.
We discuss these things. I suppose the only aspects that would qualify as "teaching" would be when I share raw data about dates and figures of events that have taken place, or definitions of terminology; but we research much of that together. Otherwise it's not really me teaching my children, but a simple matter of all of us living in this modern world together and understanding and discussing the events that shape our society and what potential bridges or bricks are being laid for the future.
We discussed how we each personally felt about the SCOTUS ruling and why. We discussed what SCOTUS is and it's defined function in the American political system. We discussed the meaning of rights and personal freedom and whether or not that is something to be granted by a court or to be protected by decree. We discussed whether it was a moral issue and why or why not. We discussed it with emotional detachment and from a cerebral left-hemisphere perspective while allowing room for compassionate understanding.
But what about God? Easy. God is Love. What about morality? Love one another.
Those elements weren't complicated. The complex ideas were more in the intricacies of political structure and the meaning of rights granted verses rights with which we are born and the implications of expecting permission verses claiming liberty. And even insofar as those concepts, there was no absolute set in our discussions, but rather they were an example of how to have a healthy, ongoing conversation that is enriching and educational by it's very nature.
Did the children learn? Absolutely. Did I teach them anything? I don't think so. We all learned together. If anything at all I guided the discussion the best I can by offering historical data and explanation of how the legislation unfolded, but I imparted no bias because I have no authority to hold a bias - and perhaps that is what I taught my children, but through example rather than implication; that when we form our opinion, let it be without rigidity or contempt or fear, but with integrity, understanding and love.
There's not a whole lot of actual "teaching". Just sharing of knowledge, exchange of ideas, proposing of productive questions and learning together.
Grow. Learn. Love One Another. It's all a Learning Curve folks. Enjoy!
