posted on November 13, 2004 07:46:23 AM
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CROSS-DRESSING DAY
by: Peter LaBarbera, November 10, 2004
The Illinois Family Institute (IFI) received a troubling report yesterday of a grade (and middle) school in Carrier Mills that held an "Opposite Sex" Day in which students were encouraged to come to schools dressed as members of the opposite sex. At least one outraged mother pulled her children out of Carrier Mills-Stonefort Elementary School (kindergarten through 8th grade) after being informed about the cross-dressing day. Carrier Mills is about 45 minutes east of Carbondale.
One school staffer reached by IFI said the school had no radical agenda but was just looking for "something silly for the kids to do." But Laura Stanley, who has several children at Carrier Mills, was hardly amused.
"This is not what I want my son taught at school," she told me. "Kids are already getting so many confused messages from the culture.
Do they need to be further confused about sexuality?"
Stanley said that when she came to the school to sign out her children, she saw one boy wearing a pink mini-skirt that went right up to his behind. Had a girl been wearing the same dress, she said, it would have been a violation of the school dress code.
"This is as wrong as wrong can get," she told IFI.
"When is enough enough?"
Some male students stuffed their shirts to create mock breasts, according to Stanley and an employee of the school who opposed the special day and also spoke with IFI.
The school employee, who requested anonymity, said many students did not dress in opposite sex attire, but added that school administrators asked students to bring in a canned good for charity if they chose not to cross-dress.
Stanley said that after parents complained last year about a similar cross-dressing day, she was given the impression by Principal Charles Parks that it was a mistake and it wouldn't happen again. Then she received the letter announcing this year's identical event.
I tried to call Parks but he did not return my call. Nor did Superintendent Richard Morgan .
IFI informed the American Family Association Radio Network about the story, and AFA Radio will air a report on Carrier Mill's "Opposite Sex Day" this week. AFA reporter Jim Brown told me that Parks refused to answer questions about the cross-dressing day.
Even if the school's administrators did not set out to advance a gender-confusion agenda, we agree with Mrs. Stanley that telling youngsters to cross-dress--in school of all places--is just plain dumb. Kids are already steeped in false and unnatural sex/gender messages--with female pop stars kissing each other for kicks and "transgender" activists suing schools for the "right" of boys to come to class in a dress. In such an environment, the last thing we need is for schools to promote more confusion about the sexes and gender roles.
In addition, some homosexual men testify that in their youth that they practiced or were allowed to practice gender non-conforming behavior. That's one reason why transvestites (cross-dressers, usually called "drag queens" are such a visible part of the homosexual male world.
If you still doubt that there is a VERY organized and aggressive "transgender" agenda that encourages the elimination of gender norms, visit Gender PAC's website at www.gpac.org (WARNING: THIS IS AN ANTI-FAMILY WEBSITE THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN) and get educated on the political/cultural forces that are working to promote aberrant sexual and gender behaviors in this nation.
And guess what? Gender PAC is extremely active with youth across the nation.
[Peter LaBarbera, formerly the executive director of Accuracy in Academia, now heads the Illinois Family Institute, www.illinoisfamily.org.]
posted on November 13, 2004 08:28:11 AM
What I find interesting is that no fuss seems to have been made about the girls dressing as boys. It's something that has always amused me. Many if not most women wear men's clothes all the time and not a word is said. But let a boy put on a dress... So why is it that it is OK for a girl, but not for a boy?
As for the event in question, I think the parents in question are making way too much fuss over it. It's a silly dress-up day--so what? What do they think--a boy puts on a dress and instantly becomes homosexual? ROFLMAO.
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on November 13, 2004 08:28:29 AM
I think that the parents need to get a life and realize that kids actually are capable of independent thought (actually I think that is what may scare patrents the most) and know when something is just about being silly and having a little fun.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on November 13, 2004 08:41:08 AM
I really don't know what I would do. Girls almost always dress like boys, since their clothes are more confortable. Boys never dress like girls. We had kid day in school where kids dressed like kids and yes some of the male students dressed like girls but we were in our senior year at school.
If you don't approve of it I would do what 12 suggested. Keep them home.
Isn't this a discussion board where posters can post anything they think is important? What is important to me might not be important to someone else and it is good to get another opinion.
posted on November 13, 2004 10:16:52 AM
What a silly thing to be concerned about.
Parents who are concerned and fearful about this event probably believe that sexual orientation is a choice.
They should consider crossdressing as a lesson in sensitivity training. Next, they can dress like old people, put plugs in their ears to experience deafness, wear blinders to simulate loss of vision etc.
I wonder if these parents fear halloween costumes also?
posted on November 13, 2004 10:30:53 AM
Well...your reply's certainly didn't surprise me. The liberals see nothing wrong with it...and the conservatives do.
I don't see this as just a 'dress up day' or 'dress silly' day. If that were the case the children wouldn't have been instructed to CROSSDRESS. This to me is the agenda of those who want to make the transgender lifestyles more 'normal' and acceptable to the general public. Using our public schools to advance their agenda. And I think it's very wrong.
The acceptance of this is, to me, no different than government paid for promotion of alternative lifestyles. Just as the left complains the 'religious' try to do. It's just that you find this acceptable.
Here's another recent case in a college...where the alternative lifestyles are being promoted.
posted on November 13, 2004 10:50:28 AM
Actually, I think as parents, we have to choose our battles carefully.
IMO, this is not one of them. I don't think they are promoting homosexuality or trying to turn our children "gay". Harmless fun...just like Halloween.
Let boys figure out how to don a bra and try not to kill themselves on heels or put a thong on sideways....they might have a little more respect for women, once they experience what we go through on a daily basis.
posted on November 13, 2004 11:17:39 AM
On Halloween how many boys dress as women? If you had a son that wanted to dress in drag on Halloween, would you have a problem with it?
Same type of situation here if you ask me.
Q. What's the difference between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War?
A. George W. Bush had a plan to get out of the Vietnam War.
--------------------------------------
There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get fooled again." George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on November 13, 2004 11:19:59 AM
No fenix, it's not going to change anyone into crossdressers....nor make anyone gay. It's just totally uncalled for imo, and not school nor age appropriate.
But, yes, I do believe it's all part of the liberal agenda to make crossdressing appear to be 'normal' behavior and to make crossdressing more acceptable in the general population. It's sexual indoctrination And I believe it's wrong.
posted on November 13, 2004 11:45:27 AM
Sounds like it was a fun-day or a "school-spirit day".
You know, like "crazy day" where the kids dress in clothes that don't match at all.
I always hated Homecoming week because we had a whole week of what-ever-the-student-council-could-think-of-to-be-stupid days: hat day, hippie day, camo day, mis-matched shoe day, cowboy day,.........
Participation was usually pretty limited.
Ok, here's the deal even if the school WERE encouraging cross-dressing:
It is MY job to make my children safe for ideas, NOT to make ideas safe for my children. The home is where beliefs, morals, and ethics are formed. Why should I be afraid of something like that going on at school? We talk about what's right and wrong at home, so that they'll be prepared to make decisions for themselves.
If we didn't discuss our beliefs with our children about such issues they might turn out to be Democrats -- and that would be bad. If we shelter them from exposure to ideas and beliefs different than our own, they might grow up to be something even worse: Republicans.
Most of the major ills of the world have been caused by well-meaning people who ignored the principle of individualfreedom, except as applied to themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zealto improve the lot of mankind-in-the-mass through some pet formula of their own. Henry Grady Weaver (The Mainspring of Human Progress)
posted on November 13, 2004 11:46:59 AM
That is the way it seems, that cross dressing is "normal", it is not and logansdad, if this would of been a halloween joke, then I would see no problem with it...
Oh and I don' think it is ok for girls/women to dress as men... but it seems ugly women choose to do so. Which is ok with me, I am not attracted to men...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
Bigotry and prejudice -- these are assertions, not arguments. This is name-calling, not case-building.
posted on November 13, 2004 11:53:28 AMThe home is where beliefs, morals, and ethics are formed. Why should I be afraid of something like that going on at school?
It's where they USED to get their morals from....but not anymore these days. Most of this garbage is introduced to them in the schools and at a very young age. They might never see a transvestite in their whole life....nor know any married/single man does so in private. And grade schoolers don't NEED that information.
To me it's also not a matter of being afraid. It's a matter of right and wrong....in a school situation.
posted on November 13, 2004 12:17:31 PMIt's where they USED to get their morals from....but not anymore these days.
Huh?
Wouldn't that depend on one's relationship with one's children? Sure, if you let the school raise your children, that's true. Teach them to be thinkers, rather than brainwash them with drivel (pre-chewed and regurgitated from either the right or the left) and that is NOT true.
Most of this garbage is introduced to them in the schools and at a very young age.
Not to the extent some people would have you believe. I have five children. The oldest is 20, the youngest is 3. I'm familiar with what our local school sytem teaches.
They might never see a transvestite in their whole life....nor know anymarried/single man does so in private. And grade schoolers don't NEED that information.
They may not "NEED" the information, but why is merely knowing of the existance of "transvestites" a problem?
Most of the major ills of the world have been caused by well-meaning people whoignored the principle of individual freedom, except as applied to themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zealto improve the lot of mankind-in-the-mass through some pet formula of their own. Henry Grady Weaver (The Mainspring of Human Progress)
{edited to make relationship one word}
[ edited by SuperFrogWonderGirl on Nov 13, 2004 12:19 PM ]
posted on November 13, 2004 12:26:12 PM
"Linda, You may become more tolerant if you learn more about cross-dressing. "
So now you're an expert at cross-dressing too?
I really agree with twig125... This wasn't done with an agenda in mind, it was just a stupid thing to do. I stongly suspect with this publicity, it won't happen again.
It's the actual cross-drossers and WAY right wing people who are going to blow this out of proportion. This was a simply case of bad judgement on the school's part, and the radicals on both sides are going to try to make an issue of it.
Still, if it were my child, I would have kept him/her home that day and phoned in a complaint. That would have been the end of it unless the school decided to make an issue out of it.
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on November 13, 2004 12:31:19 PM
"They may not "NEED" the information, but why is merely knowing of the existance of "transvestites" a problem?"
In elementary school???
I am very big on education, and I think children do need to know these things. But not at that age. Let children be children. Burden them with the knowledge of perverts when they are at least old enough to know what healthy sex is all about.
Yes, you have to teach them to watch out for dangerous people for their own safety. But there is no need to convey every detail of every potential evil to children.
If there is a homosexual couple in the family or friends, then maybe you have to explain that in a basic way to children. But transvetitism is not something a child needs to know about.
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on November 13, 2004 01:29:54 PM Replay, I said, "Linda, You may become more tolerant if you learn more about cross-dressing. "
You responded, "So now you're an expert at cross-dressing too?"
It makes no sense whatsoever to imply that I am an "expert" on cross-dressing simply because I offer a link to information about cross-dressing. And to infer that I am an "expert" on anything is silly.
Ignorance is the basis of intolerance. My link was intended to help reduce that ignorance. I learned a few things there myself...proving that I'm not an "expert".
posted on November 13, 2004 01:50:50 PMWell...your reply's certainly didn't surprise me. The liberals see nothing wrong with it...and the conservatives do.
Nonsense Linda. There you go again, stereotyping liberals. I'd be uncomfortable with it, and as an educator, if they really were looking for "something silly to do", they get the award for being incredibly dumb. We have a "backwards" day as part of our school's spirit week, and while most kids wear their clothes backwards, some of the more adventurous cross dress. To that I say big deal.
What I don't understand about your article though, is that it associates the opposite sex day at one school with the Gender PAC link, making it look like the two are somehow connected. Upon reading both articles, it's obvious they aren't.
Pretty sneaky way to make a mountain out of a molehill.
It is MY job to make my children safe for ideas, NOT to make ideas safe for my children
SFWG: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! CAN I BUY YOU A DRINK OR KISS YOUR HAND OR GROVEL BEFORE YOU BEARING EXPENSIVE GIFTS???
So many parents these days have utterly abandoned any active participation in their kids' intellectual and moral growth, but are armed and ready to blame the schools each and every time something goes wrong. You have no idea how refreshing your statement above is!
PARENTS are (used to be) the first teachers.
____________________________________________
Dick Cheney: "I have not suggested there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11..."
posted on November 13, 2004 02:33:08 PM
OK, let's see if the neocons get upset as I did when some public schools in this state took children out of class to have a "Twin's" or "Vikings" pep rally .
Talk about brainwashing.....talk about NOT learning a damn thing on those days..... talk about training to follow the herd.....talk about wasting taxpayer's money......
I pay school taxes and I don't care if they wear fig leaves....I'm paying to have them LEARN, not cheer on some stupidass pro sports team. Did I have a choice, hell NO!
posted on November 13, 2004 02:42:13 PM
replay - I might agree IF this were the first time it happened. It is not. And some of the parents felt it wouldn't be happening again, since they complained about it last year.
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LOL yellowstone - That's the way it used to be now anything goes. -----
Who knows if this keeps up my granddaughters may someday be taking a bra off their boyfriends. The whole world is going nuts....and too many want to see everything gender neutral.
posted on November 13, 2004 03:21:36 PM
This is funny! What does a parent think is going to happen to their child? Talk about passing your own hang-ups down to your children...
posted on November 13, 2004 04:52:16 PM
This is one again for the over-reaction file. So what if the kids want to dress the opposite for one day. It sounds like a great way for the kids to actually bond in a different way. Besides, we already have a day where it is totally acceptable to do this. We call it Halloween. Our elementary school does something similar every year. Last year was bad hair day. The year before was wear your underwear outside of your regular clothes day. The kids had fun with it and they all became much stronger friends because of it.
I say Kudos to this school if the stand their ground by giving the kids a day where they can just relax and enjoy the sillyness of the day.
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Alive in 2005
posted on November 13, 2004 05:13:06 PMIt's where they USED to get their morals from....but not anymore these days. Most of this garbage is introduced to them in the schools and at a very young age. They might never see a transvestite in their whole life....nor know any married/single man does so in private. And grade schoolers don't NEED that information.
If you are so concerned about kids learning the wrong values from schools, then the parents should be doing a better job teaching values to their kids. IMO parents do a lousy job parenting these days. In some cases the parents are as bad as the kids.
How do you expect to kids to grow up with values, when parents use the TV as a baby sitter. When parents go shopping they drop the kids of in the toy department and leave them there while they go shopping. This is not parenting.
If both parents are working, the kids are gone for 8-10 hours a day at day care, how to you expect the parents to teach kids anything when the parents themselves barely have enough time to cook dinner, run errands etc when they come home from work?
I am glad you think that kids learning about differences is garbage. I suppose you want your kids learning that there is only one type of religion, one type of parent, one type of nationality, one type of job, one way to cook dinner, one way to shop, one way to have sex. Learning about differences is what life is all about. Your child learns about the differences that exist in the world and then forms his own opinions and what he/she feels acceptable. I am glad you want your child to learn that everyone came from the same mold.
Q. What's the difference between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War?
A. George W. Bush had a plan to get out of the Vietnam War.
--------------------------------------
There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get fooled again." George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
are such a visible part of the homosexual male world.
