The article clearly states that this topic is a choice. If parents do not want their children to be exposed to this subject, they should ask (or tell) their children not to choose this option. I believe it is just that simple.

Mooser - parents should not be forced to home school their children if they disagree with one of the topics being taught to their children. They pay taxes too and have a right to public education. Some parents chose to have their children sit out of sex education classes because they prefer to teach that at home and other parents have their children sit out of certain celbrations for religious reasons. These are just a couple of reasons I can think of where a parent would ask that their child be removed from the classroom for a short period. Things are not always black and white. In this world there are definitely shades of gray. One of these areas is what parents want their children to be taught. I think as long as a parent doesn't have too many objections to what their child is being taught, they have every right to make the final judgement in their child's education WITHOUT being forced to home school their child.

We deny consenting adults the right to engage in incest, polygamy, and even paying someone $5 per hour. Let's get some tolerance here!

I took a diversity class in college. We were able to openly discuss fears, prejudices, and intolerances without the stigmata of talking about "taboo" subjects. We addresed these issues and became aware of areas we needed to acknowledge. This is a great opportunity for teenagers to have their questions answered in a structured enviornment.

Rocky did not make a generalization. He said, "orthodox."

Rocky: Please do not make generalizations about all of Judaism, all of Christianity, and all of Islam. There are a number of such groups that do not have a problem with homosexuality. This topic is entirely more nuanced than the fundamentalists of all these groups would have us believe.

Please! Remove it as a CHOICE! Talk about intolerance and even censorship.

w8nc Yes, that's called HOME SCHOOLING!

Parents that are intolerant about teaching intolerance.

I'm with bignik. People need to "get their head out of the sand".

Unfortunately, the intolerance is being carried over to another generation. How do we teach tolerance when there are parents fighting it? I do not like a homosexual life. I do have many friends that do lead that life. They are great people, but we do have an understanding that I may not agree with that lifestyle, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends. I do not want it pushed on me, so I don't push heterosexuality on them. It's called knowing the person and loving them as a person anyway. I just know where I stand with my Christianity is all.

It's a choice. Tell your kid not to chose it. So there's no confusion, I'm talking about the topics.

The article does not state that the class teaches "that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality". The topic does indeed appear to be intolerance, which is -- if you take the Golden Rule seriously -- a violation of a central tenet of Christianity.

Bignik, you obviously missed the point. The topic is about intolerance, not homosexuality. The article plainly states this information.

I think the problem isn't "exposure" to to the topic, it is the apparent moralizing that is done. Students are taught that "there is nothing wrong with homosexuality" - which is in direct opposition to orthodox teaching in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. So when the school begins teaching things that contradict the moral teachings of so many, they should expect opposition.

On the other hand, it is appropriate for the school to teach that discrimination against, and persecution of, people who hold different moral values is in illegal in the state of Wisconsin.

People don't want Christians teaching their morals in the school - it only seems fair that the morals of others should be kept out of the picture, too.

While I am saddened to read that parents would actually be upset by their children researching such an important and prevalent topic, I still believe a parent has the final say in what their children learn about. The thing I find funny though about the "concerned" parents, is that they didn't know what their children were learning about. If they were so concerned, wouldn't they be asking their children what they were learning about?

Good lord! This is 2009...........Suck it up and smell the roses. This world has way too much hatred in it already. Homosexuality, who cares what 2 consenting people do in the privacy of their own homes. I suppose we should be teaching them about heterosexuality.....Lets not forget gang violence, drug abuse, christianity (I know everyone in Janesville is a die hard christian!) Little Johnny or Sweet Suzy just might be on of those homosexuals!!!