USSN: In the News

Controversial Learning Tool Hits Bay Area Schools

Nov. 20 — A first-of-its-kind school film is drawing both accolades and anger in the Bay Area. The film is being used in hundreds of California schools and is designed to teach students about diversity and tolerance, but as Dan Ashley reports in Assignment 7, some critics say the message goes to far.

These San Francisco fourth and fifth graders are getting a lesson on diversity. They're watching a film called That's A Family.

Girl in film: "Sometimes, you know, kids ask questions like why does your dad have black hair and your mom have blonde hair. I just say that my are parents aren't the same race, but they can still be married because they like each other."

The film features Bay Area children talking frankly about a wide range of very personal family issues.

Boy in film: "The reason I live with my grandparents is my mom and dad were on drugs for quite a long time."

Boy in film: "Sometimes I feel curious about my dad because I don't know much about him except the fact I know his name."

But the issue that's generated the most attention in the film is gay parenting.

Girl in film: "People at my school, they know that my mom is gay, and they know that they love me a lot and they know that we have fun with each other. There is lots of kids who have gay parents, but they just don't want no one to know because they think someone is gonna make fun of them."

Debra Chasnoff, director of That's A Family: "That's A Family is the first media resource that we know of that's aimed at elementary school age children that weaves in families that are headed by gays and lesbians."

After they watch the film, children are encouraged to talk about what they've learned.

Adaeza, 5th grader: "Not to say "Eeewww" if their family is gay or lesbian."

Anna, 4th grader: "Even if you have different families you are still the same kind of person."

Here in the Bay Area, is now being shown at schools in San Francisco and Oakland. And starting in January, the Novato School District will use the film in every fifth grade classroom.

But not all parents are happy about it.

Karen Holgate: "The real debate here is whose responsibility is it to teach our children when and what to believe about homosexuality."

These parents are fighting what they call "homosexual activism" in schools. They are among 1,200 people who signed petitions to try to stop Novato schools from showing That's A Family.

Vanessa Wills, mother: "Whether or not you agree with the homosexual lifestyle, what the parents were saying is we want to teach subjects about sexuality, morality at home."

But at Jefferson School in San Francisco, the principal says That's A Family is a good fit with their curriculum on tolerance.

Judy Rosen, principal: "This is a fact of life. There are children with two moms and two dads and we don't want to make them feel that there is something wrong or to have kids tease them."

But critics aren't giving up. They hope to organize parents in other parts of the Bay Area to try to keep the film out of the classroom.

That's A Family is likely to show up in more schools soon. The filmmakers have recently received a $900,000 violence prevention grant. That money will pay for free distribution of the film, along with teacher training on how to use it.

To find out how to get the film for your school, or how to contact the people fighting it, visit womedia.org.


	Controversial Learning Tool Hits Bay Area Schools ABC7 News Nov. 20 — A first-of-its-kind school film is drawing both accolades and anger in the Bay Area. The film is being used in hundreds of California schools and is designed to teach students about diversity and tolerance, but as Dan Ashley reports in Assignment 7, some critics say the message goes to far. These San Francisco fourth and fifth graders are getting a lesson on diversity. They're watching a film called That's A Family. Girl in film: "Sometimes, you know, kids ask questions like why does your dad have black hair and your mom have blonde hair. I just say that my are parents aren't the same race, but they can still be married because they like each other." The film features Bay Area children talking frankly about a wide range of very personal family issues. Boy in film: "The reason I live with my grandparents is my mom and dad were on drugs for quite a long time." Boy in film: "Sometimes I feel curious about my dad because I don't know much about him except the fact I know his name." But the issue that's generated the most attention in the film is gay parenting. Girl in film: "People at my school, they know that my mom is gay, and they know that they love me a lot and they know that we have fun with each other. There is lots of kids who have gay parents, but they just don't want no one to know because they think someone is gonna make fun of them." Debra Chasnoff, director of That's A Family: "That's A Family is the first media resource that we know of that's aimed at elementary school age children that weaves in families that are headed by gays and lesbians." After they watch the film, children are encouraged to talk about what they've learned. Adaeza, 5th grader: "Not to say "Eeewww" if their family is gay or lesbian." Anna, 4th grader: "Even if you have different families you are still the same kind of person." Here in the Bay Area, is now being shown at schools in San Francisco and Oakland. And starting in January, the Novato School District will use the film in every fifth grade classroom. But not all parents are happy about it. Karen Holgate: "The real debate here is whose responsibility is it to teach our children when and what to believe about homosexuality." These parents are fighting what they call "homosexual activism" in schools. They are among 1,200 people who signed petitions to try to stop Novato schools from showing That's A Family. Vanessa Wills, mother: "Whether or not you agree with the homosexual lifestyle, what the parents were saying is we want to teach subjects about sexuality, morality at home." But at Jefferson School in San Francisco, the principal says That's A Family is a good fit with their curriculum on tolerance. Judy Rosen, principal: "This is a fact of life. There are children with two moms and two dads and we don't want to make them feel that there is something wrong or to have kids tease them." But critics aren't giving up. They hope to organize parents in other parts of the Bay Area to try to keep the film out of the classroom. That's A Family is likely to show up in more schools soon. The filmmakers have recently received a $900,000 violence prevention grant. That money will pay for free distribution of the film, along with teacher training on how to use it. To find out how to get the film for your school, or how to contact the people fighting it, visit womedia.org.
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