USSN: Speaking Up

“Support for That's A Family!” NOVATO ADVANCE – sent April 30, 2003

Editor:

Surely we can all agree that the kinds of families represented in the film, "That's A Family," exist in Novato, including children with single, separated and divorced parents, stepparents, mixed-race and mixed-faith parents, gay and lesbian parents, foster and adoptive parents, and grandparents as guardians. The film makes no attempt to teach family values or promote any particular lifestyle-it simply features thoughtful, candid kids expressing their reality as they know it.

Diversity education has to be all-inclusive; we can't pick and choose which differences among us warrant attention by diversity curriculum and which don't. And no matter how we feel about the appropriateness or morality of things like divorce, sexual orientation, or interracial or interfaith marriage, we have an obligation to ensure that children-who have virtually no say about their family circumstance-feel welcome and safe at our schools and included and respected in our community.

Educational tools like "That's A Family" don't threaten traditional families, nor do they advocate non-traditional families. And they can't possibly undermine the invaluable and incomparable parenting that takes place within our homes. Those tools can and should, however, encourage tolerance and respect for all by affirming what we cannot deny: that loving families come in all packages.

As Novato parents who were once Novato students, our only "agenda" is to raise compassionate children and to help them grow, learn, and thrive in the same school system we did. To that end, we ask parents and school board trustees to view and support the permanent adoption of "That's A Family."

Mike and Alisa Ikeda
Novato


	“Support for That's A Family!” NOVATO ADVANCE – sent April 30, 2003 Editor: Surely we can all agree that the kinds of families represented in the film, "That's A Family," exist in Novato, including children with single, separated and divorced parents, stepparents, mixed-race and mixed-faith parents, gay and lesbian parents, foster and adoptive parents, and grandparents as guardians. The film makes no attempt to teach family values or promote any particular lifestyle-it simply features thoughtful, candid kids expressing their reality as they know it. Diversity education has to be all-inclusive; we can't pick and choose which differences among us warrant attention by diversity curriculum and which don't. And no matter how we feel about the appropriateness or morality of things like divorce, sexual orientation, or interracial or interfaith marriage, we have an obligation to ensure that children-who have virtually no say about their family circumstance-feel welcome and safe at our schools and included and respected in our community. Educational tools like "That's A Family" don't threaten traditional families, nor do they advocate non-traditional families. And they can't possibly undermine the invaluable and incomparable parenting that takes place within our homes. Those tools can and should, however, encourage tolerance and respect for all by affirming what we cannot deny: that loving families come in all packages. As Novato parents who were once Novato students, our only "agenda" is to raise compassionate children and to help them grow, learn, and thrive in the same school system we did. To that end, we ask parents and school board trustees to view and support the permanent adoption of "That's A Family." Mike and Alisa Ikeda Novato
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