(no subject)

[rm]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/nyregion/23bigcity.html

In Harlem a few weeks ago, a 32-year-old math teacher handed out slips of paper inviting the entire seventh grade of Columbia Secondary School to his own upcoming ceremony, where, the names on the invitation made clear, he’d be celebrating his commitment to another man. The teacher, Chance Nalley, rarely wastes an instructional opportunity but said that in this particular instance, he wasn’t trying to make an educational statement.

“They kept asking if they were invited,” he said of his students at Columbia, a selective public school that specializes in math, science and engineering. “Originally, I said no. But when I found a venue that turned out to be big enough I said, ‘O.K., you can come.’ I invited their parents, too.”

Comments

[tru2myart.livejournal.com]

I'm torn on this news article. It borders on giving me hope and making me shake my head at the intolerance.

[woogledesigns.livejournal.com]

Wheeeeeeee awesome. Changing minds a little at a time.

[melebeth]

Having not yet read the article yet, that makes me go AWWWWW. I love that his students love him enough that they want to come to his wedding.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Gosh. I mean, that took some courage, but in terms of changing hearts and minds, it certainly seems to be working a little at a time.

[idunn.livejournal.com]

It figures that the kids adapt to new ideas easier while the parents get nervous.

Also:

Were they surprised to learn he was gay?

“He’s not gay,” said Japhet Guzman, 12.

“No,” agreed a lanky 13-year-old who walked with a bit of a tough-guy swagger, “he’s not gay. He’s bisexual. Why don’t you ask him?” (Mr. Nalley confirmed this.)

Kids are awesome. I love how they (politely) correct the reporter.

[anterastilis.livejournal.com]

Very cool. It definitely made me go :)

On a teacher-getting-married note, my folks were both teachers when they got married (my mom was the kindergarten teacher and my dad was the 6th grade teacher...lots for the kids to gossip about...) and they had 4 of the little girls in my mom's class be in the wedding. She picked four girls that she knew didn't have many nice things and bought dresses for them.

[demotu.livejournal.com]

That was a lovely little peak at what we can do - what we can be when we stop underestimating our kids and letting them be indoctrinated by omission.

And I agree that the bisexual moment was adorably awesome. And that six kids came out to him this year? Fabulous.

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

I love "Why don't you ask him?" as a response :)

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

:)

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

This is so cool. The parents whinging makes me terribly sad, but the kids get it, and that's remarkable and wonderful and gives me hope.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

He is so fucking cool.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

To me, having only two parents complain says a lot of positive things.

Heck, out of the number of kids he teaches, you might get two parents complain about a run-of-the-mill assignment.