Homosexuality: Teaching in Elementary Schools

Prompt: Human Rights v. Majority Rights

Imagine yourself in a new school, a new classroom, with a brand new teacher. Just as you begin to get comfortable in your new environment everything is disrupted because a few people in your society do not think that your teacher should have the right to teach, simply because of their sexual preference. Human rights and majority rule usually do not come into contact too often with each other, however, what happens if they do? This is where we, as a nation, must decide which is more important and which we should be able to bend.

Human rights were determined many years ago, claiming that each individual has basic rights and freedoms generally including: liberty, equality before the law, and freedom of thought and expression. Well, what is homosexuality? Most would have to say freedom of thought and expression plain and simple. Although, when individuals begin complaining that they do not want their children being taught or influenced by a homosexual, conflicts come into play.

Now, majority rights on the other hand, come into affect when a conflict arises between two opposing causes. Each side of the matter expresses their individual choices by voting for one of the alternatives, settling the dispute. Is it fair to ignore the obvious human rights when children are in concern?

Even though human rights are clearly defined in this situation, the majority still has the right to question the matter. Understandably, most people are afraid of the influence a homosexual might have on their son or daughter at an early age. Personally, I feel that as long as the individual in the situation doesn't mix personal experiences with the students and sticks strictly to the curriculum, there shouldn't be any reason for conflict. Most elementary students are more concerned about when the next recess is, rather than of what sexuality there teacher might be.

In a situation where human rights and majority rule clash such as this, in today's society more than likely the vote is going to lean towards majority rule rather than the obvious human rights. We, as individuals, must start with ourselves before we can persuade a whole community that it is unethical to discriminate against someone just because of whom they prefer to be with.