August is back to school time, although I can remember when September used to be back to school time. It still seems like a violation of the natural laws of the universe for school to start before Labor Day, but I guess that's a subject for another commentary.
Anyway, as kids are heading back to school, some will face surveys and programs that weren't there a few months ago. One survey surfacing in some school districts is a "Heterosexuality Questionnaire." Parents and teachers are used to being surveyed, but the latest program has been to survey students. This particular survey asks such questions as: What do you think caused your heterosexuality? When and how did you first decide you were a heterosexual? Is it possible heterosexuality is a phase you will grow out of? If you have never slept with anyone of the same sex, how do you know you wouldn't prefer that?
The questionnaire is being distributed by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Network. The organization also provides training to the staff and faculty of schools all over the country, showing them how to use the questionnaire to prompt class discussions.
Many school districts are also implementing so-called "anti-bias" or "anti-hate" programs. Teachers, for example, have been watching the "It's Elementary" video that I talked about a few weeks ago. It shows how to teach children that any aversion to homosexuality amounts to hate. Meanwhile the Federal office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency is funding curricula like "Healing the Hate" for middle schools.
Many of these programs are being implemented due to legitimate concerns about high profile murders and school shootings. Unfortunately the programs being implemented teach an acceptance of homosexuality along with frank discussions about sexuality.
I'm Kerby Anderson of Probe Ministries, and that's my opinion.