Class, let's match wits with

the NEA. Answer the following multiple-choice question:

Tolerance can best be defined

as:

a. the acceptance of the differing

views of other people and fairness toward the people who hold different

views.

b. active suppression of objectionable

views in favor of other preferred ideas and opinions.

The NEA bills itself as the

nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7

million" school personnel. It also claims to be a most diverse and

tolerant group. But is it? [Earlier this month] during its annual conference

in New Orleans, the NEA was tested on the subjects of tolerance and diversity.

Alas, it failed the test.

To be sure, the NEA is home

to many causes, from pro-abortion views to gay activism. However, some

views are not welcome in the NEA. For instance, support for sexual-abstinence-only

programs is rarely heard in the NEA. Instead, it promotes school-based

"health" clinics that would dispense all kinds of things, except

perhaps the advice to remain sexually abstinent.

Perhaps lesser known is the

rejection of any idea that youngsters confused about their sexuality should

be exposed to a diversity of opinion concerning the flexibility of sexual

orientation.

The NEA is a signatory to the

propaganda piece, "Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation."

I say propaganda because the document gives the reader no idea that the

views expressed are scientifically controversial and unsettled. This authoritative

sounding piece rejects the possibility that sexuality might be changeable

or that students experiencing same sex attraction have options other than

identifying as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

Enter Sissy Jochman and New

Business Item 15. Jochman is a second-grade teacher from Pennsylvania

and chair of the Conservative Educators Caucus (www.ceccentral.org). In

New Orleans [earlier this month], Jochman gave the NEA a pop quiz on tolerance

that seemed like a no-brainer.

She reasoned if the NEA is

as committed to tolerance and diversity as the organization statements

declare, then surely the assembled delegates would vote to include mention

of ex-gays in literature and teacher training materials concerning sexuality.

And further, she suggested that students be told about resources designed

to assist those struggling with unwanted same sex attraction.

Certainly tolerance would dictate

an affirmation of the lives and dignity of ex-gays and their chosen paths.

Right?

Not so at this month's convention.

Jochman introduced a proposal

that would have required the NEA to "include the term 'ex-gay' or

'those with unwanted same sex attraction' in all policies listing sexually

diverse groups and offer unbiased information on resources for sexually

confused youth."

Sadly for teachers and students

that would have benefited from a more balanced view of sexual orientation,

the assembly voted not to consider the item. Jochman was surprised to

learn that many of her colleagues had never heard of ex-gays. Perhaps,

they had been reading "Just the Facts...."

Well, if the NEA material on

sexuality was the study guide for Tolerance 101, it certainly didn't yield

passing grades. Apparently, the delegates were fairly intolerant of the

notion that children should be exposed to both sides of this controversial

matter. Rather, many schools will continue to withhold unbiased information

concerning the fluid nature of sexuality, especially during adolescence.

Is this simply an ideological

issue?

While such issues are involved,

the debate is also about what is best for children. Some research points

to negative outcomes for teens prematurely labeling themselves as gay

or lesbian.

Since nearly 26 percent of

teens in one large survey were uncertain about their sexuality, but only

about 3 to 4 percent of the adult population identifies as gay or lesbian,

there is much room for such premature self-labeling. Leaving aside ideology,

wouldn't children be better served by following the common sense of Jochman's

balanced proposal?

So how did you answer the definition

of tolerance? If you said "b," then you understand tolerance

NEA style. If you said "a," then you and the dictionary are

on the same page.

Now class, what word is defined

[Dr. Warren Throckmorton

is Director of College Counseling and an Associate Professor of Psychology

at Grove City College. His research, "Initial Empirical and Clinical

Findings Concerning the Change Process for Ex-Gays," was published

in the June 2002 issue of the American Psychological Association's publication

"Professional Psychology: Research and Practice." He can be

reached at [email protected].]