Christian Educator Warns Parents of Video/Curriculum Redefining 'Family'

by Jody Brown
March 18, 2005

(AgapePress) - A Christian educator says parents, not schools, should be the ones telling children what constitutes a "family." That's why he is warning parents across the country to be wary of a diversity and tolerance curriculum that has been distributed to thousands of public elementary schools in the U.S.

The curriculum includes a video/DVD called "We Are Family" and accompanying teachers' guides. Produced by the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF), the video features scores of popular television characters promoting "diversity" and encouraging children to consider that a family may go beyond the traditional concept.

For example, the letter introducing educators to the video states that "children will learn about different kinds of families and will explore the importance of appreciating cultural diversity." And when children are asked to discuss who might be part of a family, teachers are urged to "ask further questions of the class if they only give ... traditional answers" such as mommy, daddy, sister, and brother.

Finn Laursen, executive director of the Christian Educators Association International (CEAI), has seen the video. His reaction? "It is evident that our children have become the targets of special-interest groups that insist on promoting the homosexual lifestyle within the school setting," he says in a press release.

According to Laursen, it was obvious to him why children's loved and respected TV characters were employed in the video: to promote the concept that families may be different than the time-honored traditional family. He says the school setting is not the place for that.

"Most American families do not send their children to schools to have the concept of traditional family polluted by special-interest groups -- and for this reason [families] need to speak out," he says. The CEAI spokesman says parents need to contact their schools and insist that their children not be forced to view the video.

"Our community should not be bullied by political correctness or fear of being considered intolerant," Laursen says. "Let's get back to the teaching of the basics and leave family and sexual morality issues to our parents."

The intent behind the We Are Family music video featuring characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Barney was brought to light in late 2004 by an investigative report by AFA Journal, a publication of the American Family Association. Ed Vitagliano, who wrote the article, says when he read in an Associated Press story that the video was intended to promote "diversity and tolerance in classrooms," he decided to examine the WAFF website to discover whether or not the issue of homosexuality was included. "It was -- and in spades," he says. (See related article)