Teaching kids to accept others is 'golden'
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis displays the signed Parental Rights in Education, aka the Don't Say Gay bill, at an elementary school. Credit: AP/Douglas R. Clifford
Teaching kids to accept others is 'golden'
A reader said of Florida’s new “gay law” that “this topic is inappropriate and an invasion of parental rights.” It is reminiscent of past remarks of those who were against sex education and recent objections to teaching the history of bigotry and racial unrest in our nation [“Cartoon unfairly portrays new ‘gay law,’ ” Letters, April 20].
Parents are not always the best teachers of facts regarding prejudice, bullying, and sex and sexual orientation. Parents bring into these lessons their own prejudices, misinformation and disinformation.
The reader’s idea that “children need only to be taught the Golden Rule,” which will “prevent bullying,” is way off the mark.
She is correct, however, in her statement that “Don’t say gay” was never mentioned in the bill, but it is implied.
The younger a child is when taught to understand and accept others — whether it be sexual orientation, race, religion or any other beliefs — the more likely the child will become a more compassionate and empathetic individual.
Supporters say it’s meant to allow parents to determine when to introduce LGBTQ topics to their children. It also gives parents an option to sue a school district if the policy is violated.
Lynn Derwin Gergen, Lido Beach
Don't count overtime in figuring pensions
Nothing is wrong with time-and-a-half overtime or double time on holidays ["LIRR leads in workers doubling pay via OT," News, April 20]. A big thank you to everyone who puts in for overtime. But exclude overtime for all calculations of local, county and state pensions. We cannot afford this excessive pension obligation that saddles New York State with some of the highest taxes in the nation. Overtime is wonderful and, hopefully, only temporary. Hire younger, cheaper workers to help share the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's workload. Common sense cuts across all politics and identifies and solves the true problem.
Alan Cohn, Nesconset
