Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site charm.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!mhuxm!mhuxi!charm!slag
From: slag@charm.UUCP (Peter Rosenthal)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Homosexual teachers- a serious question
Message-ID: <406@charm.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Jul-84 11:27:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: charm.406
Posted: Tue Jul 17 11:27:31 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Jul-84 02:49:39 EDT
References: <2014@hplabsc.UUCP>
Organization: Physics Research - AT&T Bell Labs MH
Lines: 33

munch munch chomp chomp gulp belch. excuse me.


	The best teacher I have ever had was gay.  He influenced
literally hundreds of students more than any other high school
teacher I have ever heard of.  His high school and advanced
placement courses in science were remarkably challenging,
creative, well planned, and hysterical.   

	He did not let his sexuality become an issue in
the school system.  Very few people knew anything about
his private life.  Those who did, respected his right to privacy because
they knew how great a teacher he was, and how much
professional integrity he had.
	I know my school district well.  He would have been crucified
by the parents.  The best teacher in the world would have lost his
job.  Everyone would have lost out.  The kids would have lost
a tremendous source of inspiration to study science,  the
teacher would have lost his most important inspiration, teaching
for the love of teaching, and the parents would have
degraded the quality of the educational system they supposedly cared
so much about.

	No,  I don't believe teachers private lifestyles have
any bearing on their license to teach, provided they are not
doing anything seriously irresponsible or dangerous to their students.
I have seen so many witch hunts in my old school district that
my stomach turns at the thought of suggesting that being gay
might be considered a valid reason to fire a teacher.  

	It is attitudes of fear and repression that are
damaging the students most in these situations,  not
being exposed to talented qualified professionals.