Accurate and Nuanced Gay Education

(Sacramento, California) In an era when school systems are often criticized for graduating students with little knowledge of history -- any history -- we get this.

California lawmakers on Tuesday sent the governor a bill that would make the state the first requiring public schools to include the contributions of gays and lesbians in social studies curriculum.

The bill, passed on a party-line vote, adds lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as well as people with disabilities to the list of groups that schools must include in the lessons. It also would prohibit material that reflects adversely on gays.

"This bill will require California schools to present a more accurate and nuanced view of American history in our social science curriculum by recognizing the accomplishments of groups that are not often recognized," said Assembly Speaker John Perez, the first openly gay speaker of the California Assembly.

The bill is on Gov. Brown's desk.

Interestingly, I recall seeing an episode of the Jay Leno television show where he asked typical young Californians on the street who America fought in the Revolutionary War. Most did not know.

Agreed, it's anecdotal but arguably symptomatic of poor knowledge of history in general. I would argue that the education establishment has big enough problems already and they won't be solved by having lawmakers shove special interest agenda items into the mandated curricula.