Calif. May Require Gay History Lessons

HEARTLESS wrote: Who here is familiar with John B. Calhoun and the rat studies? I saw a film about this in 6th grade. It involved two groups of rats that are in the same size areas, but one group is provided unlimited food (socialist utopia) and overpopulates quickly. These rats become violent, cannibalistic, homosexual and so on. California may be the human test site.

Maybe you should revsit 6th grade or review Calhouns experiments and theories.

Calhoun introduced 1 group of rats into a 1/4 acre outdoor pen being well-stocked with food and free from predators. Interestingly, even though five pregnant over this time-span could theoretically produce 50,000 health progeny for this size pen, Calhoun found that the population never exceeded 200 individuals, and stabilized at 150.

The 2nd group was confined to a much smaller area and THAT group had the problems. Both had the "socialistic utopia" set up that you mention. Crowding was the problem to which Calhoun dedicated his entire professional life as a scientist. Crowds have long been associated with pathology, with mass panic, with the spread of disease, with political radicalism, aggression, and unruly social behavior. Remember that when y'all are getting worked up into a frenzy at the next tea bagger rally. (BTW I'll quit calling you Tea Baggers when you quit using terms like "Obama Messiah" and "Obamacare")

But you are right that Cali is the perfect lab for this real life experiment with the overcrowding.

Now back to the original post. It is NOT requiring a full course to be established and requred to be taken. It is part of a social studies (history) class, lessons about the contributions of gays and lesbians in the state and country (Harvey Milk). You think that the GLBT movement is not a part of history? Most textbooks don't include any information about GLBT. This selective censorship sends the wrong message to all young people, and especially to those who do not identify as straight.

With the issue of same-sex marriage working its way through our courts, we shouldn't bother to teach students the history that has brought us to this point? How are they supposed to gain a complete understanding about what is happening in our government if we obscure parts of our history some segments of the population find objectionable?

I do agree that the "LESSONS" may counter anti-gay stereotypes and beliefs that make gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender children vulnerable to bullying and suicide. YAY!!! WINNING!!!

Are you offended by lessons (a few class hours maybe so no real strain on curiculum resources) on other socal and ethnic groups, like black history or immigrant history?

I won't even go into the BS scare tactic of "indoctrinate our children into homosexuality". :bash

FWIW, a lot of the posters on this board could definitely use a little gay history to help rid them of their ignorance.

Whatevergreen, sorry my memory of 40 years ago isn't as good as it should be. Rats, mice, black and white 8mm film.
SC, I'm shocked if you aren't familiar with the study. Overpopulation and crowding are a real problem whether rodents or human.