Parents upset at class assignment focusing on same-sex marriage

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Parents of some elementary school students are upset after their children were told to read a newspaper column supporting same-sex marriage for a class assignment.

Fifth-graders at Derby Ridge Elementary School were asked to read the nationally syndicated column by Richard Cohen, then respond to it with their own editorial, said Jack Jensen, assistant superintendent of elementary education for Columbia Public Schools.

"The purpose was to become familiar with editorial writing and respond," Jensen said. "But it was not an appropriate topic to use at this age level."

Jensen said students brought up the topic of gay marriage before the assignment.

The column, titled "Gay marriage ban no benefit to society," responds to a New York Supreme Court decision to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage.

Jensen said administrators have fielded numerous calls from parents who are upset about the assignment. Administrators spoke to the teacher -- whom Jensen refused to name -- but no other disciplinary action will be taken.

While newspapers are often used in classrooms, editorials often focus on complex and controversial issues like gay marriage, stem-cell research and abortion, said Earnest Perry, chairman of journalism studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism.

Perry said teachers must be cognizant that current events can often be inappropriate.

"It's not as easy as just saying, 'No, it shouldn't be done,' or 'Yes, do it,'" Perry said. "It's up to a teacher to instruct at the grade level in which they're teaching and to determine whether or not the students have a grasp of the subject and understand what's going on.

"It depends on the age level and maturity level of the children whether they understand and can define what same-sex marriage is and the moral as well as political ramifications of that. Is that a subject the entire class will be able to understand?"

Jensen said teachers typically consult peers or administrators if they are uncertain about the appropriateness of an assignment.

"Unfortunately, that did not happen in this case," he said.