The “Welcoming Schools” curriculum by the Human Rights Campaign is set to begin this spring or fall at Hale Elementary, Jefferson Elementary and Park View Elementary. The K-5 curriculum begins in kindergarten by advancing acceptance of homosexuality, as distinct from tolerance, in lessons that supposedly address the family, bullying, gender roles and name-calling.

According to the Minnesota Family Council, the curriculum is facing stiff opposition from a diverse group of parents who oppose bullying but strongly object to the curriculum’s intentional bias towards GLBT issues, blatant disrespect for biblical values, and deliberate intent to undermine parental authority.

“We want to begin by saying that we stand with the District and our school in wanting to address the bullying and name-calling issues, including the bullying and name-calling of GLBT children and their families,” said a statement from the group of parents to the Minneapolis School Board delivered in March. “However, in doing so we retain the rights as parents to expect our schools not to interfere with our freedom to teach our children our individual beliefs and values, whatever they may be.”

Attorneys from the Alliance Defense Fund are also urging Minneapolis Public Schools not to implement the program.

“The government should promote and encourage strong families,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Austen R. Nimocks. “When school officials have to choose between protecting children in those families or furthering the homosexual agenda, the choice is obvious: protecting our children comes first.”

The ADF submitted a legal memo to the school district advising them of the “project’s true intent.”

The MFC says the curriculum uses a wide range of pro-homosexual picture books and puppets (with lots of smiles and fun activities) to redefine the family and indoctrinate children to approve of homosexuality and transgenderism, and admire same-sex couples raising children—before kids are even old enough to know what sexuality is or understand the unhealthy implications of homosexual behavior.

“We have found that approximately two-thirds of the curriculum teaches elementary children about ‘underrepresented family structures’ and ‘redefining male and female behavior.’ It far under represents families of color, Asian and immigrant families and ignores faith and belief differences in families,” the parents’ statement said.

One of the recommended videos for this curriculum is “It’s Elementary.” The video shows children listening to other children talk about homosexuality. In one scene, a fifth grader says, “Some Christians believe that if you’re gay, you’ll go to hell, so they want to torture them and stuff.”

In another scene, an eight-year-old girl says that she thinks that those who believe what the Bible says about homosexuality are “stupid.” This girl receives lavish praise from her teacher.

Prodded by the teacher, children will take part in developing a “Class Code of Ethics” based on The Mahabharata, “an ancient religious and historical text from India.” This text states, “This is the sum of duty: Do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain.”

In grades 4-5, students will be required to write out their values and then fashion their value statements to make them fit into their class “code of ethics.” This code is to be used as a guide to their “beliefs and behavior toward others,” regardless of the values they were raised with at home.

The process for each child will be complete when students will be able to verbalize and write down for the teacher, “I used to think, but now I know …”

“After careful review of ‘Welcoming Schools,’ it is certain that the techniques, lessons and materials used do indeed encourage and reward our children to question what they are taught in our highly diverse family environments,” the parents’ statement said. “By questioning the moral authority of parents, ‘Welcoming Schools’ deliberately creates conflict between child and teacher, child and parent, and parent and teacher. A school curriculum that creates conflict between child, parent and teacher is fostering an environment that is emotionally harmful and threatening to the child. This is not acceptable.”