A parent in an east Texas school district complained that her elementary school-aged children (8, 4) were encouraged to cross-dress for that week's "Spirit Day" thing. It's a small district - Spurger.

At first I was like, "Oh gosh, not another one of these politically correct types trying to stamp out freedom of speech and expression."

But elementary school children? Give me a break, folks.

The school decided to chunk cross-dressing day (their version: Twerp Day) in exchange for Camo Day.

Subjecting to kids at that early of an age cross-dressing -- I don't care if it's for a football team or a birthday party --- puts in them an idea that boys dressing like girls and vice versa - is ok. It's not. It's perverse.

Plano, Texas' Liberty Legal Institute (the Christian version of the ACLU) defended the parent in this whole thing, because now everyone's getting up in arms about it all.

I say first of all: Don't gripe.

In Frisco, north of Dallas, a couple of black parents objected to the school mascot being "Coons," as in, short for Raccoon. PC won in that one, and the mascot changed from Coons to Raccoons. ANd of course we have tons of those anti-Indian activists and the like.

Not to mention the "offended" parties who have a problem with the words God, Ten Commandments and other Biblical heritage items being placed in public view.

Sure, it's all "for fun and games" at first, just like the paganistic Christmas trees and lights are around Christmas; just like the innocent-looking costumes on the Day of the Dead (Oct. 31); yeah, all just for the children to have fun, yep.

Elementary school kids don't need a cross-dressing day. I can understand the fun and games in high school and in college, but in elementary school?

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Do the kids think it's perverse? Probably not, they most likely think it's fun. Are we at such a point in our society today that kids gender roles have to be so strictly enforced that one fun day at a school turns into a big legal issue? And if you honestly beleive that changing the type of clothes elementary school kids wear for 8 hours for 1 day a year is going to make them think cross-dressing is fine you are just absurd. The idea of gender roles is so prevelant in our society today that kids no what is "right" and "wrong" really early on in their lives. But instead we should promote 'Camo day', "Yeah, kids, you done not better be one of 'dem there *****s, so instead we gonna go fight 'dem dirty arabs".

Texas sucks

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I agree...couldn't have said it better myself!!

Do the kids think it's perverse? Probably not, they most likely think it's fun. Are we at such a point in our society today that kids gender roles have to be so strictly enforced that one fun day at a school turns into a big legal issue? And if you honestly beleive that changing the type of clothes elementary school kids wear for 8 hours for 1 day a year is going to make them think cross-dressing is fine you are just absurd. The idea of gender roles is so prevelant in our society today that kids no what is "right" and "wrong" really early on in their lives. But instead we should promote 'Camo day', "Yeah, kids, you done not better be one of 'dem there *****s, so instead we gonna go fight 'dem dirty arabs".

Texas sucks

ha. Like i said before i do find it ironic that someone so "prestigous" and "honored" as joeydauben, why whe would spend his valueable time on the internet harassing and posting crass/sexist/stereotypical threads. I mean, he IS a representitive for kids...joey, get a life.

Man, that felt good.

one question: is there any reason you can give other than something like "it's god's will" to explain why it's perverse? because that's your god, your values, your opinions, not a universal statement of truth. Besides, I thought we'd moved past the times when men, women and people of other sexes (because there are several different sexes based on body configuration, and that's not even counting identity) were forbidden to take up each other's styles and habits.

and, I know this is off-topic, but I'm just wondering how old are you? I checked out your website and you say first you decided to run for public office when you were 21.

dude, the kids are just having fun...get over it and move on with your unsubstancial life.

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But a new kid came to school on that day and the next day dressed like that because he was "trying to fit in".

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poor kid.

May i ask why you started two threads with the same subject?

I think that she was just trying to get attention or just make a big deal out of it... At my school, we have spirit week too, and it is a small county. One of the days was "Dress like you're favourite TV Char", and we were encouraged to wear whatever we wanted. Didn't matter, boy or girl, man or woman. And it was fun... :P But a new kid came to school on that day and the next day dressed like that because he was "trying to fit in".

Mushroom5698

It's not like I was influenced into liking to wear things backwards, just because we had a backwards day. It will just be like one of those funny memories that you look back on, like when you and your friend ran in and out of the boy's bathroom and you thought it was so cool.

Elementary schoolers are influenced, that's true, but they won't be influenced by one day in school because they won't have experienced trauma, hense it will go back to the funny memory, not a way of life.

It's just for fun. It's not serious or anything. It's just to lighten the mood. And cross-dressing is amusing to elementary school kids, I remember. What's wrong with kids being amused and feeling comfortable?

And it's not perverse to dress how ever you feel. Who is to say what is acceptab;le as long as it's not hurting anyone?

When will you give up? If people like you ruled the world it would suck! While I agree there is no point to it in elementary school it doesn't make it not okay. You assume that just because it isn't somehting you wouldn't do that it is something you SHOULDn't do. That is the source of most if not all civil hatred. If I want to teach my kid not to be bound by strict gender roles that's my business. And it only applies to boys really. Girls are not considered cross-dressers if they wear baggy pants and tee-shirts...they are considered tomboys. But if a guy were to wear a skirt he would automatically be considered a cross-dresser and a ***. It's cloth. It all serves the same purpose. Covering. Get over it.

Ciao

Hmm that's a really wierd thought.

Should be funny to see 10 year old boys wearing mini-skirts and thongs.

Sh!t! Does this mean the girls have to wear pants?