Apr 20, 2006 12:27 pm US/Eastern
Controversy Over Kid's Book Depicting Gay Marriage
LEXINGTON (CBS4) ―
There's a classroom controversy in Lexington over a children's book depicting gay marriage.
A second grade teacher read the book to her class as part of a lesson about weddings. Some parents are outraged that the school never notified them first.
One couple says they only learned about the book called "King and King" after their 7-year-old son came home from Estabrook Elementary on March 24 talking about what he said was a silly book he read in school.
Robin Wirthlin said she had every intention to teach her son about homosexuality, but not until she felt he was ready.
In the fairy tale, the prince passes up several princesses and falls in love with another prince.
The publisher says "King and King" is intended for children 6 and older.
A father was arrested for trespassing at the Estabrook school last year after he complained about a book his son brought home from kindergarten that included a depiction of a same-sex household. David Parker demanded that school officials allow him to pull his son out of future discussions about same-sex parents.
"I think there are people who have a real agenda that they're trying to promote and teach the children", Wirthlin said.
School Superintendent Paul Ash defended the system's approach to teaching diversity. He says Lexington is committed to "teaching children about the world they live in."
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
