Shrider column: Word ban in schools? It could happen here.

Every now and then it's a good idea for us Americans to poke our heads up and have a look at how folks in other parts of the world do things.

Especially when we're about to do some of those same things.

One of them is the implementation of SB 777, the public school indoctrination act that mandates only positive portrayals and comments of homosexual, bisexual and transsexual lifestyle choices in public schools.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill in October. Liberal politicos and pundits have been rolling their eyes ever since, dismissing the "hysterical hand-wringing" of conservative parents and faith groups who rightly wonder exactly what words will no longer be tolerated in schools.

Critics of the law suggest some of those words could include "mom" and "dad" or "husband" and "wife" or even have boys and girls sharing the same bathrooms.

Such concerns are utter nonsense, according to state Sen. Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica, chief sponsor of the law. But one only has to peep across the pond to England to grasp that some of these concerns may not be so farfetched after all.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families, England's version of our Department of Education, just introduced an online cyberbullying campaign and a "new guidance" for teachers, ostensibly to "tackle homophobic bullying" in public schools, according to its Web site.

I found no mention of sharing bathrooms, but among the many helpful tips included in the guidance is the recommendation that teachers not assume their pupils have "mums and dads" and that "parents" is a more inclusive, sensitive and appropriate alternative.

The guidance also suggests teachers should not tell boys to "be a man" or accuse them of acting like a "bunch of women" or little girls, because such comments "leads to bullying of those who do not conform to fixed ideas about gender."

It's a good thing they don't have football over there -- the coaches would be tongue-tied.

When teachers talk about marriage, the guidance goes on to say, they should also talk about "civil partnerships and adoption rights for gay people." And when it comes to gay and lesbian staff members, "school culture and ethos determines how open staff are about their private lives, and you should therefore seek advice and guidance from your head (principal)."

The guidance was developed by the DCSF in partnership with the homosexual activist groups Stonewall and Educational Action Challenging Homophobia, though any accusations of a not-so-subtle gay agenda would no doubt be vigorously denied.

Ed Balls, the department's secretary of state, said in a statement launching the program, he "rejects any notion that addressing homophobic bullying is political correctness for its own sake -- even casual use of homophobic language in schools can create an atmosphere that isolates young people."

So there you have it. A vote against indoctrination, is a vote in support of fear, bullying and homophobia.

California already had laws in place to protect all our children from fear and bullying in schools, but Schwarzenegger signed the new law anyway.

No ban on the words "mom and dad?" It's already happening.

And there's no reason to believe it can't happen here.

So what do you think Blog world? Good idea ?