Hopefully we will see a day soon where any circumstance like this would seem like a foreign aberration.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s guest post is written by\u00a0Jennifer White. \u00a0 Opinions shared on guest posts may not completely reflect the positions of the blog\u2019s author.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cThere is more to hear in what is not said.\u201d<\/span> *Big breath*<\/span><\/p>\n I prepared myself to read the Salt Lake Tribune\u00a0article\u00a0\u201cA Utah Substitute Told FifthGraders that Homosexuality is Wrong.\u201d\u00a0In response to the question, \u201cWhat are you thankful for this year?\u201d one boy\u2019s response was nothing but precious.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m thankful thatI\u2019m finally going to be adopted by my two dads.\u201d \u2026Utah County. Oh boy\u2026\u00a0The response from the teacher was exactly why I felt the need to prepare myself.\u00a0A lecture to the class that homosexuality is wrong;\u00a0including the unimaginably inappropriate direct response to the boy. \u201cThat\u00a0is nothing to be thankful for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n My heart sank.\u00a0This is not about stance or beliefs with the controversial subject. It is about approach, it is about behavior, it is about mental health regardless of one\u2019s particular views.\u00a0Most in Utah County who\u00a0I directly know are fairly advanced overall in this respect,\u00a0so I expected some appropriate responses,\u00a0but there is something the next two paragraphs that thrilled me to the core.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThree girls asked her to stop multiple times. But she continued, so they walked out of the room to get the principal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs the substitute was escorted out of the building, she was still arguing, trying to make her point, the boy\u2019s fathers say they were told by school officials.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Let me voice the obvious goodness here. First of all, this boy is about to be adopted by two good men, in UTAH COUNTY! Not only that, this boy is in an environment where he felt safe enough and accepted enough already to voice this particular thanks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Obvious kudos to those three girls.\u00a0To recognize what was going on was inappropriate?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Check.\u00a0To voice their opposition to the person in authority? Check.\u00a0Multiple times? Check-times-three! Then to take action and to get the principal!\u00a0 I like what is implied here\u2026they felt safe with the principal\u2019s\u00a0expected response.<\/span><\/p>\n But then that gap.\u00a0That beautiful gap hidden between the two paragraphs is where the real thrill is for me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs the substitute was escorted out of the the building\u201d\u2026wait, what??\u00a0\u00a0*Big long unexpected breath*\u00a0I laughed. I re-read it. No explanation of the principal\u2019s initial reaction? Nope. The progression of\u00a0thinking it over and deciding on the correct response? Nope. Apparently, it was not needed by the author of this article. Not in this age. Not in my community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Of course\u00a0the teacher was not only excused, but escorted outside. A strict and public response that\u00a0students come first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So beautiful.\u00a0So appropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n The lessons we learn from the mistakes and hurtful experiences many of us have experienced at the hands of someone like this substitute teacher have value. We must continue to share these truths. To share our stories. Sometimes I forget\u00a0some people even listen.\u00a0This community\u2019s response to protect this boy\u2019s joy inspires me to be thankful. Today I am thankful for where I live. Utah County listens. And I hear you!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Jennifer White\u2019 s thoughts on \u00a0Symmetry Solutions blog about this local matter that was handled appropriately by students and principal alike. Hopefully we will see a day soon where any circumstance like this would seem like a foreign aberration. Today\u2019s guest post is written by\u00a0Jennifer White. \u00a0 Opinions shared on guest posts may not completely […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":766,"featured_media":6072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,27,45,214,138,50],"tags":[34,33,211,92,139,294],"class_list":["post-6066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adolescents","category-children","category-gospel-teachings","category-lgbtq-2","category-mindfulness","category-word-of-wisdom","tag-adolescents-2","tag-children-2","tag-lgbtq","tag-mental-health","tag-mindfulness","tag-words-of-wisdom"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/153\/2019\/12\/42c76f_a2165cd845c8478aa2f4a63b5f8482a7mv2_d_2339_1988_s_2.jpg\")
Jennifer White<\/a> is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has been employed professionally in the mental health field since 2005. She is proficient in helping adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Jennifer works with clients in a variety of environments. Jennifer received a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Behavioral Science at Utah Valley University and a Masters Degree in Social Work at Brigham Young University.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
\n\u2015 Joyce Rachelle<\/span><\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/153\/2019\/11\/42c76f_c52e0cf43b7b492e919aad90297a5272mv2_d_1536_1684_s_2.jpeg\")
Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, CSTS\u00a0<\/i><\/i>can be reached at\u00a0<\/i>natashaparker.org<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and runs an online practice,\u00a0<\/i>Symmetry Solutions<\/i><\/b><\/a>, which focuses on helping families and individuals with faith concerns, sexuality and mental health. She hosts the\u00a0<\/i>Mormon Mental Health<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and Mormon Sex Info<\/a><\/strong>Podcasts, is the current past president of the\u00a0<\/i>Mormon Mental Health Association<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0and runs a sex education program,\u00a0<\/i>Sex Talk with Natasha<\/i><\/b><\/a>. She has over 20 years of experience working with primarily an LDS\/Mormon clientele.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"