Parents Outraged After Fifth-Graders Told to Read Gay-Marriage Column

Moms and Dads of some Derby Ridge Elementary School students in Columbia, Mo., were upset to learn their 10-year-olds were assigned to read an editorial in support of same-sex marriage, the News-Leader of Springfield reported.

Students were told to read the column then write their own editorial.

“The purpose was to become familiar with editorial writing,” said Jack Jensen, assistant superintendent of elementary education for Columbia Public Schools. “But it was not an appropriate topic to use at this age level.”

Jensen said administrators spoke to the teacher, but chose not to take further disciplinary action.