Public TV airs gay awareness film SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A teacher asks a fourth-grader what being gay means. The confused boy explains haltingly that it has something to do with black people marrying white people. Asked what words they thought of to describe gay people, the class suggests "pervert," "weird," "funny," "fancy," "sick" and "gross." "Kids are absorbing information. Some of it's accurate and some of it's really off the wall," said filmmaker Debra Chasnoff. Her documentary, "It's Elementary," began airing on dozens of public television stations this month despite having been turned down by the national PBS organization. Conservative groups have complained about the film, which has been shown at teacher-training seminars, parent-teacher association meetings, and churches since 1996. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559873072-364 House OKs education land grant bill WASHINGTON (AP) - Cash-strapped school districts, particularly in the West, could buy small parcels of Forest Service land at minimal cost for educational purposes under a bill the House passed Tuesday without dissent. The House voted 420-0 for the measure, which advanced to the Senate. The Clinton administration says it favors making such lands available but opposes the bill because the land would be sold for less than fair market price. Rep. James Hansen, R-Utah, said he understood the concerns but suggested the administration take note of who would benefit under the bill. Under the bill, school districts could apply for up to 80 acres of land. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559850509-06c> Study examines effects of wildfires WASHINGTON (AP) - Researchers are questioning the practice promoted in recent years of allowing many wildfires to burn, saying it makes a big difference whether the fire is in mountain woods, a deep rainforest or brushland. In the past few decades forest managers have come to the conclusion that suppressing naturally occurring fires can lead to a buildup of dry wood and leaves in forests, providing fuel for bigger fires in the long run. This was violently illustrated in 1988 when blazes roared out of control through Yellowstone National Park after years of being held in check. But two studies appearing in Friday's edition of the journal Science conclude that at least in certain ecosystems - the Brazilian rainforest and California brushland - it is better to fight fires. See full story <http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559875748-8b4>
