''Gay'' is just a word

Gay is a word like any other. It happens to have multiple meanings, but those additional meanings should not lead to censorship. Of course, I might feel differently if a straight line had to be referred to as "not curved" to avoid causing raucous laughter. When children laugh at the use of the word gay, there is something wrong with their attitude, education, upbringing, or all of the above, and the headteacher should address that, rather than glossing over the issue altogether.

Does this headteacher also insist on calling the sternum the "chestbone" (or similar), in defiance of normal English naming, to avoid amusing the children? Is the English town of Penistone glossed over on their maps? Is Homo sapiens's Latin name missed out of their science lessons? Do they insist that children avoid singing "Ding dong bell, pussy's in the well"? I hope the answer to all these questions is yes, as it will at least stop me from thinking that the headteacher is (or his pupils are) homophobic. If the answer is no—as I suspect it will be—it shows that the pupils are provided with plenty of opportunities to laugh, but that they only do so at homosexuals and are therefore either badly taught or badly brought-up.

Very well said. I heartily agree!

Not all people who use gay as a negative have that attitude. Use of wikt:gay adjective #6 is not incompatible with respect for homosexuals, championing of their rights or being a member of the GLBT community.

That usage of the word is derived—if my memory serves me correctly—from the common derision for homosexuals. Besides, I am sure homosexuals will be offended by the use of the word "gay" to mean "bad", in the same way a woman would be offended if "female" were used to refer to something as despicable.

I believe you are correct as in to the derivation. I have never heard a gay use the term, but I have heard a couple of bisexuals use it on that meaning.

Better example over "sternum": w:phagocytosis and all related terms.

I can't think if someone change the word "gay" in Daffodils, written by William Wordsworth...

Well from his point of view it made sense. Kids love the word gay (as in they use it so often)