Graphic AIDS book draws parents' ire

Boston Herald ^ | Tuesday, May 3, 2005 | Kevin Rothstein

[A. Pole]

A lesson in AIDS/HIV has a Saugus family seeing red after their second-grader took home an explicit workbook noting that "semen" and "vaginal secretions" spread the disease.

The Saugus case is the second time in a week parents have complained that schools are giving young kids more than they need to know on sensitive issues. Paul Stamatopoulos came forward after hearing of a Lexington father who was arrested after he complained when his kindergartener brought home a book that dealt with gay marriage.

Stamatopoulos was dumbfounded when his 7-year-old daughter showed him what she called the "sad book."

"I took it away from her. I was shocked," he said.

Along with information on the history of AIDS and the benefits of hand-washing, the booklet told kids HIV is "spread by the exchange of infected body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal secretion)."

Stamatopoulos and his wife Diana said they weren't initially opposed to AIDS education. But they said they had no idea the information would be so graphic.

The state Department of Education leaves sex education up to local districts, though a state law requires parental notification when classes are held, a DOE spokeswoman said.

"I was told these are facts. I said `We know, but at that age, there are facts about the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. Do we tell our children those facts?" Stamatopoulos said.

Saugus Superintendent Keith R. Manville said the booklet was approved by the School Committee "a long time ago." He plans to meet with Stamatopoulos tomorrow, and said he might recommend altering the book.

"I think some of the examples are a little tough for a 7-year-old," Manville said.


Paul Stamatopoulos with the booklet his 2nd grade daughter brought home from school.(Staff photo by Nancy Lane)

[Dallas59]

With some of these kids having sex at an early age...I'm glad they are telling the truth.

[Sloth]

IF they are...

[kx9088]

Note to self: Add Mass. to the list of states not to enter for any reason.

List now stands at:

Illinois
Massachusetts
Washington

[longtermmemmory]

It seems the homolobby is trying to use Aids to teach children about sexual behavior.

They can teach about disease infection and germs without the sexual behavior thrown in.

[twigs]

They don't need to be that explicit. When my daughter was in 6th grade, I asked to see the sex ed/HIV book and I was told that parents weren't allowed to see it. I got very upset and the teacher, a Christian, slipped it to me. It was excellent, so I was surprised that we weren't allowed to see it. But because they were being so secretive, I figured something was going on--it wasn't the book--so I opted her out anyway.

[End Times Sentinel]

A lesson in AIDS/HIV :

 

Faggots and junkies, knock it off.  End of lesson.

 

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[Semper Paratus]

The standard response here is home schooling or get 'em out of the public schools. But for the vast majority of parents that's not an option. We shouldn't concede the biggest single tax item we pay for schools to the liberals.

[Russ]

Second grade? That's a little too early. They really need to be spending all their time on acedemic subjects.

[DTogo]

When the public skrewalls no longer call Christmas by it's name, refuse to say "under God" in the Pledge, invite speakers to suggest stripping as a career option, etc., this comes as no suprise.

[SaltyJoe]

Yeah, he looks like a very angry Greek papa. I think his daughter will be available to date...when she's about 35.

Kudos to the righteously angry parents protecting their children. Looks like they messed with the wrong family.

[stuartcr]

??? You mean it's not spread by the exchange of infected body fluids?

[G.Mason]

"Faggots and junkies, knock it off. End of lesson."

That needed saying again.

I did, so you won't have to. ;)

[stuartcr]

Even if it is a sexually transmitted disease?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

With some of these kids having sex at an early age...I'm glad they are telling the truth.

Well as long as your glad then we should ignore these troublesome parents. They really have no idea what's appropriate for their own children anyway.

[sageb1]

Frankly, I am livid. It's gotten to the point where parents are no longer able to teach their children in an age-appropriate manner. It used to be that you had to teach them before they learned from their peers. Now you have to teach them before they learn from their so-called educators.

[Colorado Mike]

"...Paul Stamatopoulos came forward after hearing of a Lexington father who was arrested after he complained when his kindergartener brought home a book that dealt with gay marriage."
This should bother most of you as much if not more. You can be arrested for dissenting? The Peoples Republik of Mass. is well on it's way to thought control.

[milagro]

Whoa!!! Since when are you as a parent NOT ALLOWED to see a book used to teach your child? I don't blame you for being suspicious!

[grey_whiskers]

"...Paul Stamatopoulos came forward after hearing of a Lexington father who was arrested after he complained when his kindergartener brought home a book that dealt with gay marriage." This should bother most of you as much if not more. You can be arrested for dissenting? The Peoples Republik of Mass. is well on it's way to thought control.

Dang, you just beat me to that thought!

[Sloth]

Yeah, but that's not the whole story. For example, one could identify condoms as the magic solution, without identifying their failure rate.