Posted on 07/05/2005 7:05:05 PM PDT by Coleus
Fireworks arrive early as school board looks at marriage By Kyle Jorrey
Ninth-grade health textbooks in Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) will define marriage as an agreement of partners—not just a man and a woman—after action at Tuesday night’s board of education meeting.
Trustees listened to nearly three emotion-filled hours of passionate public debate on the issue of whether or not CVUSD should approve a new ninthgrade health textbook that doesn’t define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Board members decided to follow the original advice of the committee that reviewed the books.
Despite one final plea by board member Mike Dunn— who three times interrupted the board’s attempt to vote, asking for a new motion—trustees voted without comment, 4-0, to approve the disputed “Glencoe Health” ninth edition published by Glencoe/McGraw Hill. In protest, Dunn didn’t vote.
The debate spoke volumes about the controversy. Dunn, an outspoken advocate of family values, didn’t want an open interpretation, i.e. gay marriage, to be included in the definition.
Seats in the board room were filled nearly 30 minutes before the meeting started. Seats in the lobby in front of a TV were also full.
The two sides could easily be differentiated even before the meeting began. Some wore stickers and buttons, others carried books.
Board president Timothy Stephens threatened four times to clear the room because of outbursts from the crowd.
His pleas for order were mostly ignored.
Many praised Dunn for his position, while others blamed him for starting the controversy. Loud applause often accompanied each speaker’s comments.
Even after the board made its final vote, some voiced their displeasure with the decision.
It was after the vote that individual board members explained their positions.
“We are a public school, not a private school, and our job is to educate students to become productive members of our adult society, and that means they need to be aware of all the options that are available to them, not just a few,” said trustee Dorothy Beaubein.
“Religious and moral values are important—they’re very important—but the dispute about them does not belong in the public school. And Proposition 22 (the 2004 California law that recognizes marriage only as a union between a man and a woman) does not apply to these textbooks,” Beaubien said.
Board members noted that the Glencoe textbook had been approved not only by the state but also by a committee of district teachers using a long-accepted process.
“It is my responsibility to provide the best education I can for our 22,500 students with the resources we have to help them become well-rounded, analytical members of society,” said board member Dolores Didio. “And the evidence I have here says this textbook does that, and in way that is more engaging to students.”
After seeing his hopes dashed, Dunn didn’t waiver from his original position.
“Let me make it clear—I didn’t cause the problem in this room,” Dunn said. “The textbook manufacturer caused this problem when it recommended a very dramatic change in how we define marriage in our society. Don’t blame me, blame them.
“I don’t know one person in the Conejo Valley that would throw a rock at a homosexual,” Dunn said. “Nor do I know a parent in this district who tells their kid to throw rocks at homosexuals. But at the same time it’s clear to me that an overwhelming majority do not want homosexuality promoted in the public school system.”
Superintendent's Office - Karen Ise: kise
conejo.k12.ca.us or Sheri Fehlman: sfehlman@conejo.k12.ca.us
Board of Education - Karen Ise: kiseconejo.k12.ca.us
Jesus said: "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore, they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." -from THE BIBLE: Matthew 19:4-6
Homeschool is the answer... Great article for a subliminal ad for keeping the kids at home and giving them the BEST education available.
Sounds as if the battle lines are drawn, and they're very clear. Conservatives in that school district should band together and take the schools back from the leftists or, if all else fails, move out.
I have been to school board meetings like this, Its a waste of time. The LEARNED educators have their minds made up long before the meeting starts and nothing anyone can say or do is going to change it. I dont even know why they invite the public, the public is never listened to.Sometimes if the public is to loud they will table it and vote on it in private or bring it up when only a small public is in attendence.
"Educators"? Who cares? The school board is ELECTED, isn't it? The educators answer to the school board, don't they?
Around here, the school board is elected and all-volunteer (unpaid). Amazingly, we always seem to get board members who really care about the schools and work tirelessly to SERVE the people of the district. If some bunch of leftist lowlifes tried to redefine marriage in my district, they'd soon leave with their tails between their legs.
Of course, I'm talking about Iowa where, in general, the public schools are still very much worth caring for.
EVERY adult came up to my wife and I and praised our kids, talking about their manners, unselfishness, concern for others, etc.
Homeschooling makes ALL the difference in the world. What an absolute blessing it has been.
Here are all the CVUSD board members' emails, according to the official district webpage and Mike Dunn's webpage:
Lone Board Member voted against the book with the ambiguous definition (not abstained, as article suggests):
Four Board Members voted for the book with the ambiguous definition:
"To leave a message for a board member, please call the school district at (805) 497-9511 ext. 202."
thanks.
Homosexual Agenda Ping.
There's even numbers and addresses you can write to, if you want. Isn't that amazing - a few idiots on the school board, and voila! All the kids will learn that a family is any grouping of individuals who like to play with each others' genitals.
I hope that the good guys there don't give up the fight, and that tons of people rip their kids out of school.
Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.
Note: Children's textbooks have been going down the drain for years. If you look at them carefully most if not all the ones I've seen in the last - oh, bunch of years - have been saturated with leftist, feminist etc propaganda, but also teach the basics in such a confused, irrational manner that it almost makes me think they WANT all kids on Ritalin.
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