Posted on 11/02/2005 2:26:45 PM PST by SmithL
an Francisco (AP) --
A federal appeals court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit by elementary school parents who were outraged that the Palmdale School District had surveyed students about sex.
While the surveys asked students how often they thought about sex, among other questions, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said parents of public school children have no "fundamental right" to be the exclusive provider of sexual information to their children. The parents maintained they had the sole right "to control the upbringing of their children by introducing them to matters of and relating to sex."
The plaintiffs had sought unspecified monetary damages.
In upholding a lower court that had also ruled against the parents, a three-judge panel of the appeals court here dismissed the case, ruling unanimously that "parents are possessed of no constitutional right to prevent the public schools from providing information on that subject to their students in any forum or manner they select."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
That's my problem. Single parent. So it would be really tough to do.
Let me add that money's not the problem, nor is materials. We have a strong homeschool community here and I can get almost any curriculum items I'd need from Andie74. She's reviewed tons of them. Time is the difficulty.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1514876/posts
U.S. Court Allows Survey of Children on Sex Topics
Parents have always had plenty of say where I am from. But parents ALWAYS have a say in how they raise (or don't raise) their children no matter what. My parents knew that. If things came up in the school (in the few times it did), we/they were able to deal with it because they raised us to be able to do so. None of us eight children never had probems with drugs or alcohol (actually never touched them) or such things. My parents were strict in the fact that we never had video game systems or cable TV (didn't need them) and that they expected us to do our homework--no friends over on school nights. We had plenty of religious time too so that wasn't a factor and they did expect us to learn something at school and to respect teachers. We've all had bumps along the way, but have all turned out fine. That was the most important thing to my mom--is that we all turn out to be good kids. I respect her enough to honor that and try to keep being a "good kid." No, we don't know Latin and we didn't go to Harvard, but we have turned out just fine.
I understand where you are coming from; it's called living within your means.
I suppose I feel that there are two factors which are problematic, and they are obvious to me and most others I'm sure.
1.)Activist judges must be reigned in. They are an oligarchy ruling by fiat, and have all but usurped the legislative process.
2.)The amount of taxation in this country is ridiculous, and money wasted on vote grabbing schemes would be best left in the hands of the people. Let's use an example; say we have a person who makes 4000/ month. After taxes, that is reduced down to close to 3000/ month. Maybe more depending on where you live, counting state, local, etc.
Now we take a person who makes 2000/ month. Not a whole lot. Current taxation can break such a person financially. I know I'm preaching to the choir perhaps, but my supposition is this.
Certain politicians scare people using the premise that they know how to spend money better than the individual. Any attempts to slash taxes are painted as 'radical' ideas. Keeping some bureaucrat's filthy hands out of my/ your pocket is a radical idea? Yet most people have been brainwashed into accepting this very premise.
The idea that there could ever be education which is "neutral" in regards to values and morals is a joke. Some worldview will always emerge.
It was a mistake to institute government-run schools in the first place. The real solution would be toward universal school vouchers and an eventual phase-out of government-run schools. But while such a policy would gain a lot of support here at FR, most "average" Americans would find such a policy radical beyond belief, and this would even include your average suburban red-state Republican.
Sadly, most parents have a very utilitarian and philistine attiude towards their children's education. For them education is just about getting into a good college and getting a good job. (And that's just among those parents who actually care at all.) So most parents don't really mind if their kids are taught that sodomy is a morally healthy lifestyle and Wicca is a legitimate religion.
Those parents who do care about the worldview being imparted to their kids will just have to sacrifice and either homeschool, enroll in a private school, or move to a part of the country where the radicals haven't yet taken over (though frankly no public school would really be safe). I just feel sorry for poor parents who would find these options difficult or impossible.
Kind of what I suspected. I just read the rest of the article and no mention was made of the parents in question ever addressing the issue of "taboo" subjects until after the fact. Not a shining example of proactive parenting.
I don't want to raise a kid at this time, for a bunch of reasons. But thanks for the advice anyway. =[
"Actually, you can homeschool just about free"
Time is money, and that includes today's American woman, sadly. We have taxes to pay.
Dear Arthur Wildfire! March,
I didn't realize that I'd recommended to you that you should raise a child, nor that I'd given you any advice.
sitetest
We were paying for private school for two kids and before and after school day care. By the time government taxed the income necessary to fund that education and daycare, which pushed us both into a higher bracket because of where we live, my project engineering salary was reduced to about ten grand. To take that out of our budget was no major sacrifice.
I'm wrote a book while the kids studied and am now developing a business. The wife works four tens and goes to grad school. The twelve year old is nearly done with calculus. Both she and her younger sister are studying ancient Rome at the college level.
Life is good.
The right of privacy extends to abortion (a surgical procedure) and does not extend into my house and the way I raise my children? Is that what you clowns demand? Screw you! I'll send my kids to a private (Catholic) school and then I'll get to tell my kids the truth. The truth is this; homosexuality will probably kill you, sex between two people (of the opposite sex) is a wonderful thing, but it is empty if it is done without love and affection, and marriage is a wonderful way to have sex and children, not to mention you get a beautiful friend and a great sexual partner. Case closed....9 Circus, get lost!
~sigh~ Would that all children had good parents like we (you and me) did.
It isn't a constitutional issue.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for homeschooling whenever possible. It doesn't surprise me in the least that your children are performing at the level you describe. I'll take a wild guess and suggest that your kids are being taught the things that should be taught; unlike public schools where Johnny is basically instructed in the 'virtues' of being a good little unquestioning socialist.
The NEA and other assorted leftists hate guys like you, Carry_Okie.;) It's embarrassing to them, so of course they resort to what some would call 'intangibles'; your children will be undersocialized, blah, blah, blah. You know what I mean.
Life is good.
Glad to hear it. Regards.
I didn't. I was just pointing out why home education can be more affordable than private schools. At three or more kids, it's an obvious financial preference.
I am thankful to live in an area with many good parents. I make it a point to compliment many of them when I can.
What does anyone expect from black robed lawyer high priests of the legal cult?
These are a bunch of INSANE LAWYERS for God's sake! They are of the same cut and ilk of those "doctors of the law" who conspired to crucify Christ.
They are evil, vile, seditious, despicable and twisted. Why Americans don't start calling for these deranged judge's heads is beyond me...
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