The Education of our Children Should Not Be Left to the State

Sierra Times ^ | 11/10/2005 | Lee R. Shelton IV

[FerdieMurphy]

Parents of elementary school children in California were upset that their kids were the targets of a sex survey conducted by the Palmdale School District. The survey, distributed in 2002, focused on how often prepubescent school kids thought about sex and touched themselves--you know, just the kind of things educators need to know to in order to effectively teach reading, writing and math skills.

The parents filed a lawsuit, claiming that the survey "violated parents' substantive due process and privacy rights." Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Fields v. Palmdale School District [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/9th/0356499p.pdf], dismissed the suit, saying:

We agree, and hold that there is no fundamental right of parents to be the exclusive provider of information regarding sexual matters to their children, either independent of their right to direct the upbringing and education of their children or encompassed by it. We also hold that parents have no due process or privacy right to override the determinations of public schools as to the information to which their children will be exposed while enrolled as students. Finally, we hold that the defendants' actions were rationally related to a legitimate state purpose.

The court's ruling certainly seems like a violation of the rights and privileges of parents. But is it really? First of all, the court's ruling does not create law. The Palmdale School Board can still be pressured to end such ridiculous practices. Secondly, the parents who are complaining have already shown that they do not hold the education of their children in high regard. I know this sounds harsh, but while I sympathize for the children, it's difficult to feel sorry for the parents. After all, they were the ones who turned custody of their children over to the government school system for six or seven hours a day, five days a week. Were they really all that surprised when the schools tried to undermine their parental authority?

By placing your child in the care of a government-run indoctrination center, you are saying that you trust the government to raise your child, essentially giving up your due process and privacy rights. You are admitting that the government is able to give your child something you cannot provide. When you consider how poorly the government manages everything else, why would any reasonable person think things would be different when it comes to education?

Note that the Ninth Circuit believes the school district's actions "were rationally related to a legitimate state purpose." In other words, those in control of public education have but one concern: the welfare of the state. Seeing to it that your child receives a quality education can only conflict with that.

There really isn't any way to sugar-coat this, so I'll just come right out and say it: If you willingly submit your child to the trappings of the government school system, then you have no right to complain about what they are taught. It would be like sending your kid off to play in oncoming traffic, expressing shock and outrage and blaming someone else when he was struck by a car. Sure, you can try to be involved by going to parent-teacher conferences, attending PTA meetings or getting elected to the school board, but when you get right down to it, you are in control of the education of your child.

My wife and I are in the process of adopting a little girl from China. This will be our first child, and even though it will be about a year before we travel to China to get her, we are preparing our home for her arrival. One of our main concerns is her future education. We are still weighing options, but one thing we know for certain is that she will never see the inside of a government school classroom. Why would we rescue her from a lifetime of socialist, atheist indoctrination in one country just so she can have the same experience on the other side of the world? Believe me; if that was our goal, it would be cheaper, less stressful and much easier just to leave her where she is.

For Christian parents, education is a tremendous responsibility. Believers have a duty to ensure that their children received a God-centered education. Scripture says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7a). Why settle for anything less?

[FerdieMurphy]

We (Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals) also hold that parents have no due process or privacy right to override the determinations of public schools as to the information to which their children will be exposed while enrolled as students.

The school "system" has free rein to convert little children to homosexuality or to make rutting fornicators out of 6-year-olds.

Parents need to rise up and take complete control of their school system, get it disconnected from the federales and kick all members of the school board off who support perversity education .

In Florida a bill has been written that would introduce sexual education in kindergarten where each child would be given condoms so that use of this device would become familiar to them.

[mlc9852]

"In Florida a bill has been written that would introduce sexual education in kindergarten where each child would be given condoms so that use of this device would become familiar to them."

Where did you get this information? I am curious to read who proposed it and why.

[t2buckeye]

Here's the whole problem. It wasn't just about the information given to kids...it's the private information the KIDS' were asked/forced to provide to the schools! With the public's RIGHTFUL concern about sexual predators, we want our kindergardeners to think it is okay to discuss private information like this to adults?

It reminds me of the time my 5 year old was going to kindergarden...they did not have a bus, so the school sent a car and driver to take him to school. After years of telling my son not to get into a car alone with a stranger, here I was, watching him get into a car with a man I didn't even know. I didn't allow it and took him to school myself because I KNEW that I was giving mixed messages.
DON'T give up on public schools...They are NOT all bad, but parents MUST be viligant.

[CindyDawg]

I have given up on them. I know they aren't all bad but it's not the enviroment I want my grandkids in. I have had to give up the new car and some other stuff but you do what you have to do. That said, I agree . Parents sadly are now going to have to teach their kids to not talk to teachers.

[davisfh]

"Finally, we hold that the defendants' actions were rationally related to a legitimate state purpose."

And that "legitimate state purpose" is, your honor? (And I use the word "honor" advisedly, here.)

The reason that this is happening in this country that formerly belonged to we, the people, is that far too few people are focused on the welfare of their children. Were the opposite true, these blackhearted scoundrels wouldn't dare to say these words. The ninth circuit and others of their ilk will continue in their efforts to corrupt the youth of this nation because of this lack of focus.

[Dustbunny]

THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE LEFT TO THE STATE

Right !!! Congress needs to pass a law stating exactly that and a few other items that have to do with you raising your children and not the 'state'.

[t2buckeye]

I teach in a public high school...and believe it or not, there are many Christian conservatives who teach...we're not ALL liberals. Even my liberal friends...most of them...keep their political philosophy out of the classroom AND they are all up in arms about this ruling. That being said, the union leadership is liberal and active...and unfortunately, most conservative teachers are more concerned about teaching than holding high office in the union.

[lexfreedom]

The school "system" has free rein to convert little children to homosexuality

And if you challenge the school system, you risk getting thrown in jail, which is what happened to David Parker in Lexington, MA.

Support David Parker ! Visit:

www.davidparkerfund.org

[CindyDawg]

I know several conservative, Christian teachers that stay. My concern isn't with them but with the liberal agenda that is being forced on them and our kids.

[theBuckwheat]

Homeschool if at all possible.

[CindyDawg]

Did you see the article a few days ago, regarding teachers leaving unions and starting their own association?

[t2buckeye]

True..I'm lucky because our district is fairly conservative..and the community has a big impact on the school...That's why you see this crap in California. The districts and administrations there are VERY liberal just like the 9th circuit. Unfortunately, the kids suffer.

[TomSmedley]

There really isn't any way to sugar-coat this, so I'll just come right out and say it: If you willingly submit your child to the trappings of the government school system, then you have no right to complain about what they are taught.

Parents need to rise up and take complete control of their school system, get it disconnected from the federales and kick all members of the school board off who support perversity education .

If we sit down at the government table, we have no right to complain about the menu. Beggars can't be choosers. What it feeds me, I must swallow.

[t2buckeye]

No I haven't...is it posted somewhere? The NEA is soo strong...and even if you don't join, they are allowed to take some money out because they collectively bargain. The only thing I can do is make sure that my money doesn't go to political action...we have a box to check that asks us to give to political action..I of course never check it, though I'm sure some of my money is used.

[CindyDawg]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1518509/posts

[WorkingClassFilth]

I'd agree with your analysis in principle, but we'd part company on the practical, tactical side. Retaking the public school system is going to be as difficult as reordering the SCOTUS. It requires so many things that take massive, integrated national power that it will likely be a generation, or more, before realistic measures to achieve these goals could be implemented. Remember, we do not only fight the RAT party, but our President allowed dear Teddy Kennedy to write the current education bill that only exacerbated the problem. On top of that, the RATs are fueled with NEA dollars and their product is an ever more radicalized and stupid populace. IMO, the direct confrontational route as the sole avenue or stategery is like assaulting a castle wall by ramming your head against it.

I think it is wise to take a page from history and try another route.

In the wake of the radical failure to overturn the American system, they turned inward and founded a host of radical enterprises. Today, this 'counter-culture' has become the dominant culture by way of mainstreaming and the mechanics of boomer demographics. In a similar way, the potential exists to advance a 'counter-counter-culture' and allow the social implications to develop in the wake of direct actions of conservative social philosophy.

I do not, repeat, I do not endorse dropping out of the mainstream culture and abandoning our schools or civic institutions to the rabble. On the contrary, it should be among the most emphasized principles in homeschooling to be civic minded and to act within the laws of our Republic to change law and policy for traditional and conservative goals. It must be recognized, however, that the duties to one's own children and family outweigh the costs and commitment that extensive political actions on the scale you describe would entail.

Instead of massive action and organizing for the specific ends of reclaiming public schools, a far more effective route would be to adopt a 'counter-counter-culture' lifestyle and integrate yourself and family into homeschooling networks. The impact HS'ers are having is far, far, far more productive in terms of undermining and destroying NEA/leftist control of the system than any amount of speechifying at your city council meetings. Don't stop doing that, of course, but remember where the real impact is occurring and keep your resources focused on that.

The opportunity exists, through HS'ing, to stress the PS'ers to the point of implosion. Remember that in trying to save the PS system, you will very likely lose your own children's education because of the time and resistance factors in effecting change. It's kind of like trying to resteer the course of a ship when it is already mortally wounded and sinking. Of course, parents will need to decide for themselves when to abandon ship, but the necessity will arise in any event as long as the NEA remains alive.

Already, HS'ers are making big impacts. I believe that Yale is now actively soliciting HS'ed kids to bolster that academic standing. Patrick Henry College is a college designed exclusively for HS'ers and is focused on programs to impact society through producing leaders. In scores of ways, the HS kids are going to have their effect on society (not the least of which will be through genuinely good educations) and the removal of the children from statist schools is a small price to pay - especially when the dividends kick in as the children become conservative, principled adult leaders.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Oops!

"In the wake of the radical failure to overturn the American system, they turned inward and founded a host of radical enterprises."

Should read:

In the wake of the radical [left's] failure to overturn the American system [in the 1960's], they turned inward and founded a host of radical enterprises.

[Adder]

While I disagree with the tone and thrust of the decision, it seems pretty clear that the parents were ill-represented in court. The court easily demolished their "arguments" because they were pretty flimsy to begin with.

The "legitimate purpose" was to discover information which might hinder learning in the student population.

Go read the opinion and you will see its not as whacked as some are making it.
A different argument might have worked much better.

[Halls]

Yep, my son's school has great teachers, most of whom are Christian women(no male teachers). I love all of them, but even they can't prevent what the state decides to teach our children. They had "red Ribbon" week a few weeks back where the children were taught about DRUGS one day. You know, the"Just say no to drugs" campaign. I see nothing really wrong with that teaching for older kids, but my 1st grader who had no idea what drugs were has now learned what they are from our precious state run school! Is it necessary for a 7 year old to learn about drugs? My son has no idea what a drug is, but now he does. I just think that is crazy. I'm getting closer and closer each day about taking my son out of public school and teaching him at home. I'm not sure how I can make that happen, as I don't have a lot of patience, but we can't afford private school so I may end up doing the home school thing.

[FerdieMurphy]

Some DemocRAT in the HR.