Posted on 03/23/2006 7:42:35 PM PST by Crackingham
Rhode Island education officials have banned from public schools a federally funded abstinence program that civil rights advocates said embraced sexist stereotypes and included a voluntary student health survey that violated privacy laws. Lawyers at the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union first complained last year that a now-abandoned textbook used by Heritage of Rhode Island taught students that girls should wear clothing that doesn't invite "lustful thoughts" from boys. The book described men as "strong" and "courageous" while women were called "caring."
A speaker on an accompanying videotape said abstinence helped him "honor my relationship with Jesus," although Heritage officials said the tape wasn't used in public schools.
"The curriculum had these incredible sexist viewpoints about men and women and boys and girls that seemed to come out of the nineteenth century," said Steven Brown, executive director of the state's ACLU.
Authorities at the private health education firm said they stopped using the disputed materials a year ago.
"The issues they're asking about are old, dead stuff," said Chris Plante, executive director of Heritage of Rhode Island. He said he plans to meet this spring with state education officials to work out a mutually acceptable curriculum.
To measure the Heritage program's effectiveness, students also had been asked to complete a voluntary survey in class that included questions about their sexual history. The survey asked students to provide their birthdays and the first letter of their first name. Heritage officials used information from the surveys to track changes in student opinion before, during and after the classes.
"We don't use the survey anymore because we thought the concerns of the ACLU were valid," Plante said.
The complaint from the ACLU was part of a national effort to monitor the curriculum of federally funded abstinence programs. In February, the federal government agreed to stop funding one abstinence initiative because it allegedly used tax money for religious purposes.
Heritage of Rhode Island has a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides $400,200 annually, a department spokesman said. The group has presented its curriculum to more than 600 public school students in Providence, Pawtucket and Woonsocket. Pawtucket's top school official complained that he was duped by Heritage officials and halted the program even before a parent complained to the ACLU.
"We really don't promulgate any religious opinion in this school system. I think basically that's what they were trying to do here," Pawtucket Schools Superintendent Hans Dellith said.
"included a voluntary student health survey that violated privacy laws. "
That's an odd complaint from the more complete sex education side.
Wow. The ACLU is involved.
*yawn* not surprised.
Someone please go get Roger Williams
They want the kids to abstain from abstinence?
Well that should set the metrosexuals on end.
Indeed. Teenage sex -> welfare dependancy -> more Dem constituents.
You could spend the whole damn social security trust fund on abstinence education and it wouldnt make a difference, aside for making some well connected a profit. I hate hearing how my tax money gets wasted on these preachy feel good social engineering projects.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Yes. Nowadays, everyone knows that girls should dress and act like sluts and boys should act like dogs. What's wrong with these prudes?
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Ping
Saw this and figured these people don't have a clue or are from some other planet or reality. Either way, not much credibility here.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
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