We’ve been fighting this video since January. It was shown in *one* of our seven elementary schools in December right before Christmas Break. The parents were not informed of the video content prior to their children being shown the video. There was no “opt out” option. The packet sent home the first day of school mentioned the video (not the content) as part of the new Health class curriculum on Tolerance.
The parents with kids in that one school only heard about the video from their children who watched it. They looked into it and informed the rest of the parents in the entire district by word of mouth, meetings held in various church halls, etc. We formed a group opposing the video by the end of January. The February BOE meeting was attended by many parents but mostly people from outside the district/twp. We had Garden State Equality there, a rep from Womens Media flown in from California, as well as vocal homo activists from Philly. It made national news.
A review committee was formed, and big surprise (not), it consisted of the same same people who advocated the video and parents from each school who are on the executive board of the each school’s PTA. No one vocally opposing the video was on the Review Committee. Every member was handpicked by the Assistant Superintendent/Director of Curriculum who chose the video (her son is gay and an activist in Philly and her sister is a vocal lesbian. She is a man-hating woman who went through a difficult divorce years ago).
Parents were given an “opt-out” and of those who replied, a little over 50% opted out so their children would be removed during the viewing of the video. The BOE pulled the video until the Special Review Committee could reach a decision on August 30th.
Another interesting note is that the BOE held this meeting on August 30th. Many parents couldn’t attend because the public high school was having its Freshmen Orientation (with students and parents). The Catholic parish and School was holding its annual week long Carnival. Many were on vacation. The District was asked to reschedule the meeting for earlier in the summer or in September and refused.
The Special Review Committee recommended the video be shown to 4th and 5th graders.
We know this is only the first battle and even though we were victorious it’s only the beginning of a long fight.
Some parents in the district aren’t concerned because their children attend the catholic school or other private schools. My two teens attended the Catholic grade school and now attend the public high school. My two little ones attend the Catholic school. I think this issue goes beyond having children in the district schools.
I taught in this district and currently substitute teach here. The NEA is encouraging teachers to support the video. The few teachers who oppose it are too afraid to speak up.
Recently, a MA judge ruled that parents are not allowed to opt out (I’ll post the link as soon as I can)which is basically taking away parental rights. This can happen in this district too and unfortunately many don’t understand how serious this is.
A MA judge ruled that parents are not allowed to opt out
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Liberal judicial activism is probably (more than terrorism) the single greatest threat to the constitution and our cherished freedoms.
Twink,
Congratulations on your success so far in fighting this video, and keep fighting the good fight.
I hope you won’t mind me pinging to a few others including New Jersey parents who may be interested:
PING! See post #108. Twink is one of the Evesham parents fighting this battle. She tells the rest of the story in #108.