"Speak Softly
and carry a big stick"
Posted on 03/29/2002 3:07:26 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
A pro-family group founder and talk show host is urging parents not to send their kids to public schools in California for fear they could be corrupted by a pro-homosexual agenda.
"In the state of California ... if I had a child there, I wouldn't put that youngster in a public school," Focus on the Family founder James C. Dobson told his radio audience on March 28.
"I've been very careful not to be negative to the public schools, because there are many Christian teachers that are struggling mightily to do what's right," he said. "But given the fact that in every classroom in the state, for 13 public school years, they're being taught homosexual propaganda and these other politically correct, post-modern views.
"I'm going to get hit for [saying] that," Dobson acknowledged.
His recommendation drew praise from the Alliance for the Separation of School and State.
"With today's courageous and insightful statement, Dr. Dobson joins the millions of Americans who have already discovered that the public schools have become government indoctrination centers which are no place to train new generations of freedom-loving Americans," said Marshall Fritz, president of the Alliance.
"Dobson is so significant," said Fritz, noting that Dobson's broadcast is heard by 200 million people daily in over 100 countries. "This could open up debate much wider."
Dobson's organization has been critical of the California legislature and governor for passing legislation that will "devastate children in the state's public schools and harm family life in the state."
Focus on the Family last year singled out ten "radical bills" that would "require teachers to tell children that homosexuality is normal and that anybody who objects is hateful.
"If these bills are passed, homosexual activists will likely use California's schools to destroy the Christian ideas about sexuality that parents teach at home," warned the group in June 2001.
Regarding schools, Focus on the Family criticized state-passed bills that extend "hate crime" policies to public and some private schools; use school-based health clinics to allegedly refer children as young as 12 for birth control, abortions, drug and alcohol and mental health counseling "all without parental notification or permission;" and define harassment to mean talking about moral objections to homosexual behavior.
Tom Adams, administrator for California's department of education "curriculum frameworks," said he was unaware of any pro-homosexual curriculum being taught in the state's public schools.
But, said Adams, parents do have recourse for changing curriculum they don't like, other than taking their kids out of public schools.
"When it comes to the adoption of instructional materials, a person can apply to be a reviewer, because we not only have teachers and scholars ... but we do have members of the public," he said. The state board chooses reviewers, based on an applicant's professional qualifications and commitment to the review process.
Members of the public can submit public comments to the state board and attend public hearings on school curriculum. "The curriculum commission also has to have two public hearings on instructional materials, so anybody can come in there" and speak their mind, said Adams.
The state board of education has all say on final curriculum guidelines and adopting instructional materials, he said. But "we make sure that when we develop curriculum ... that it's all done in a public process; there's plenty of time for public comment," said Adams.
"We do what we can to make sure that no one is not heard," he said.
Former presidential candidate and talk show host Patrick Buchanan was the guest on Dobson's Thursday radio show. He agreed with the host that parents should take their kids out of California public schools.
"Anyone who teaches a child that homosexuality is a moral, natural and healthy lifestyle is lying to that child," said Buchanan. "You're exactly right. You should not let your children be lied to by people in authority [in] the classroom."
I have twin girls starting kindegarten. One daughter has brain damage. She is going to be needing extensive speech and occupational therapy. She made need reading and other help. I am not at all qualified to help her with the speech and OT.
My other daughter also has severe speech problems, and she needs extensive speech therapy.
My son is in 2nd grade at a private Christian school. We are having a horrible experience with him this year. He's having problems with writing, and he hates school. His school is good for kids that like to write, but it is not good for a kid that likes math/science. We are not sending him back to the private school. I don't have time to homeschool him because I am so busy with the twins and their special needs.
Right now, we feel that our only choice is public school.
We also can't move because the economy still sucks.
Regards,
LH
LOL! That myth, of course, is just another lie from the scumbag teachers union and their Scumocrats ilk.
You will never see them compare the percentage of government school graduates who are "misfits" against homeschooled kids who are "misfits".
"Speak Softly
and carry a big stick"
My wife has been homeschooling our kids for the last 8 years. we live in CA, in an alleged great school district...Clovis Unified, in the central valley area.
Our oldest daughter was in the 4th grade when we took them out, and is now about to graduate from home school. They use a mail order school program called PACE. My senior will be at about a 3.5 grade average, and scored high on the SAT.
Clovis unified just recently had several threads here, due to a controversial Gay - Straight Alliance Club, that is now on campus. The objections were overruled due to California Law. The elected school board said that they had no choice...duh.
So in the above article when they say to get involved, or help review material, that is a smokescreen. The legislators make laws that the schools must comply with.
Hey California, lets elect conservatives to the legislature!!!!
What child could expect more?
Is that right? What measures can parents take without being branded as bigots, racists, fascists and homophobes? And how can it be voiced without getting a visit from Child Protective Services?
"When it comes to the adoption of instructional materials, a person can apply to be a reviewer, because we not only have teachers and scholars ... but we do have members of the public," he said.
They may be reviewers, but school boards do not pay attention to them.
The state board chooses reviewers, based on an applicant's professional qualifications and commitment to the review process.
Translation: Ph.D.'s from secular liberal universities.
The little one is doing great in Kindergarten, but the older one just about lost any interest in learning because of the public schools approach and mismanagement! We are working hard to get her to believe and have an interest in schooling once again!
He and Josh McDowell have been saying things years in advance...I'm often reminded of how unbelievable the things they said seemed at the time, and now they are a reality.
Sometimes we parents think we have to force our children into certain molds, and in doing so, stress ourselves and the child...
"Translation: Ph.D.'s from secular liberal universities."
Perhaps we should elect to the local school board only parents whose kids are now at least in their late 20's, and have turned out reasonably well.
Isn't it amazing that the administrator of curriculum is the *only* one in CA that's unaware that this is occurring? /sarcasm
Half the nation is aware of what's going on, and this guy feigns innocence. Another reason to flee the public schools.
Absolutely right, but some Christians will fight you to the death to defend these public institutions -- forgetting that they are, in fact, public institutions.
They might have been talking about the homosexual agenda, but until today he's NEVER recommended abandoning the government schoools....something he (and many other Christian leaders) should have been saying 20 years ago!
I was going to comment on this line, but I'd better not.
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