Students get sex-ed without parents OK

World Net Daily ^ | Posted: September 10, 2003

[softengine]

The California state Assembly passed a controversial bill yesterday allowing public schools to teach and survey students on sexual topics without written parental permission.

The legislation permits parents to sign a form at the beginning of the year to "opt out" of any sessions to which they object. But Republican opponents charge the bill is a ploy by Democrats to erode the rights of parents, who should be asked for permission to "opt in" as the current law stipulates.

Randy Thomasson, executive director of Campaign for California Families, says SB 71, which passed 44-31 on a virtual party-line vote, violates "the indescribable bond between a parent and child."

"How is it that written parental permission is required before a child can go on a field trip but no parental permission will be required before children are led on sexual mind trips about losing their virginity, masturbation, homosexuality and cross-dressing?" Thomasson asked.

The bill returns to the Senate for approval of revisions then goes to the desk of Gov. Gray Davis, who has promised to sign it.

Another opponent of the bill, the Capitol Resource Institute of Sacramento, says it "removes current requirements that students learn of the emotional and psychological effects of premarital intercourse, the financial obligations of conceiving a child, the issue of statutory rape, and ways to fend off unwanted sexual advances."

Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, the bill's sponsor, argues its purpose is to streamline a process that now is a confusing patchwork of ''opt-in'' or ''opt-out'' requirements depending on whether the class is about sexually transmitted diseases, HIV education, sex education or surveys related to sexual behavior, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

A supporter of the bill, Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, told her colleagues if they have children they ''don't have a clue what goes on in their teen-age worlds,'' the San Jose paper said.

''The best we can do in a world that encourages sexuality is to make sure they get the best possible information," Jackson said.

But an opponent, Assembly member Jay La Suer, R-La Mesa, insisted requiring parents to opt out "is a real clever way of saying it's better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission."

"Why don't the parents have to opt in?" he asked in a speech on the Assembly floor. "Because it makes it tougher for these people at the schools to ask these questions that pry into your family life."

Thomasson argues current law protects parental rights by requiring written permission before any sex tests, questionnaires, surveys or examinations of their children.

"Mere notification is no substitute for asking parental permission," said Thomasson. "This bill utterly disrespects parents as it blindly pushes sex surveys upon schoolchildren statewide. The attack on parenthood stinks to high heaven."

Steve Samuelian, R-Fresno, said: "I would challenge the members of this legislature, based on the number of e-mails and faxes and calls I've received in my office opposing this bill, to go back to your districts and talk to your constituents. If you really believe the average California parent supports this, you're in for a surprise. They don't."

Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico, believes the bill would usher children into more sexual activity.

“It now assigns the same value to a 'committed relationship' as well as marriage," Keene told his colleagues.

Keene said he believed the term "committed relationship" is "understood by children to say as long as you're committed to your boyfriend or your girlfriend right now it's OK to get involved in sexual activity. That sends the wrong message to our children."

Thomasson's group noted a "Heterosexuality Questionnaire" distributed by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network can be given to California public school children. Some of the questions are:

• When and where did you first decide you were heterosexual?

• Is it possible heterosexuality is a phase you will grow out of?

• Is it possible you are heterosexual because you fear the same sex?

• If you have never slept with someone of the same sex, how do you know you wouldn’t prefer that?

[Steely Tom]

Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, the bill's sponsor, argues its purpose is to streamline a process that now is a confusing patchwork of ''opt-in'' or ''opt-out'' requirements depending on whether the class is about sexually transmitted diseases, HIV education, sex education or surveys related to sexual behavior, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

As I have observed with respect to NPR:

Individual choice liberals object to results in a "patchwork quilt" of outcomes.

Lack of individual choice liberals desire results in a "one size fits all" outcome.

(steely)

[softengine]

Until enough people pull their kids out of public schools, this brand of values-altering edification will continue, as will the corruption and erosion of parental rights.

Sadly, there are far too many folks who do prefer that new car, or those evenings out, ....or maybe (and this is what I think the real answer is)are just so totally lulled into accepting without question anything gov fed to them that they don't think twice about it.

[biblewonk]

If your kids are in public school, they are getting plenty of sex ed that you don't know about and it had nothing to do with the teachers.

[EdReform]

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