I have heard this issue discussed recently in the media but Kathleen Parker's column sort of sums it up. Sorry, I didn't look for it so I could post it in its entirety.
"Parents at war against a culture they find aggressively sexualized just lost another battle. Thjis time agaisnt the local school board. In a recent ruling, a three judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (Calf) determined that parents do not have a fundamental right to control when, where and how their children are taught about sex. Rather the state, in its far greater wisdom about what's right and wrong, has the ultimate power over your kids". The ruling stems from a case filed by a group of California parents whose elementary school children were given a questionnair of dubious content. In their complaint, the parents said they would not have allowed their children to participate in the survey had they known of the sexual nature of some of the questions. Kids ages 7 to 10 were asked, for example, to rate the following activites according to how often they experienced the thought or emotion:
1. Touching my private parts too much.
2. Thinking about having sex.
3. Thinking about touching other people's private parts.
4. Thinking about sex when I don't want to.
5. Washing myself because I feel dirty on the inside."
In goes on with even more objectionable questions that most 7 year olds are even ready to contemplate. If you are a parent there is no contest as to who should determine when subjects are raised. Parents should.
This opinion piece is rather long but the most chilling piece of the ruling said, "We further hold that a psychological survey is a reasonable state action pursuant to legitimate educational as well as health and welfare interests of the state. " The idea that the state knows best is not only ludicrouse but also dangerous. Bit by bit, with rulings like this, the state gains greater power over family autonomy and, ineveitably, over personal freedom." Ms Parker concludes. I agree. What do you think?
"Parents at war against a culture they find aggressively sexualized just lost another battle. Thjis time agaisnt the local school board. In a recent ruling, a three judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (Calf) determined that parents do not have a fundamental right to control when, where and how their children are taught about sex. Rather the state, in its far greater wisdom about what's right and wrong, has the ultimate power over your kids". The ruling stems from a case filed by a group of California parents whose elementary school children were given a questionnair of dubious content. In their complaint, the parents said they would not have allowed their children to participate in the survey had they known of the sexual nature of some of the questions. Kids ages 7 to 10 were asked, for example, to rate the following activites according to how often they experienced the thought or emotion:
1. Touching my private parts too much.
2. Thinking about having sex.
3. Thinking about touching other people's private parts.
4. Thinking about sex when I don't want to.
5. Washing myself because I feel dirty on the inside."
In goes on with even more objectionable questions that most 7 year olds are even ready to contemplate. If you are a parent there is no contest as to who should determine when subjects are raised. Parents should.
This opinion piece is rather long but the most chilling piece of the ruling said, "We further hold that a psychological survey is a reasonable state action pursuant to legitimate educational as well as health and welfare interests of the state. " The idea that the state knows best is not only ludicrouse but also dangerous. Bit by bit, with rulings like this, the state gains greater power over family autonomy and, ineveitably, over personal freedom." Ms Parker concludes. I agree. What do you think?
