Thursday, October 7, 1999
ENQUIRER EDITORIAL
Stop the stealth attack on parents and schools
The debate over sex education in Ohio schools is surfacing again this fall like a sequel to a bad R-rated movie. The first question: Will the legislature “unfreeze” money for several radically explicit, condom-based programs intended eventually for Ohio schools?
Public pressure from parents and others last spring prompted lawmakers to prohibit the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) from spending more money on training in several controversial sex education programs until there are public hearings and approval by legislators.
Hearing dates are yet to be set, but advocates of the programs, led by the Coalition for Responsible Sex Education (mostly sex educators with grant money, Planned Parenthood supporters, etc.), are quietly lobbying key decision-makers with a letter campaign. People who do not want this brand of sex-ed in Ohio schools should do the same by urging a halt.
The so-called “Programs that Work” from the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is aimed at students starting in middle school. They include practice with condoms, dental dams (for oral sex), sexual role playing, erotic alternatives (“outercourse”), homosexuality and more. The tax-funded training workshops for health teachers and community educators teach how to get around “barriers” such as squeamish school boards, teachers and religious groups, and how to neutralize people who object, such as parents (and editorials like this one).
Using behind-the-scenes regulatory power of the ODE and Ohio Department of Health, with public money from the federal CDC, selected teachers have been undergoing training for several years. Meanwhile, some of the same people at ODE have been working quietly, without legislative permission, on a statewide model that sets standards for health education in Ohio schools. Sexuality education (labeled “family life education” or other benign names) is tucked into a “comprehensive school health” model that includes dozens of unobjectionable topics.
The proposed K-12 model, created by Ohio's departments of education and health, is one part of a massive plan for schools, with millions of dollars offered for “health” — mental, physical, emotional, sexual, you name it.
The truth about exactly what's in the CDC sex-ed training programs and development of the proposed model for schools can be found in a report on Comprehensive School Health Education in Ohio Schools, by Ohio School Board member Diana Fessler (below). It's far from the “official” version. In fact, a majority of state board members, who support such programs, rejected Ms. Fessler's report without reading it, keeping it out of the official record. Nonetheless, the report includes explicit descriptions and leads readers to original documents.
Most parents favor sex education in schools — but not the radically explicit, value-neutral brand in the CDC's “Programs that Work.” They offer technical advice, choices of contraceptives (including abortion) and lifestyles. The message is that there is no right or wrong, as long as kids “protect” themselves. Abstinence usually is treated as a quaint and naive option among many.
It's common to have battles over sex education. But this isn't just a fight over condoms. At stake here are parents' rights to know about and influence what is taught to their children about sexuality. Parents should never be forced to pay for sex-ed that is harmful to children and arrogantly undermines family values.
For now, the training money is awaiting hearings and the legislature's approval. The new state health model is being amended for adoption by the state board of education. It's time for parents and the rest of the public speak up and ask that everything be out in the open.
Be prepared. The advocates argue that if their prescribed sex-ed is not adopted, Ohio will lose millions in health grants.
But elected lawmakers shouldn't take orders from regulators or bureaucrats. Ohio should reject grants that abuse the basic rights of families.
Federal policy, laws and funds — with state support — are being used to establish and justify truckloads of offensive health and social programs, using our public schools as the delivery depots.
To detour public protest, federal and state governments are arrogantly disregarding citizens and their elected representatives.
If you want to stop it, or at least get a clear understanding of what your money is buying, let your elected representatives hear from you soon.
Ask them to honor the amendment by state Rep. Jim Jordan, R-West Liberty, to freeze CDC funds and have full public hearings this fall.
Stop the stealth attack on parents and schools
Experimenting with children
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