My blog has moved!

You should be automatically redirected. If not, visit
http://burrintheburgh.com
and update your bookmarks.

Monday, November 07, 2005

California Judge Tells Parents to Butt Out of Their Children's Sex Education

In California, a school district decided to administer a 79 question survey to their elementary school children. Ten of the 79 questions related to sex. Some parents objected and took the school district to court. Now the federal court of appeals has ruled against the parents. The Judges believe that . . . well, let me just show you the quote:

"We ... hold that there is no fundamental right of parents to be the exclusive provider of information regarding sexual matters to their children ...."

Parents have no due process or privacy right to override the determinations of public schools as to the information to which their children will be exposed while enrolled as students."

Judge Stephen Reinhardt, Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals


You see, this is why I hate all that "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child" baloney. Yeah, if by village you mean the child's parents and an orthodox Christian Church. But in fact, what is usually meant is the government or the state, including the public schools. Here it is plain as day. A federal court stating that parents do not have the right to prevent their children from being exposed to whatever sexual material the school may decide to present.

My son goes to a public school and is receiving a fine education. His teachers have been exemplary. I know many excellent dedicated Christian public school teachers. I am not making blanket criticisms.

But when the public schools decide to present sexual material to my child, particularly to an elementary school child, and tell me to mind my own business, we not happy.

You see, here is my concern. I'm not worried about my child learning the biology involved. His parents have had these conversations with him along the way. I'm worried by the values that may be communicated to him. I will teach my son to treat members of the opposite sex with respect. And to honor his own body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. I will teach him that sex outside of marriage is sinful and displeasing to God. I will teach him that it is wrong to lust after a woman in his heart and that he must learn self-control. I will teach him that homosexuality is a sin. I will teach him about God's Law and I will also teach him about the forgiveness available to all who repent.

What kind of monster do you have to be to tell parents that they do not have the right to determine what their children learn about sex or when?

Go here.

And check out this Touchstone commentary.

Sphere: Related Content

2 comments:

Jean Heimann said...

Parents have the God-given right and responsibility to educate their children as a result of their matrimonial union. God endows them with the graces necessary to be the primary educators of their parents. As Christians, we don't force those in the secular world to adhere to our beliefs. It is discrimatory and outrageous that this country's secular society should force Christians to adhere to theirs. There is something seriously wrong our laws today and they need to be changed.

God bless you,
Jean

Anonymous said...

Notice that the decision was in the loosy goosy ninth circuit court of appeals. Hopefully it will be appealed to the Supreme Court and things will be set right.

New Curriculum at Concordia Theological Seminary