Posted on 02/23/2006 9:36:12 PM PST by Coleus
BOSTON — Theresa Breguet’s 7-year-old son could be exposed to a radical sex education program if Massachusetts lawmakers enact two bills backed by Planned Parenthood. Under the proposal, 4- to 11-year-olds will be taught the “correct terminology for sexual orientation (such as heterosexual and gay and lesbian) “and be able to “describe different types of families,” according to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework. Students from 14-18 will learn about “possible determinants of sexual orientation” and confidentiality laws concerning “reproductive health problems.”
Potential requirements like those brought hundreds of people to a legislative hearing in the Massachusetts State House Jan. 31. The bills would mandate that local school committees adopt a standardized health curriculum from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 that includes lessons on homosexuality and human reproduction. Although health education is now optional, it would become a requirement for nearly 1 million children. Edward Saunders, executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, said in an interview that the bills would not affect parochial schools.
However, 48% of the state’s population identifies itself as Catholic, according to diocesan statistics, and many Catholic children attend public schools. Saunders and parents, pro-life and pro-family advocates at the legislative hearing did not object to general health education on morally neutral issues like hygiene and nutrition. But they strongly objected that the sexuality component would usurp parental rights. And an “opt-out” provision would be no good if mandated classes were needed to graduate, Saunders said. Breguet and other parents emphasized that if the bills pass, they would reluctantly but seriously consider leaving Massachusetts.
“We strongly believe that sexuality and reproductive teachings are fundamental to morality,” Breguet testified. “And as parents, we believe that only we know our children well enough to make the decision as to when to introduce this sensitive, intimate subject.” The measure “treats pregnancy as a disease,” said Dr. Paul Carpentier of Gardner, Mass. “So pregnancy is likely to be viewed as a failed prevention of a disease and rejected, medicated away or surgically removed, to someone else’s profit.” Carpentier, a father of three, is an authority on natural family planning and a fertility care medical consultant certified by the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Neb. He said that sex education does not belong in schools, but a “reasonable option” would be to offer voluntary guided lessons for parents themselves to present to their children.
Private School Option
Carpentier’s testimony intrigued one bill’s sponsor, Rep. Alice Wolf, D-Cambridge, but not enough to get her to change her mind. “I think that it’s an interesting approach for a district to consider,” she said after the hearing. But she stressed that that the sexuality section of the measure is “an integral part of the comprehensive health education.” Wolf is a former mayor of Cambridge who advocates legalized abortion and same-sex “marriage.” By contrast, Rep. Elizabeth Poirier, R-North Attleboro, a Catholic, said the measure “treads on parents’ civil liberties,” and could violate a teacher’s religious beliefs if lessons are mandated.
“Parents will take their children out of schools to prevent them from being in the clutches of the liberal elite,” she said. But removing their children from the public schools is an option many just cannot afford, noted Evelyn Reilly, director of public policy for the Massachusetts Family Institute. She pointed out that Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts “is not a disinterested party” and that it has a “huge financial interest” in its goal that all public schools adhere to a standardized sex education curriculum.
Ray Neary, president of ProLife Massachusetts, questioned how some health agencies could ally themselves with Planned Parenthood in backing the bills. Speakers from the American Heart Association, Children’s Hospital Boston and Planned Parenthood testified in support. “The abortion industry has been trying to sanitize its grisly occupation in the public eye for many years,” Neary testified. “[These bills] try to equate a deadly procedure with ‘health.’” Margaret Wooley Busse, a 31-year-old Mormon from Brookline, Mass., agreed that the proposal was deceptive. She and her husband moved east from Utah seven years ago to attend Harvard Business School and are questioning whether to stay.
“We’re very nervous about what it’s going to be like to raise our children here,” she said. “People are saying this is not a family-friendly state. I truly cannot understand why anyone would want to teach a 4 year-old sexual terminology unless they were pushing a very clear agenda.” That agenda became apparent last year to biology teacher Linda Thayer. She examined the proposal in light of her 34 years’ experience in Boston public high schools and 24 years as a volunteer speaker on faith-based sexuality talks for the Archdiocese of Boston. The resulting analysis, “What Parents Should Know about the Massachusetts Health Frameworks,” was publicized by Massachusetts Citizens for Life and alerted many. Massachusetts Gov. W. Mitt Romney has said he opposes the bills, which have a mid-March committee reporting deadline. “This proposal will only be defeated if the public outrage continues,” Poirier said. “If there is a lot of pressure, legislators won’t override the governor’s veto, but people have got to make their voices heard.”
ping
There is NO WAY I would let a child of mine step foot in a PUBLIC SCHOOL with this type of crap going on! NO WAY!
Meet Rep. Alice Wolf (on the right)
http://alicewolf.org/images/gallery/MHSA_Award.jpg
http://alicewolf.org/images/gallery/Longfellow%20school%20talk.jpg
February 06, 2006
Rep. Alice Wolf: Arrogance of Power
Rep. Alice Wolf, chief sponsor of H1641 -- the bill that would mandate sex/homosex ed -- has told the majority of Massachusetts citizens that they need to agree with her, or they have no business living in Massachusetts! If you don't think the state should have the final say on the moral education of your children in matters of sexuality, just leave the state!
http://tinyurl.com/kmgpd
"That's the way life is," said Wolf, who is also a member of the Legislature's Joint Education Committee. "If people don't want to accept that, I don't know where they can live."
We've been losing this battle since 1985 when we fought the local school board over the same type of curriculum....resulting in yanking our kids out of the crappy and humanistic system and doing our own home schooling...with fine results, I might add!
Do not hesitate to home educate.
"It Takes Two" Gay & Lesbian Planning Guide Supplement
When it comes to supporting the rights of the GLBT community, state Rep. Alice Wolf has always walked the talk.
http://tinyurl.com/zcr9u
July 8, 2005
Among Rep. Wolf’s priorities vetoed by the Governor were funding increases for two programs operated by the Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. The Safe Schools Program not only lost their funding, but also the language mandating that the Department of Education implement the program. Romney also reduced funding for the Commission’s anti-suicide and anti-violence program administered by the Department of Public Health.
Mass. is actually doing a pretty good job of making NYS look better and better all the time. I hope they're not too surprised when people start taking them up on the offer to leave the state and they start losing their tax base.
The Massachusetts Gay & Lesbian Political Caucus - 1973
MGLPC is the most experienced and respected lobbying operation on Beacon Hill working for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights. For 30 years MGLPC has represented your many interests with full-time, professional lobbyists.
http://www.mglpc.org/index.php
We've beaten back anti-gay civil rights and adoption measures, and the ‘02 anti-gay marriage ballot initiative. And in ‘03, we sponsored the state's first civil marriage bill.
Together, we’ve made history with one of the nation's first Gay Civil Rights laws. One of the nation's first Hate Crimes laws. And the nation's toughest HIV confidentiality laws. We've beaten back anti-gay civil rights measures, anti-gay adoption measures, and pre-Goodridge anti-gay marriage ballot initiatives. In 2003, in conjunction with GLAD’s Goodridge case which sought the right to marry from the court, MGLPC filed the state’s first civil marriage bill in the legislature: H.3677, sponsored by Rep. Byron Rushing.
We’re fighting the likes of Focus on the Family and their local affiliate the Massachusetts Family Institute, Family Research Council, Traditional Values Coalition, and Concerned Women for America. In prior Constitutional Conventions, Rev. Lou Sheldon, Tony Perkins, Genvieve Wood, Sandy Rios and other national, professional, well-funded anti-gay leaders personally came to Massachusetts to take away gay marriage.
Just wait until the state puts these same sex ed requirements on private schools and home schools...100% state control of what can and can't be taught in private schools and home schools is coming...mark my words.
I was fighting these creeps in the early 80's - had a statewide organization in Maine - umbrellared with other groups across the county..was guest host on talk TV show in Boston where I debated the lesbian group that wrote the book "Our Bodies Ourselves" which is used by Planned Parenthood for sex ed - was a quest ("all expenses paid" to conference in Washington by Phyllis Schlaely's "Eagle Forum" - Reagan was president and spoke at our banquet and we had a private tour of the white house.
I had a bill in the state legislature - etc etc. We fought them pretty much to a standstill here in Maine at the time - the problem is that they operate with largely our tax dollars - and they can keep on year after year...they don't have to find time or money around jobs.
Believe me when I tell you that the things named in the article are very mild compared to what is in the material they use. You would be sick. (They advocate abortion, "Society does not recognize the rightness of abortion" they name objects young girls can use to masterbate, they counsel that you can't know if the gay/lesbian practice is good for you unless you try it - etc etc - and the cartoons border on the pornographic - )
Doctors have testified to the damage too early sex ed - even the right kind - does to minds too young for it. But these gay/lesbian groups know that the younger they can reach kids, the easier to recruit by subliminal education and experience
We will not be able to keep this out of the public schools unless we get school vouchers and they start having to complete for student dollars.
Believe me, I could not afford to put my daughter in private school - but I did. She is now in her 30's and a proud stay-at-home mom of 3 daughters.
We need not only to fight these people but to offer a better alternative.
Parents need the right to give the schools a legal, written notice that they will teak care of their child's sex education and at the same time, demand to see the curriculum - however, these books that are used by Planned Parenthood are "given" to the schools - so are not technically part of the curriculum - ergo, you wont be shown that material.
Make an innocent trip to your local planned parenthood office and take material, leaflets, booklets - Don't let them know you are 'the enemy' but either way, they operate largely on tax dollars - you have a right to have them...go to your local library (I can all but guarantee they are in your school library also) and read the books by the group that wrote "Our Bodies, Ourselves." This is the damaging stuff that is taught in "sex ed"
More power to you. I think home schooling is a great thing.
That said, I'll go against the grain here and say that regardless of the path we want our kids to follow...they will get the "facts" one way or another...regardless of what we want those facts to be. That is simple reality.
The only way to raise morally strong children is to have a strong home. I, for one, refuse to cave in to fear of information. That information should start at home. Sure, they'll get some at school. But, if I fear that my kids will succumb to everything that my kids could possibly hear outside the home.. I'd never let them leave the house.
You have to trust in yourself to raise children to follow the path you're laid out for your family. If you don't...well...you're f*&k'd...cause they will do what they're gonna do regardless of what you want. And most likely in spite of it. It's all about being proactive & trusting yourself and your children.
That's my 2 cents anyway. This is freerepublic, fell free to disagree. ;-)
I wonder how that works.
I agree
I, for one, refuse to cave in to fear of information
I disagree. Children are not mini-adults, able to sort out information from indoctrination. They are also hugely influenced by peer pressure and authority issues. If it was simply "information" they were receiving, that would be one thing, but that information has been assembled and presented in such a way as to persuade and influence them that there's nothing wrong with (fill in the blank), it's just another "lifestyle choice."
Its not fear of information that forces me to keep my kids out of public schools. Its a strong dislike for unionized teachers, who can't pass the tests they hand out, indoctrinating my children. The real issue should be why public schools focus on teaching kids how to have gay sex and how to get pregnant when they aren't teaching the basics very well.
If you have asked to be added to this list, and haven’t been receiving the pings, please let me know. I’ve had a problem with my file synchronization between my home and work computer, and apparently have lost some names on the list. I think I have the problem fixed, and will gladly re-add your name.
To create an ignorant, dysfunctional lumpen-proletariat to help vote the Left into power. (That was an easy question.)
There's a tongue-in-cheek look at this in "Monty Python's Meaning of Life," I believe. Amusing in a comical movie, not so funny in real life.
As a heteronormative Catholic -maybe I suffer from both homophobia and infophobia?
I myself understand that information is always to be discriminated -as to morality, whether information be determined offensive and or even age appropriate it is rightly ONLY parents that determine what and when as to their children -NOT the state. Children do not need to be thrown to the wolves to prop up some leftist idealogical moral relative platitude -e.g all information regardless...
Catholic teaching on the subject:The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality - Guidelines for Education within the Family
Four Principles Regarding Information about Sexuality65. 1. Each child is a unique and unrepeatable person and must receive individualized formation. Since parents know, understand and love each of their children in their uniqueness, they are in the best position to decide what the appropriate time is for providing a variety of information, according to their children's physical and spiritual growth. No one can take this capacity for discernment away from conscientious parents.
66. Each child's process of maturation as a person is different. Therefore, the most intimate aspects, whether biological or emotional, should be communicated in a personalized dialogue. In their dialogue with each child, with love and trust, parents communicate something about their own self-giving which makes them capable of giving witness to aspects of the emotional dimension of sexuality that could not be transmitted in other ways.
67. Experience shows that this dialogue works out better when the parent who communicates the biological, emotional, moral and spiritual information is of the same sex as the child or young person. Being aware of the role, emotions and problems of their own sex, mothers have a special bond with their daughters, and fathers with their sons. This natural bond should be respected. Therefore, parents who are alone will have to act with great sensitivity when speaking with a child of the opposite sex, and they may choose to entrust communicating the most intimate details to a trustworthy person of the same sex as the child. Through this collaboration of a subsidiary nature, parents can take advantage of expert, well-formed educators in the school or parish community, or from Catholic associations.
68. 2. The moral dimension must always be part of their explanations. Parents should stress that Christians are called to live the gift of sexuality according to the plan of God who is Love, i.e., in the context of marriage or of consecrated virginity and also celibacy. They must insist on the positive value of chastity and its capacity to generate true love for other persons. This is the most radical and important moral aspect of chastity. Only a person who knows how to be chaste will know how to love in marriage or in virginity.
69. From the earliest age, parents may observe the beginning of instinctive genital activity in their child. It should not be considered repressive to correct such habits gently that could become sinful later, and, when necessary, to teach modesty as the child grows. It is always important to justify the judgement of morally rejecting certain attitudes contrary to the dignity of the person and chastity on adequate, valid and convincing grounds, both at the level of reason and faith, hence in a positive framework with a high concept of personal dignity. Many parental admonitions are merely reproofs or recommendations which the children perceive more as the result of fear of certain social consequences, or related to one's public reputation, rather than arising out of a love that seeks their true good. "I exhort you to correct, with the greatest commitment, the vices and passions that assail us in every age. For if in some stage of our life we sail on, deprecating the values of virtue and thereby suffer continuous shipwreck, we risk arriving in port devoid of all spiritual charge".
70. 3. Formation in chastity and timely information regarding sexuality must be provided in the broadest context of education for love. It is not sufficient, therefore, to provide information about sex together with objective moral principles. Constant help is also required for the growth of children's spiritual life, so that the biological development and impulses they begin to experience will always be accompanied by a growing love of God, the Creator and Redeemer, and an ever greater awareness of the dignity of each human person and his or her body. In the light of the mystery of Christ and the Church, parents can illustrate the positive values of human sexuality in the context of the person's original vocation to love and the universal call to holiness.
71. Therefore, in talks with children, suitable advice should always be given regarding how to grow in the love of God and one's neighbour, and how to overcome any difficulties: "These means are: discipline of the senses and the mind, watchfulness and prudence in avoiding occasions of sin, the observance of modesty, moderation in recreation, wholesome pursuits, assiduous prayer and frequent reception of the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist. Young people especially should foster devotion to the Immaculate Mother of God".
72. To teach children how to evaluate the environments they frequent with a critical sense and true autonomy, as well as to accustom them to detachment in using the mass media, parents should always present positive models and suitable ways of using their vital energies, the meaning of friendship and solidarity in the overall area of society and of the Church.
When deviant tendencies and attitudes are present, which require great prudence and caution so as to recognize and evaluate situations properly, parents should also have recourse to specialists with solid scientific and moral formation in order to identify the causes over and above the symptoms, and help the subjects to overcome difficulties in a serious and clear way. Pedagogic action should be directed more to the causes rather than to directly repressing the phenomenon, and, if necessary, they should seek the help of qualified persons, such as doctors, educational experts and psychologists with an upright Christian sensitivity.
73. The objective of the parents' educational task is to pass on to their children the conviction that chastity in one's state in life is possible and that chastity brings joy. Joy springs from an awareness of maturation and harmony in one's emotional life, a gift of God and a gift of love that makes self-giving possible in the framework of one's vocation. Man is in fact the only creature on earth whom God wanted for its own sake, and "man can fully discover his true self only in a sincere giving of himself". "Christ gave laws for everyone...I do not prohibit you from marrying, nor am I against your enjoying yourself. I only want you to do this with temperance, without indecency, guilt and sin. I do not make a law that you should flee to the mountains and deserts, rather that you should be good, modest and chaste, as you live in the midst of the cities".
74. God's help is never lacking if each person makes the necessary commitment to respond to his grace. In helping, forming and respecting their children's conscience, parents should see that they receive the sacraments with awareness, guiding them by their own example. If children and young people experience the effects of God's grace and mercy in the sacraments, they will be capable of living chastity well, as a gift of God, for his glory and in order to love him and other people. Necessary and supernaturally effective help is provided by the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially if a regular confessor is available. Although it does not necessarily coincide with the role of confessor, spiritual guidance or direction is a valuable aid in progressively enlightening the stages of growth and as moral support.
Reading well-chosen and recommended books of formation is also of great help both in offering a wider and deeper formation and in providing examples and testimonies of virtue.
75. Once the objectives of the information to be provided have been identified, the time and ways must be specified, starting from childhood.
4. Parents should provide this information with great delicacy, but clearly and at the appropriate time. Parents are well aware that their children must be treated in a personalized way, according to the personal conditions of their physiological and psychological development, and taking into due consideration the cultural environment of life and the adolescent's daily experience. In order to evaluate properly what they should say to each child, it is very important that parents first of all seek light from the Lord in prayer and that they discuss this together so that their words will be neither too explicit nor too vague. Giving too many details to children is counterproductive. But delaying the first information for too long is imprudent, because every human person has natural curiosity in this regard and, sooner or later, everyone begins to ask themselves questions, especially in cultures where too much can be seen, even in public.
76. In general, the first sexual information to be given to a small child does not deal with genital sexuality, but rather with pregnancy and the birth of a brother or sister. The child's natural curiosity is stimulated, for example, when it sees the signs of pregnancy in its mother and experiences waiting for a baby. Parents can take advantage of this happy experience in order to communicate some simple facts about pregnancy, but always in the deepest context of wonder at the creative work of God, who wants the new life he has given to be cared for in the mother's body, near her heart.
What do Planned Parenthood and homosexual activists have in common? In schools the leftists call it 'education' and 'critical thinking'... In politics the leftists call it 'love' and 'rights'...
I call it as I see it -garbage...
If MA keeps this up, they will have to start closing schools and that will seriously hurt MA financially. This problem, which if not stopped will spread nationwide eventually, HAS to be faced. Parents need to start bringing to court the problems, traumas, etc faced by their kids. I understand their decisions to move, but don't neglect to tell people why. When you teens drop out because they cannot stomach the school systems, make that known! It's the only way to stop all this. Perhaps staging a strike, refusal to send kids to school until they stop understanding. It won't do it in itself, but certainly will bring attention to the problem.
Great point about the teachers being crappy.
Absolutely. Therein lies the problem for many parents. Either send your kids to a crappy public school, move someplace with good schools (and most likely higher taxes) or home school. Difficult choices all.
Sounds like bribery to me, which is a felony. Where is Boston's US attorney on this?
Good points. I would answer them yes & no.
I would argue no in that kids these days are less likely to swallow what authority figures are saying to them. Especially teachers. Kids, as they get older and supplied with more information from we the parents, definitely can delineate between good & bad teachers. You remember what middle/high school was like right? You had teachers you liked & listened to, and those that were complete buffoons. One huge problem I think is that the good to buffoon ration has gone up drastically in recent years.
I would also say yes in that peer pressure in this wildly consumer oriented society is massive these days. The volume & type if info our kids are "asked" to digest is far far beyond what we experienced as children. I would argue this has a far far more dire impact upon our kids that some clown teacher going on and on about random crap in sex ed class.
"Lifestyle" choices my kids learn in school I can explain as it's a known quantity regardless of what slant is put on it. I will always trust that I am a better teacher then the clowns that are paid to do it. Crap they learn from friends & the internet is much much harder to get a grip on and is more what keeps me up nights. (and yes..4 years old is way to young to be teaching anything sex related to a child)
If MA keeps this up, they will have to start closing schools and that will seriously hurt MA financially.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%5
Why would this hurt MA financially. Less kids, fewer schools. This makes sense to me.
Either send your kids to a crappy public school, move someplace with good schools (and most likely higher taxes) or home school. Difficult choices all.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^6
Even sending your child to a "good" government school is a crap shoot. They can still wind up with horrible friends.
-SNIP-
if Massachusetts lawmakers enact two bills backed by Planned Parenthood. Under the proposal, 4- to 11-year-olds will be taught the “correct terminology for sexual orientation (such as heterosexual and gay and lesbian) “and be able to “describe different types of families,”
Not really, less kids means less funding. Funding is on a per child basis. Towns do not like giving up that funding, which is why they do not want school choice or vouchers.
You just have to wonder what has made that state and its inhabitants go to the dark side and be so evil
I will never give any money to the American Heart Association and I will be happy to tell them why.
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