The Associated Press ran a story in nationwide news outlets promoting the advent of “national sexuality education standards.”
At first glance, this might seem intimidating to parents who assume that “national standards” refers to something mandated by the government whether parents like it or not.
But that’s a misleading title. What this actually amounts to is a wish list put together by some of the largest “safe sex,” abortion and homosexual advocacy groups in the nation—who are using this as a marketing campaign to get their agenda promoted in your local schools.
Upon examining these so-called standards, the first thing one notices, is that the promoters, developers and “advisory committee” members attributed in the report, include:
- the nation’s largest teachers union , the National Education Association
- the nation’s largest homosexual activist group devoted entirely to targeting kids in K-12 schools — GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America and SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States).
So what do these groups actually want taught in schools? Here is just a sampling:
- ”By the end of the 2nd grade, students should be able to … Identify different kinds of family structures” and “Demonstrate ways to show respect for different types of families.” Translation: By the 2nd grade, students should be taught that same-sex marriage and homosexual relationships are an option worthy of being embraced just like heterosexual marriages and relationships—regardless of their family’s deeply held religious beliefs.
- “By the end of the 5th grade, students should be able to … Define sexual orientation as the romantic attraction of an individual to someone of the same gender or a different gender.”
- “By the end of the 8th grade, students should be able to … Access accurate information about gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.” Translation: By 8th grade, students should be given contact information, Web sites and advocacy-based resources from homosexual and transgender activists groups that they can access—most likely without their parents’ knowledge.
- “By the end of the 8th grade, students should be able to … Describe the steps to using a condom correctly” (Again, most likely without parental involvement).
- “By the end of the 12th grade, students should be able to … Analyze the influence of friends, family, media, society and culture on the expression of gender, sexual orientation and identity… ” Translation: Students should be encouraged to examine things like how their family and church has an ignorant, uniformed and biased view of things like homosexuality and sex outside of marriage.
Parents should be aware that these “standards” also make coded references to abortion and possible abortion-causing drugs–
- “By the end of the 8th grade, students should be able to… Define emergency contraception and its use … Identify medically accurate information about emergency contraception” Note: this appears to be a reference to drugs that may cause an early abortion.
- ”By the end of the 12th grade, students should be able to …Compare and contrast the laws relating to pregnancy, adoption, abortion and parenting.”
Even more disturbing than these “standards,” is the lack of guidance in the report for how schools should respect the rights of parents who want to direct how, when and if their children are exposed to controversial topics like homosexuality, abortion and condom instruction.
Clearly the assumption is that activist groups and government officials know more about what to teach kids about subjects that have long-term impact on their health and emotional wellbeing than their parents and legal guardians.
Though these standards don’t have the authority of law, it’s important for parents to be aware that they could be used as leverage to get controversial materials in schools. But the good news is that parents do not have to surrender their rights to safeguard their children’s innocence. That’s why Focus on the Family designed TrueTolerance.org –a Web site that equips parents with fact-based data and legal information parents can use to balance out the one-sided information school officials often receive.
So don’t wait until your school is pressured to use “standards” like these—be proactive by using the Web site’s Take Action center to email information directly to your school officials that will assist them in respecting parental rights and religious freedoms.