Following Legal Explanation, Calif. School Rights Its Sex-Ed Wrongs
by Allie Martin
February 18, 2005
(AgapePress) - A California school has apologized for a teacher's violation of state law in the teaching of sex education.The Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) was recently contacted by concerned parents after their son, without their mandatory notification and consent, was shown a video discussing sensitive sexual topics. The parents subsequently exempted their son from sex education, only to find out afterwards that he was then forced to sit alone in a hall, with no assignments -- again, a direct violation of state law. In addition, the student was required to take tests on the material from which he had been lawfully exempted and, as a result, received low grades.
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Brad Dacus |
Following attempts to meet with the principal, the parents contacted PJI, which then sent a demand letter to the principal explaining that clear legal standards had been violated by the teacher. The response, says PJI president Brad Dacus, was swift and satisfactory."We at the Pacific Justice Institute were very pleased with how quickly and immediately the principal realized that the law was being violated," says Dacus. "He took very quick action and had the teacher apologize to the parents, and made sure the child was restored to where he should be academically."
As a result of the incident, the attorney says, the health department in the school district has been reminded of the strong legal protections for conscientious objectors to sex education. "No child should ever be punished because of the fact that ... his parents decide they don't want their child to attend a very liberal sex-education program which is counter to the teachings and beliefs of the average mainline American [family]," he says.
According to a PJI press release, the family has sincerely-held Catholic beliefs that instruction on sex education should take place in the home.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
