The Hill Is In Session & This Is My First Gripe

Our state legislature is in session at the moment.  So far, it is too early to get a real sense of what stupidity will distract the legislators from their chore there.  But I did read one article about a proposed "Sex Ed Bill for Parents".

Utah's public schools have a fine line to toe when it comes to sex education or any kind.  As it is now, the instant a student is in a junior health class or high school human biology or even anatomy class a note is sent home that demands the parent(s) sign for permission to include the student in the discussion where body parts, organs or biological systems are discussed.  This is the "opt-in" system of parental permission.

That means that if no note comes back, the student is not allowed to sit in on the class, its discussion or any information that will be covered in the class during this portion.  Crazy, I know.  But the hyper-active parents who still believe that their little precious ones will only learn what they are taught in Family Home Evening about human sexuality really believe that their kids don't talk to the friend, search the internet or read the bathroom walls of the junior high.  The "opt-in" system is a compromise for them.

With that kind of parental responsibility then for the parents to be the primary teachers of this sort of knowledge, the legislature in their wisdom has proposed a bill that will require parents to take an online course about how to teach human sexuality to their students.  The problem I see with this is two fold.  One, how many of these parents who are terrified their children might learn about human sexuality in class will actually want to search online resources for the information--proven, scientific and correct--to use at home?  I am guessing not many.  These are the same kind of families that are worried that they could accidentally use the internet for  homework research and pull up pornography.  In their homes!  Overworried and undereducated parents have this issue, at least in my mind.

Two, the resources that will be provided online are already available to parents locally at their neighborhood school--junior highs and high schools make the same resources available to parents any time they want to check them out for more information to help them supplement or teach directly rather than let them in the class that will be doing the same thing.  How many of them have ever been checked out by parents with the system we have in place now?  None.  Zero.  Nada.  To my understanding, and the 13 years I have volunteered in the public schools, I have yet to hear of any parents coming to use the resources already available in their neighborhood.

What makes the Legislature think that this new "rule" will help these poor kids ever understand anything they might have to learn from their friends, the bathroom walls or--heaven forbid--on their own the hard way?  These law makers need to do a little work in the public schools to see what is already happening and let go of the very small, but very vocal, minority of parents that want to keep their heads in the sand.  Those who believe that if they shelter their little darlings they will be safer than if we give them knowledge. Ralph Waldo Emerson said " Knowledge is the antidote to fear."  Maybe we ought to start subscribing that kind of thinking with our children.  Give them correct knowledge and then infuse it with the principles and values we have as a family.  That is the best hope our kids have to navigate this disturbed and wicked world.

And that kind of balanced thinking will never come from the legislature.  Not that this is a surprise.