Here are featured comments from our Speak Out hotline, discussions on www.srpressgazette.com and its sister websites.
This edition's topic: the Santa Rosa School District's new sex education program.
PROPS FOR PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER
Good. It's about time the schools looked at providing real education about sex and relationships the right way, vs. free internet porn. The PRC is a wonderful Christian-based organization that will [do] the job right.
Jim Howard
CONSIDER THE CONSTITUTION
This is a Christian-based curriculum that will be taught in a public school. Remember separation of church and state?
Marcelle Bell
STATE VIEWS MARRIAGE AS A BUSINESS
Instruction on sexual relations belongs to the parents/guardians, not to the compulsory mandatory public indoctrination centers known as the public school system.
This move to implement the sex ed. curricula is the state's desire to apply a better grip on the doctrine of parens patriea, whereby the state has a property interest and authority over your biological property.
The primary legal mechanisms that provide consent for this are the registered birth certificate and the state sanctioned marriage license.
Remember, the state views marriage as a business and they get a two-thirds interest in it and the product of said business, which are children.
Phil Freeman
SEX ED CAN BE INTERESTING, INFORMATIVE
(In my humble opinion), if they actually teach sex education and not just abstinence, nor just beat the kids over the heads with bibles, it would help.
My grandchild said in sixth grade, there were kids that still thought storks brought babies, and one didn't believe babies came from eggs, that only birds laid those.
Thankfully, I was out of [the] country (military brat) when, in ninth grade I had a great sex education class. Even taught the history (and even some origin stories) of STDs and of birth control (ancient Egyptian birth control was interesting, to say the least).
It can be interesting and informative, and done responsibly and in a way kids will pay attention — besides, not all parents feel comfortable teaching sex, birth control or STDs to their kids, nor are informed enough themselves (even in today's age). Just a thought.
Cindy Powell
OPTING OUT OF PROGRAM
NOPE. You know who is a huge proponent of abstinence-based sex education? Sarah Palin.
You know who has two grandbabies born outside of marriage? Sarah Palin.
My children will NOT be participating in this program, and I will be contacting the school board.
If one red cent of my tax dollars is going to a religious organization, we have a major problem.
Jennifer Thomas
KIDS ARE HAVING SEX
Good, the teen rate of Chlamydia is super-high in Santa Rosa. Kids are having sex. A little education about the risks might help.
Daniel Hahn
TIME FOR FAMILY VALUES
They don't need more sex education. They need some morals. And some parents that are actually involved in their child's life. They need to teach these girls to stop getting their value from a boy by sleeping with him. We've spent millions on condoms, education, etc. We need to spend tax dollars on family values and family therapy.
Stacie Keith Stutzman Gardner
SAVE IT SO IT’S SPECIAL
Well, my girls did not need to be educated by public schools … we had these talks over all their years growing up. Both are responsible young ladies.
However, so many of their friends and people they went to school with have dropped out to have babies. Most everyone I see usually come from broken homes, and many keep repeating having babies — it’s truly sad. So I guess if it helps some out and is done the right way it can be a good thing.
I think society has trained them that sex is not special and it’s not a big deal. My generation was raised [to believe that] you save it for the right person, not share with all.
So glad to have raised ladies who know the order in how to do things in life.
Elyse Winters
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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SPEAK OUT: Thoughts on Santa Rosa's sex ed program