Wednesday, October 20, 1999
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Parents have say in program development
I was dismayed but not surprised to see the editorial in the Cincinnati Enquirer “Stop the stealth attack on parents and schools.” The Enquirer has jumbled together a hodgepodge of misinformation about health education in Ohio.
If the editorial staff would take the time to read the draft model, they would be hard pressed to find any of the shocking material that they have attributed to it. It contains very little pertaining to the area of sexuality. Within those areas, it is left up to each district to decide on the approach taken and the depth necessary to instruct students.
The Health and Physical Education Model is not connected to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) at all. No national funding or outside funding underwrites it. It does not function as a comprehensive school health curriculum. Any parent can opt out of any portion of their own districts's curriculum that they find objectionable.
This model has not been a secret, as suggested by the editorial.
I hope that the Cincinnati Enquirer will disseminate accurate information for discussion, rather than simply reprinting unsubstantiated and sensational claims.
- ROBERT D. MURRAY, M.D.
Chairman, Advisory Committee to the Department of Education
on the Health and Physical Education Model Program
Sex ed program harms society
The editorial “Stop the stealth attack on parents and schools” regarding sex education in the schools is accurate and on point. This debate makes as much sense as debating whether or not it is good to jump from a bridge. The Ohio Department of Education's Coalition for Responsible Sex Education (who are these people?) and Planned Parenthood need to be stopped in their tracks. The garbage they want to teach young children regarding sex is nauseating and leads the kids to believe that sexual relations outside of marriage are perfectly acceptable, even desirable. These are lies.
Kids need truth; the truth is that abstinence until marriage is the best course, both for the individual and for society. So stand up, parents, grandparents and other interested parties. Let's defeat these liberals who wish to destroy our freedom. These groups are evil and can only prevail if good people do nothing.
- WILLIAM B. HOFMANN, M.D.
Montgomery
Sex ed program influences Gov. Taft's reputation
Is Larry Flynt in charge of the Ohio departments of education and health? One would think so after reading about the Center for Disease Control sex education “Programs that Work” that the Department of Education (DOE) wants to use in middle schools and high schools.
If Gov. Robert Taft wishes to be remembered as the governor who promoted high moral standards among students so that they can develop virtues like chastity and self-discipline, which would allow them to focus on academic or technical talents in order to become productive citizens, then I hope that he protects their precious innocence from the destructive infection of progressive pornography.
People make policy. He is in charge of the people in charge of the ODE and DOH. It would seem that he should communicate with legislative leaders and ask for hearings to be scheduled as well as legislation for morally acceptable criteria for such programs, conduct reviews of departmental administrators by holding their feet to the fire and to use his powers of reducing the influence of radical employees through attrition, withholding raises, dismissal and vetoing any new, dirty directives, as well as letting old ones get dusty.
He should schedule several press conferences as the matter unfolds in order to let the citizens of Ohio know that their governor is an honorable leader. He should not let the radical abortion industry and homosexual/lesbian lobby intimidate him.
I began teaching middle school and high school before prayer was forbidden and replaced by sex education. SAT scores were high. Teen-age promiscuity, let alone pregnancy, was minimal. Sexually transmitted diseases were unusual. Common sense tells us that courses teaching impressionable students, especially in mixed classes, will result in them following the directions and putting their sex homework before their history.
- MRS. JOANNE SISKO KEMMERER
Mount Airy
Share your opinion with us at letters@enquirer.com
EDITORIAL: Sex-ed: Who's in control?
Excerpts from CDC sex education
State says it won't force plan on local schools
What you can do
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