A number of Fonda-Fultonville School District residents are upset that the school district has chosen Planned Parenthood to teach sex education in their school. They have created a website, Not In Our School.
School district officials must be out of touch with reality to chose such a lightning rod organization to teach sex education.
Here is Not In Our School’s letter to the School Board, a letter which seems to me to be very reasonable.
To: Fonda-Fultonville Central School District Board of Education
Carole DeBonte, President
Rod Simonds, Vice President
Matthew Calkins
Joan Kark-Wren
Matt Sullivan
Timothy Wendell
John Witley
Michele Downing, Clerk of the BoardIt is with all due respect that we the community of the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District ask you to reconsider your choice of Planned Parenthood as our sex education instructors. We ask instead that you consider the solid input and experience of a medical advisory board from Montgomery County.
We too recognize the need for sex education, but we believe as adults, that the education needs to be complete and balanced. When an organization that is a business, presents their view, they are often unable to do so without a bias. Medical fact is medical fact. Please note that according to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Annual Report of 2004 – 2005, their income for the year was $902.8 million. Planned Parenthood received $305.3 million from government grants and contracts, 345.1 million in clinic income, $212.2 million in private contributions, $33 million in other income, and 7.2 million from the Alan Guttmacher Institute. Yes, they are a business.
We are very concerned as parents and taxpayers that this educator is being considered. The instructor flatly said no to parent class observation, which causes one to wonder why? We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the Hatch Amendment that was passed in 1984. Under this amendment, we as parents have the right to inspect all instructional material, including that used in experimental or testing programs.
According to the school district website, one of your strategic planning goals for the year 2006-2007 was to focus on community involvement and informing the school community. We learned at the parent information night on April 6, 2008, that the administration was fielding increased complaints of sexual harassment and many other serious issues dating back to December. Due to this increase, the SADD group was taken to various events and decided that they were most comfortable with Planned Parenthood. The school community was not notified of this problem or this solution until April 2008. Furthermore, this information was given to a smallpart of your school community, yet it will affect your entire middle school. This situation falls far below your set goals of clearly communicating with us, the community. The communication has been very poor and very late.
We are asking your time and consideration on these matters.
For my take on Planned Parenthood, click here.
