PETITION
Posted by mom on 14 May 2008 at 08:53 pm | Tagged as: PETITION
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PLEASE REVIEW AND SIGN THIS PETITION
To Keep Parents Informed About Sex Ed Lesson Content, and
To Preserve The Modesty of Our Children in the Sex Ed Classroom
(Leave A Comment of, “I Agree”)
To: The public school powers-that-be
From: The parents of children attending public school
Alberta Education is without definitive guidelines on classroom content when it comes to human sexuality programs of study. This leaves the door wide open for teachers (or invited community guests) to discuss oral sex, anal sex, same sex, masturbation, where to purchase contraceptives, and all other related subject(s) …at their personal discretion.
Alberta Education also acknowledges that the human sexuality outcomes are considered “controversial” and have issued directives to this effect. They also concede that there is a wide range (up to three years) in the development of students in any one classroom, yet there are no legislative commitments to prevent inappropriate material from being introduced into classrooms of such a diverse age/maturity spread.
Knowing this and knowing our children, we feel compelled to exercise our parental responsibility of insisting that parents AND STUDENTS be presented with timely information and related options, in order to know whether or not our children will participate in the optional human sexuality outcomes.
We are also compelled to preserve our children’s modesty by ensuring that the family values they are taught at home, remain uncompromised as long as possible and, if necessary, to exercise our mandated right to remove them from any awkward and inappropriate environments that the controversial human sexuality outcomes can easily create.
Make no mistake…
The morals and values that belong to our children are ours to cultivate – not a teacher’s…or a principal’s…or a trustee’s…or a student nurse…or heaven forbid, the government. No, our child’s morals and modesty will be shaped by our parental influences.
So when one of your schools decides to introduce explicitly promiscuous material to my child’s co-ed classroom led by adult strangers where the students are caught off-guard and embarrassed, and parents are totally oblivious as to what our children are about to partake in, know that you’ve just violated an entire community of students and their parents, and have subsequently destroyed any semblance of trust that you previously took for granted.
Do you think we don’t notice..? That we don’t care..? That you have our permission to indiscriminately plant graphic pictures and promiscuous concepts into our children’s psyche..?
Many of our young children (some of them pre-teens) are so disinterested in the subject of sex that asking them to intentionally make it a part of their relationship-building and decision-making skill sets is highly pre-mature and inappropriate. As their parents, we know this to be true; as their professional educators, why don’t you?
More importantly, why aren’t you asking us what is appropriate for our children?
Don’t presume that our children are yours to influence!
On the contrary, the only influence that we will allow you to have over our children is in the capacity of assigning certified professionals to teach core subjects and approved options. And until we learn that teachers are certified in the field of human sexuality and are mandated to teach our children their personal preferences, we will not allow you to bring controversially explicit material into our children’s classroom — especially without our permission.
So if you want to continue to boast a mutually trusting relationship between the parent communities and yourselves, you’re going to have to work for it.
We want you to:
- Demonstrate to the parents AND the students that you care about students’ personal growth and development by keeping the parents AND the students informed of lessen content, especially as they pertain to the deliverability of human sexuality outcomes within the Alberta Education programs of study;
- Show us your resolute commitment to preserving our children’s modesty and family values by mandating policy that reflects their immutable personal rights, especially as they pertain to the deliverability of human sexuality outcomes within the Alberta Education programs of study;
- Agree to enforce those policies that speak to the deliverability, responsibility and accountability of educational professionals charged with the task of presenting human sexuality content to our children;
- Make every effort to seek parental input when it comes to making decisions involving any aspect of our children’s morals, values, modesty or other traits that might contribute to their personal growth and well-being.
Remember, it takes a village to raise a child — not a liberal-minded teacher given free reign to test the limits of their authority by an apathetic administrator and unwitting parents.
We also accept that school trustees take an oath of office upon their collective appointments and are mandated to provide for our children’s welfare through the policies they make. We appeal to your sense of empathy and hold you accountable to that oath.
Appease our concerns and you’ll find that you can restore our trust and respect.
Leave A Comment of, “I Agree” to support this petition.
Feel free to leave longer comments here.
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I Agree
I agree that both the school systems and the parents need to work together.
I believe that parents should have the knowledge of what their kids are learning in the classroom, especially when it comes to sensitive issues like Sex Ed. We as parents need to be more aware and diligent.
I AGREE!
Parents need to know what their child is taught in the classroom and a firm guideline needs to be followed by the teachers.
I agree.
I agree.
I agree - thanks for doing this.
I Agree! This is so important.
I agree.
I Agree
I agree 100%, and although I don’t have children in school, I do have 3 grandchildren in school. It’s just more evidence of the strong moral decline our province and country is in.
I agree
No comment
I agree!!
I Agree - this is absolutely unacceptable!
I agree! what next are they going to teach our young children –ENOUGH IS ENOUGH -let the parents teach their own children about SEX-plus moral standards and let the teachers teach -READING–WRITING –AND ARITHMETIC thats what they are paid by our school taxes to do .
I AGREE.
I agree.
I agree.
I agree.
I totally agree.
I agree- This kind of education is the reponsiblity of the parents, not government.
I agree!
I AGREE - please remember to validate your signature by using your correct name when stating your agreement. Parents should be open enough with their children to discuss all topics, and address all concerns and be able to provde answers that are suitable for age and content and a moral belief system. It is not up to teachers to raise children, it is up to parents. Jesus said ” Teach the children in the way that they should go and they will follow for their lifetime”
I agree that parents should be notified of any classroom “lessons” concerning sexuality or sexual morality and also have the choice of having their children opt out of these classes. This area of education should be the responsibility of parents.
I certainly agree that parents should be informed of any controversial subjects that are taught on school time. When I taught Social Studies I always made a listing of topics readily available. It takes very little effort to let parents know what is going on in the school.
I agree
I agree.
I completely agree! I worked in the school system in Red Deer as an Educational Assistant in 2000 and was appalled when the new health curriculum came through our grade 6 French emersion classroom.
Another assistant asked what to do if we do not agree with the curriculum. We were told, “This is what we’ve been given, so this is what we teach.” There was explicit information on masturbation, same sex relationships and more which were highly inappropriate, especially for our grade level. I am thankful someone is taking action on this!
{Sorry — I should have left my last name, too!}
I AGREE.
I agree.
I agree with this request of our government. As a teacher myself, I look for and appreciate parental support in the education of their children in my classroom and would encourage the provincial government to do the same in every subject area.
I strongly agree.
I AGREE totally. Keep us informed!!
I agree
I agree. Thank you for taking the lead.
Thank you everyone for your support - I’m very encouraged by it!
Just a quick note to let people know that I’m less concerned with individual identities as I am with support so, feel free to leave your first (or last) name only. Of course, if you’re comfortable with leaving your full name, carry on. I would just hate to see your support go uncounted because of a hesitancy about displaying your name.
Thanks again!
I agree. Parents really need to stand together on this.
I agree. As a former teacher in the public school system I always felt it was my responsibility to let parents know when sensitive topics were being taught or discussed. Parents are ultimately responsible for how their children are raised and educated and must be informed if things are being taught that may conflict with their morals or values. Parents must also have the right to pull their kids out of classes where this is taking place.
I agree.
I agree.
I agree. Good job.
I agree. Our children need to be protected from explicit sexual material in our schools, especially without parental consent. It promotes increased sexual activity and all the associated problems.
I agree.
I agree…one reason why I home school! All parents need to get more involved in their children’s school and bring their active and discerning presence into that arena often.
I agree. Keep persevering in this worhty and extremely important cause. The Sex Ed program advocates are sexually exploiting our children and are causing great harm, especially when there are no mroal guidelines in place. There must also be an option for concerned and proactive parents to remove their child from such classes on human sexuality!
I agree
We fully agree!
I STRONGLY AGREE, I BELEIVE IT IS THE PARENTS DUTY TO INFORM THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT SEX EDUCATION NOT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. PARENTS NEED TO BE MORE AWARE AND INVOLVED WITH WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR CHILD.
THANKS TO THE MOM WHO INITIATED THIS PETITION.
GOD BLESS YOU
A agree with the petition. Certainly modesty is the moral & christian tackk to take in sex education. We must be careful to block out pornography & illicit sex.
I agree!
I agree.
I am a father and grandfather, who has seen ‘major’ changes to the Ed system. I am so glad that ’some’ are rising up and taking control of what ‘our’ children are being taught. Thank you for taking a stand on family standards.
I agree
I agree. Thank you for taking the time to make others aware and for making a difference.
As an educator, I completely agree.
As a parent of teenagers, I think it absolutely necessary to put accountability measures in place regarding sexual education from third parties in the classroom.
I agree
I agree!!! I think the majority of our teachers also agree. The ones to whom I have entrusted my children have shared my concerns where the curriculum was concerned, though they were obliged to share concerns “off the record”. They would really appreciate our support on this issue.
We agree and thank you for taking the initiative to keep parents in the loop regarding what is being taught to their children in such a sensitive area.
I agree!
I wholeheartedly agree!
I agree.
We agree.
I agree. I’m a junior high student. Thank you.
Rob & Trudy Polley agree
I wholeheartedly agree!
I agree. Parents need to be aware of what is being taught to their children in the classroom and have input into school curriciulum decisions. This is a very important right and freedom in our society.
I agree!
I agree. Children do not need to be exposed to this at that age.
I agree!
I agree. I also believe the topic of human sexuality and all it entails is best left to parents to handle in the manner they believe best for their family. Schools should be left out of it entirely.
I agree. Parents should be aware that there are choices they can make. Many times parents are also not aware what is being taught.
I agree
I AGREE! Why is this being taught in the schools anyway? This is something very personal and unique to each child, something that parents should be teaching their children.
I agree
I agree
I agree.
I Agree.
I agrre
I agree
I agree
I agree with all the above. It’s time for the education system to take a good hard look at the curriculum it’s offering : ie) relevant content, and start standing up for what is
( age) appropriate in a classroom setting, and what’s not.
If they don’t, parents can and will continue to find alternative means of educating their children.