With the passage of bill SB 48, the 'sexualization of textbooks' in California, the state has now supplied me with the final straw I needed to keep the children home for school.
But even without the bill, let’s just say the CA school system was already teetering in my good graces.
Even the headline that could summarize this post would read like something out of The Onion: “California Textbooks Sexualized: Bill Advocates Now Bewail that the State’s Students Still Can’t Read.”
And yet the tragedy is: it’s true - California students' literacy rates are notoriously low on a national level.
At a time when teachers have been ‘warned’ (you know, via a post-it placed in teachers’ lounges which cost the state $15,000 a piece) that their benefits may be ‘on the table,’ which is often one step away from being ‘on the chopping block’ in three years time, elementary school students starting in kindergarten will now learn about something called “sexual orientation.” This means they will have to be taught what sex is, then, right? When is the appropriate age for that? Usually that curriculum comes in 5th-6th grades, for 11-12 years olds who are developmentally ready for that information.
But now the state wishes to expose 6 year olds to whole gamut of sexual behavior. Try explaining ‘transgendered’ to a child who’s just figuring out what it means to be a boy or a girl which is complicated enough without trying to imagine what it is to be a boy who feels trapped in a girl’s body – and visa versa). Anyone with kids can tell you, you will end up doing more harm than good!
And the really creepy aspect of the bill, as if discussing these topics with children is not disturbing enough, is its mandate to discuss ‘non-traditional’ forms of sexual behavior in only a positive way. I ask you, when was the last time we mandated something be praised in schools? We don’t even make that consideration for our presidents - Grover Cleveland may be your favorite president, but I may have some issues with him and might want to discuss as much in U.S History class (please don’t email me on this, I don’t know the first thing about G.C).
All in the name of tolerance, of course. And don’t think the state doesn’t already spend tons of money on anti-bullying programs which address respect for all. But judging by the state’s track record with teaching students to read at grade level, perhaps we can surmise that the success of those respect ‘diversity’ programs probably peaked in success rates before they were even published.
So where do parents and teachers have to go from here? Homeschooling, or private cooperative school settings (which I’m starting to regard as the greatest thing since sliced bread) and these can even be based in a parish. It is at ours. Although, come to think of, it, it remains unclear how this bill may affect private schools, home schools and all of the rest.
And so, thank you, California, on behalf of myself and many who will now use this as an opportunity to do what you so obviously cannot do: to teach my children in a way that both respects their psychological development and which allows them to read and write whole paragraphs before they get to high school. Thank you because now I get to preserve their innocence from convoluted, politically driven notions about reality. I can now truly count on them learning that “up” means “up”, “down” means “down,” that “red” is “red,” “boy” means “boy” and “girl” means “girl.”
And “confused” means “confused” which is what you seem to be, California. One day, dear great state that once was, I hope you do start reverting back to things such as psychology and child development in order to write your curriculum. And I hope that true tolerance does start extending to all, even to parents like me who would have appreciated just the option of objecting to a bill targeting my children. Until then, those of us who respect proven science, who all seem to be of Faith now, will actually use and teach it!
Readers, here are facts and editorials about the bill that speak for themselves:
Read the SB 48 Bill with highlighted alterations here.
Read the LA Times editorial against politicians writing policy here.
Summary of main arguments here.
An excellent video where Dr. Miriam Grossman, child psychiatrist testifies to how the bill completely disregards child development here.
Plenty of governments have used children to push the party line (even against their parent's wishes). I fear public schools in the United States are now no different. They are only a tool for social change to these people.
ReplyDeleteI fear that may be the case these days, also, Ed. The question is: what to do? If enough of us kept the kids home or looked outside a corrupt school system, perhaps things might change. What do you think? Great blog, btw!
ReplyDeleteI really like vouchers. Take the cost of the average student in public school and cut a few thousand off the top. Give that to families as a credit for anything they require for education (tutors, books, even college savings plans) and have a receipt for. Government saves money. Families are happier. Public schools have competition.
ReplyDeleteThanks about the blog.
I think vouchers are a great idea, also. Unfortunately they've been met with hostile criticisms by those working in public schools who see it as state funding being diverted to private institutions (because, of course, parents who have the ability to pay for private schools that aren't failing, often opt for that instead). They see it as "stealing" from public schools that are the most desperately in need of funding. Of course the real problem is mismanagement of the funds, but doing any 'house-cleaning' at the top is nearly impossible in school districts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting! I also noticed on your blog that you've just finish Lewis' There Great Divorce - I am so not kidding when I say that that one is next on my reading list! I'm currently working my way through Jesus of Nazareth by B16! Let's keep in touch!