When we received the permission slip we then went to the school and asked about the curriculum. Our first concern was the wording of the permission slip and we wanted to know what all the topics were that would be taught and not just that "some of the topics are body changes and hygiene" . .. we were told that Planned Parenthood was the vendor for this Maturation clinic.
At the very least, the permission slip should have had complete information
about the presentation to include the name of the organization presenting it,
the fact that it was an outside organization doing the presentation, and
preferably some detailed information about the curriculum and the issues
surrounding it.
R277-474 is the board rule that was created to comply with the provisions in 53A-13-101 that deal with human sexuality education in secondary schools. The rule was amended in April of 2011 to include maturation education. Maturation education is not to be junior “sex education.”
The rule states:
“Maturation education means instruction and materials used to provide fifth or sixth grade
students with age appropriate, accurate information regarding the physical and emotional
changes associated with puberty, to assist in protecting students from abuse and to promote
hygiene and good health practices.”
"Maturation programs must include a parent notification form and an opt-in provision. The
speakers, presenters and materials must be reviewed and approved by an LEA (Local Education Agency) committee and the materials and program must be approved by the local Board of Education."
53A-13-101 States : B) that the adoption of instructional materials shall take place in an open and regular meeting of the local school board for which prior notice is given to parents and guardians of students attending schools in the district and an opportunity for them to express their views and opinions on the materials at the meeting.
Parental Consent
Require a student's parent or legal guardian to be notified in advance and have an
opportunity to review the information for which parental consent is required under Sections
76-7-322 and 76-7-323.
The USOE-generated form clearly outlines the course of instruction and must be in the hands of parents a minimum of two weeks prior to the start of instruction. This allows parents time to dialog with teachers regarding course content.
Q. Is there a screening process in place for the human sexuality resources and
guest speakers?
A. Yes. In accordance with Utah Law, each LEA (Local Education Agency) has an active Human Sexuality Instructional Materials Committee in place that previews resources and guest
speakers before use in its classrooms.
"Schools and Teachers may NOT use materials or speakers that have not been approved by the LEA's Board of Education." From letter sent to all Charters By Utah State Office of Education April 12, 2011.
The quotes above were in the following document linked here which was emailed to the Board Members and Principal Fuller so they could review their responsibilities in this matter:
http://www.schools.utah.gov/charterschools/Training/Directors-Meetings/2012-Directors-Meetings/April-2012/Sex-education-and-maturation.aspx
The board is supposed to have reviewed these materials and they have apparently not done their due diligence and done what is required in the law.
We have voiced concerns on this issue since May 9th which Principal Fuller was also recipient of our concerns. At the School Board Meeting tonight he said he would follow up with us tomorrow on the decisions surrounding this clinic and it's curriculum. He said he was going to look into the information that will be presented by Planned Parenthood and other curriculum alternatives that would meet the State requirements. But the Board left this decision up to him to choose the vendor and curriculum and the law states that this decision should be a School Board decision and the Human Sexuality Instructional Materials Committee which I am not sure if High Mark has this committee.
At the meeting We weren't allowed to speak or even comment before the Board rendered it's decision that it is up to Principal Fuller to choose the vendor. They said this was not a board matter when clearly the law states that it is.
For us this is a Board issue as it concerns the curriculum taught in the school and the school board should have deciding in it's curriculum on this as much as Reading, Writing, and Math. We were disappointed in the lack of the Board to see the concern and that this was their decision as to the curriculum being taught. Despite the Law that Parents should be able to view the curricula and express their views during an open Board Meeting and not just one Principal's decision a month before the curricula is taught to our children! This is a decision for the Board and the Parents of the School.
I have asked to review the curricula and I was told I could attend the event. This does not comply with the law and our parental rights! We have the right to look at the curricula and make comment on the curricula that may be chosen to teach such sensitive material to our children! We are suppose to be able to review the curricula in advance of making the decision if our children will attend. According to the law that information should be in the hands of parents at least 2 weeks in advance of even signing the permission slip to say whether or not we choose for our children to attend.
Protect our rights as parents! Call & Email Principal Fuller (kfuller@hmcharterschool.org (801) 476-4627) and the School Board members immediately and protect all our rights!
Principal Fuller said he made the decision a month ago to use Planned Parenthood despite it being removed from the Utah State Approved Curriculum which he was unaware that it wasn't supported.
This event could be cancelled and moved to another appropriate date when appropriate curriculum can be acquired and Presented to parents before teaching our children blindly with it.
There area few choices that the School can choose from to meet it's State Requirements . . . Here are a few:
http://www.pgschoolprograms.com/select_program.php.
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This letter (below) was read in at the school board meeting tonight for public comment.
If you are also concerned about this Maturation Clinic. Please Contact Principal Fuller and the School Board members to voice your concerns.
Here is the letter in it's entirety:
Highmark Charter School Board,
I am writing to you before the
board meeting tonight because I cannot attend and I needed to bring something
to your attention. I hope that you can discuss this tonight and find an
alternative to the Maturation Clinic scheduled for Wednesday.
My concern is that the selected
curriculum for this clinic and the presentation is provided by Planned
Parenthood. In case you are not familiar with this highly controversial
organization, they are the nation's largest abortion provider. That is
their product and they are more than happy to come into a school full of
impressionable fifth-graders for marketing, brand promotion and product
placement reasons.
Proctor and Gamble provides a
similar but less offensive curriculum and they are not in the business of
providing abortions. Why would either group provide this kind of
curriculum? Both groups have profit motivated goals - they want to sell a
product. Proctor and Gamble is hoping to provide product and brand
placement to the children (specifically the girls) who attend hoping that they
can sell them feminine hygiene products. Similarly, Planned Parenthood
hopes to establish credibility and visibility with the children of their brand
in order to sell to them their offensive products (abortion) in the
future.
I think that it is of paramount
importance that you work to protect the children from the motives and
machinations of offensive organizations such as Planned Parenthood. I
also think that the information that was provided to parents about this
upcoming Maturation Clinic was terribly inadequate. It did not allow
parents to make a fully informed decision primarily because it did not name the
specific curriculum, it did not mention the name of the organization coming in
to the school to present their curriculum, and it did not provide a link to the
curriculum that is available for review online. In fact, I do not believe
that the permission slip met the requirements required by Utah Administrative
Code R277-474, School Instruction and Human Sexuality.
As I said, I can't attend
tonight's school board meeting to discuss this. My daughter is graduating
from High School in a couple of weeks and tonight is her final Honor Society
event. That is where my priority lies this evening. It it my hope
that you will take this information seriously and out of concern for the
children you will discussion this and find an alternative this evening.
Feel free to call me to discuss
this or to reply to this email.
Todd Evans
