Cedarburg School Board votes for parental “opt-in” on sensitive sex-ed issues

Last February, Governor Doyle signed Assembly Bill 458 into law as 2009 Wisconsin Act 134. The new law effectively prohibits local public school districts from adopting “abstinence-only” human growth and development programs. Under Act 134, if a school district chooses to adopt a human growth and development program it would be forced to include in its curriculum instruction on the “health benefits, side effects, and proper use of contraceptives and barrier methods.” Parents are allowed to opt their children out of the program.

Planned Parenthood lobbied heavily for this law to be passed. For a sample form to file with your school to opt your child(ren) out of sex ed, click here.

The Cedarburg School Board has responded by voting to require parents to opt their children in to the most sensitive areas of sexual education instruction:  intercourse, contraception, abortion, homosexuality and masturbation. The Department of Public Instruction may challenge this policy if they receive a citizen complaint, arguing that it may not meet the letter of the law. See the full Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article here.

The state law’s one-size-fits-all state mandate has understandably angered many local human growth and development advisory committees, comprised of parents, clergy, physicians and other area professionals, who under previous law had the freedom to craft sexual education curricula that reflected the values and goals of their communities.

Pro-Life Wisconsin is urging public school districts across Wisconsin to drop their human growth and development programs. Forcing contraceptive education and instruction into our public schools sexualizes our children. Chastity/abstinence is the only message that will protect their bodies and preserve their innocence. If a school district retains or initiates a program, we urge parents to opt their children out of the program and either teach chastity/abstinence themselves or find a private program that does.

Short of a school district fully dropping their program, we support a parental opt-in because it offers greater protection for parents and children. We applaud the Cedarburg School Board for making the best of a bad situation.