This morning I had the pleasure of being a guest with Bill Colley on Newsradio 1310.
Listen in on the discussion. What do you think?
Posts Tagged with Sex Education
Is Your Church a Church or A Community Group?
Yesterday, February 16, 2018, I exercised my privilege as a citizen of the great state of Idaho to appeal the House Education Committee not pass out of committee House Bill 579. The experience is always a breath taking experience. If you’ve never engaged in the process of your government you should find a bill some time and make it a family project to follow it from start to finish. It is best experienced with a field trip to the state house while a bill is being introduced and public hearing is available.
Really, you should try that some time.
Hose bill 579 was sent to “General Orders”. That’s a normal path many bills take that need more work. I was pleased that the bill was not directly sent to the House floor for a vote, even though I’m confident it would have died there. The bill did not die yesterday but it is not out of committee yet either.
I have expressed several concerns with regard to the bill 579. Here is the audio of my testimony before the House Education Committee on February 16, 2018 in Boise Idaho.
Update on the New Idaho Sex Education Bill
The first look at an attempted updated sex education bill introduced in January in the Idaho state legislature was eventually scrapped and re-worked to include stronger language about family. That House Bill 414 is no longer an active bill.
The new sex education bill is H-0579 (posted below) was introduced earlier this week and was just posted for public hearing on Friday, February 16, at 9:00 a.m.
There were a few improvements from the original H0414 but I argue that the new bill H0579 is still an abandonment of long standing Idaho sex education laws in public schools.
My concerns with the new house bill (H0579) are similar to my concerns with the first one submitted in January (H0414).
Compare the introductory paragraph: There are subtle language changes that are quite impactful. To say the state of Idaho “acknowledges the importance of families…” is weaker than saying the state of Idaho “believes that the primary responsibility for family life and sex education, including moral responsibility, rests upon the home and the church…” this new bill subtly says the state is the lead and simply encourages “family communication.” The current law gives family the primary jurisdiction on these matters and that the state gives local school boards direction to establish a sex education curriculum under the leadership of family and church.
- Proposed Bill H0579:
- “The legislature of the state of Idaho acknowledges the importance of families in all aspects of their children’s education and promotes a strong school-home connection to support the implementation of sex education curriculum that respects community values and encourages family communication.”
- Current Law:
- “The legislature of the state of Idaho believes that the primary responsibility for family life and sex education, including moral responsibility, rests upon the home and the church and the schools can only complement and supplement those standards which are established in the family.”
Another section with great concern to me: To say “school districts shall involve families and community groups” is different than saying “the program should supplement the work in the home and the church…”
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Proposed Bill H0579:
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School districts shall involve families and community groups in the planning, development, evaluation and revision of any instruction in sex education offered as part of the school curriculum.
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- Current Law:
- The program should supplement the work in the home and the church in giving youth the scientific, physiological information for understanding sex and its relation to the miracle of life, including knowledge of the power of the sex drive and the necessity of controlling that drive by self-discipline.
I urge you to read the new House Bill 579, compare it to the current Family Life and Sex Education Bill. If so inclined, contact the house education committee immediately, contact your local representatives, and/or travel to Boise on February 16, at 9:00 a.m, to speak directly to the committee.
I’ll post some recommendations I have learned over the years of speaking in the public arena and why I think it is important for Christians to speak into issues that are being introduced into law before they become law. Even if our speaking does not impact the direction or intentions of the legislators, it is good to be heard and to be respectfully heard.
After you read the new proposed law consider sharing this with those you feel will make contact with the House Education Committee and other legislators to express concern. Please consider sharing this with your church leadership, this bill deliberately has removed all language of “church” from the bill (compare current law with proposed bill.)
Helpful documents about the proposed sex education bill and committee contact information
House Education Committee: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2018/standingcommittees/HEDU/
Agenda information: http://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2018/standingcommittees/180216_hedu_0900AM-Agenda.pdf
Statement of Purpose: http://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2018/legislation/H0579SOP.pdf
H0579 page: https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2018/legislation/H0579.pdf
(formatting has been adjusted to fit page, no content has been adjusted in any way.)
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session – 2018
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. 579
BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE1 AN ACT
2 RELATING TO SEX EDUCATION; REPEALING SECTIONS 33-1608 THROUGH 33-1611,
3 IDAHO CODE, RELATING TO SEX EDUCATION; AND AMENDING CHAPTER 16, TITLE
4 33, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 33-1608, IDAHO CODE, TO
5 ESTABLISH PROVISIONS REGARDING SEX EDUCATION.
6 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
7 SECTION 1. That Sections 33-1608 through 33-1611, Idaho Code, be, and
8 the same are hereby repealed.
9 SECTION 2. That Chapter 16, Title 33, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
10 hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and des-11 ignated as Section 33-1608, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
12 33-1608. SEX EDUCATION. (1) The legislature of the state of Idaho ac-13 knowledges the importance of families in all aspects of their children’s ed-14 ucation and promotes a strong school-home connection to support the imple-15 mentation of sex education curriculum that respects community values and en-16 courages family communication.
17 (2) For purposes of this section, “sex education” means the study of the
18 anatomy and physiology of human reproduction.
19 (3) The decision to include sex education in the school curriculum
20 shall be made at the district level by the board of trustees. If a sex educa-21 tion program is included in the curriculum, the program shall:
22 (a) Be medically accurate according to published authorities on which
23 medical professionals generally rely; and
24 (b) Adhere to the Idaho content standards for health education as es-25 tablished by the state board of education.
26 (4) School districts shall involve families and community groups in the
27 planning, development, evaluation and revision of any instruction in sex ed-28 ucation offered as part of the school curriculum.
29 (5) A child shall be excused from sex education if the child’s parent
30 or legal guardian files an excuse request to the school district board of
31 trustees on a form made available by the board.
Current Idaho Law (formatting and emphasis added by me, no change to content has been made)
TITLE 33
EDUCATION
CHAPTER 16
COURSES OF INSTRUCTION33-1608. FAMILY LIFE AND SEX EDUCATION — LEGISLATIVE POLICY. The legislature of the state of Idaho believes that the primary responsibility for family life and sex education, including moral responsibility, rests upon the home and the church and the schools can only complement and supplement those standards which are established in the family. The decision as to whether or not any program in family life and sex education is to be introduced in the schools is a matter for determination at the local district level by the local school board of duly selected representatives of the people of the community. If such program is adopted, the legislature believes that:
a. Major emphasis in such a program should be to assist the home in giving them the knowledge and appreciation of the important place the family home holds in the social system of our culture, its place in the family and the responsibility which will be there much later when they establish their own families.
b. The program should supplement the work in the home and the church in giving youth the scientific, physiological information for understanding sex and its relation to the miracle of life, including knowledge of the power of the sex drive and the necessity of controlling that drive by self-discipline.
c. The program should focus upon helping youth acquire a background of ideals and standards and attitudes which will be of value to him now and later when he chooses a mate and establishes his own family.
History:
[33-1608, added 1970, ch. 119, sec. 1, p. 282.]
House Bill – 0414
I spent a bit of time yesterday researching Idaho House Bill – 0414 related to sex education.
Here is the background I did with the existing law and the proposed new law.
As of today, February 7, H0414 is not scheduled for public hearing. I have been informed that it may be ready in about 2 weeks. I wrote all members of the House education committee to express my concern in what they are working on. I have yet to hear back from any of them. I did call the secretary of the education committee and learned that it is not currently scheduled.
This is the way representative government works… when bills are introduced, it is important that the legislators hear from the population. It is important to express your support and define your concern of a particular bill.
Because this is not yet scheduled it means that it is early in the process.
- Politeness is always right.
- Pray for a listening ear among the committee.
- Politeness is always right.
- A short note to the committee is better than a long letter at this point.
- Politeness is always right.
- A request for a reply is better than just stating a point.
- Politeness is always right.
Following is a template of the note I sent the education committee. I invite you to consider doing the same. Personalize it and send it.
______________________________
Dear House Education Committee,
My name is (first and last name) of (city name), Idaho. I am (include what you do or something personal of interest). I have been a citizen of Idaho since (year).
It is my pleasure to pray for you while in legislative session and I’m thankful for your good work, long hours, and devotion to making Idaho a great place to live. I count it a blessing of God to live here and thankful for your good work.
I am writing you today with concern in relationship to H0414. (Sex Education)
I strive to be a well informed citizen and want to best understand what is potentially being presented. What is your understanding of why this bill is needed? As I read the current law, I’m pleased that it a good law I’m asking you to consider not moving forward with this proposed change to Idaho code 33-1608 through 33-1611.
I would like to be informed of when this bill is scheduled for public hearing.
Thank you
(name)
How Important Is It To Know?
When state legislators are in session the people better be paying close attention.
There is a bill right now before Idaho legislators to address the language of the law concerning Family Life and Sex Education. (section 33-1608 Idaho State Legislature). The link I have referenced is the current law, amended last in 1970.
Here is how it currently reads:
TITLE 33
EDUCATION
CHAPTER 16
COURSES OF INSTRUCTION33-1608. FAMILY LIFE AND SEX EDUCATION — LEGISLATIVE POLICY. The legislature of the state of Idaho believes that the primary responsibility for family life and sex education, including moral responsibility, rests upon the home and the church and the schools can only complement and supplement those standards which are established in the family. The decision as to whether or not any program in family life and sex education is to be introduced in the schools is a matter for determination at the local district level by the local school board of duly selected representatives of the people of the community. If such program is adopted, the legislature believes that:
a. Major emphasis in such a program should be to assist the home in giving them the knowledge and appreciation of the important place the family home holds in the social system of our culture, its place in the family and the responsibility which will be there much later when they establish their own families.
b. The program should supplement the work in the home and the church in giving youth the scientific, physiological information for understanding sex and its relation to the miracle of life, including knowledge of the power of the sex drive and the necessity of controlling that drive by self-discipline.
c. The program should focus upon helping youth acquire a background of ideals and standards and attitudes which will be of value to him now and later when he chooses a mate and establishes his own family.
History:
[33-1608, added 1970, ch. 119, sec. 1, p. 282.]
Notice a few things with me…
- The state of Idaho believes (in 1970) that the primary responsibility for family life and sex education, including moral responsibility, rests upon the home and the church.
- The school can only complement and supplement those standards. The standards established in the family.
- Local school districts/boards is the level that determines how this is implemented.
- The state of Idaho (in 1970) saw that the jurisdiction of family life and sex education was chiefly, the duty of the family.
- The state of Idaho (in 1970) believed the best place for children to responsibly establish their own families was in the authority of the family.
- The state of Idaho (in 1970) set law in place to ensure that children would primarily receive their moral, scientific, physiological instruction for understanding sex and its relationship to the miracle of life, and set its moral compass of the sex drive and self discipline as high priorities of family and church.
- The state of Idaho (in 1970) was satisfied to be a supplement for what was to be primarily taught in home and church.
- The state of Idaho (in 1970) believed that parents were qualified to give their children the necessary background, attitude and morality to help them make informed decisions now and to later choose a mate and establish their own homes.
Our duty now is to consider what is being presented to legislators today. We need to ask good questions about why they are suggesting changes and why have they deliberately chosen the wording of such and what are they saying about home and church today in relationship to what was previously thought about them both.
This demands our attention.
Here is the new wording of the proposal…
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. 414
BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
AN ACT RELATING TO SEX EDUCATION; REPEALING SECTIONS 33-1608 THROUGH 33-1611,
IDAHO CODE, RELATING TO SEX EDUCATION; AND AMENDING CHAPTER 16, TITLE 33,IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 33-1608,
IDAHO CODE, TO ESTABLISH PROVISIONS REGARDING SEX EDUCATION.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
SECTION 1. That Sections 33-1608 through 33-1611, Idaho Code, be, and
the same are hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. That Chapter 16, Title 33, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and
designated as Section 33-1608, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
33-1608. SEX EDUCATION.(1) For purposes of this section, “sex education” means the study of:
(a) The anatomy and physiology of human reproduction; and
(b) The development of healthy relationships.
(2) The decision to include sex education in the school curriculum
shall be made at the district level by the board of trustees. If a sex education
program is included in the curriculum, the program shall:
(a) Be medically accurate according to published authorities on which
medical professionals generally rely, which authorities shall be designatedin rule by the state board of education; and
(b) Adhere to the Idaho content standards for health education as
established by the state board of education.
(3) School districts shall involve families and community groups in the
planning, development, evaluation and revision of any instruction in sex
education offered as part of the school curriculum.
(4) A child may be excused from sex education if the child’s parent
or legal guardian files an excuse request to the school district board of
trustees on a form made available by the board. Alternative educational programs shall be provided for excused children
Acknowledgement: I am not a lawyer. I make no pretenses on this matter. I’m writing with an attempt to be a well informed and responsible follower of Christ. This is my one and only agenda. Nothing hidden in my observation of this change in Idaho law.
Here are the following initial observations of the change in Idaho law Section 33-1611
- First, note that this revision of a law starts with scrapping the entire previous law. Maybe that’s the normal way to keep a law clean, but when what was previously the law and the intentional language of the law is completely removed I want to know why and I want to pay close attention to what the new law has to say.
- Second, I note there is no mention of church. It may be implied by the language of “community groups” but that is no small change and should not be overlooked.
- Third, I note that the state law seeks primarily to “involve” families rather than treat families as the primary educator on this matter.
- I then see that there is, what appears to be, intentionally dangerous language that leaves the matter of morality to the subjective wind of “published authorities” on which medical professionals “generally” rely.
- The law gives parents right to excuse a child from the “sex education” curriculum on a form made available by the local school district board of trustees. Then it gives unclear direction as to what the alternative curriculum that is to be provided for excused children is.
I will be writing my legislators today to inform them of how I read this and express desire that they not alter the good law we already have. I urge you to do the same. Even if you don’t agree with me in how I read the proposal.
What do you think about this?