The following comes from an Aug. 6 story on SFGate.com.
Hundreds of Fremont parents have organized a petition drive and are threatening legal action over the district’s new ninth-grade health textbook, which includes drawings of sexual anatomy; mentions of vibrators, oral sex and bondage; and information on how to buy and use a condom.
The 392-page book Your Health Today also includes chapters on nutrition, fitness, stress, body weight and body image, but it’s the sections on sex, drugs and alcohol – mostly the ones about sex – that are riling up parents.
So far, more than 600 people have signed the petition, which calls on the Fremont school board to rescind its decision to use the book for ninth-grade health classes.
“I feel that it’s not age appropriate for these kids,” said mother Asfia Ahmed, who is among the parents leading the charge. “I have read the book from first page to last, and most pages talk about college kids. It doesn’t relate to these kids at all.”
The book is listed on bookseller sites as a college health textbook, but district officials say students need the information well before they get to college. It’s too late once they get there.
“Yes, it talks about masturbation,” said school board President Lara Calvert-York, who adds that such topics are part of state standards. “We really want them to have a safe place to get facts about their bodies and how to handle things and how they need to be mature to deal with these things.”
The Fremont Unified School District’s health teachers unanimously chose the textbook from among a half dozen that were evaluated and reviewed, and the school board voted 3-2 in June to adopt it for the 2,400 ninth-grade students at the district’s six high schools.
State standards start addressing sexual health in fifth grade, or about age 10. Topics include physical changes during puberty, sexually transmitted diseases and hygiene, including the use of sanitary products and athletic supporters.
Parents, however, said the high school book is too explicit, with labeled drawings of sexual anatomy as well as a page devoted to the “human sexual response model,” with diagrams of the male and female sexual organs in various stages of arousal, including “excitement,” “plateau,” “orgasm” and “resolution.”
….Calvert-York tearfully noted that there have been too many teen deaths – caused by alcohol, suicide or other issues addressed in the textbook.
“The only way to fight that is through education,” she said before her vote to approve the new textbook. “The only way to fight that is to have honest conversations with our kids.”
To read the entire story, click here.
Calvert-York says, “We really want them to have a safe place to get facts about their bodies and how to handle things and how they need to be mature to deal with these things.”
Wow, talk about arrogance. Her statement imply’s that the home and family is not a safe place to get facts about their bodies etc….. I would worry for any child whose parent actually thought that the public school WAS the safe place for their child to receive such information.
“….Calvert-York tearfully noted that there have been too many teen deaths – ” Is she trying to demonstrate that she cares about the children more than their parents. This woman appears wholesome and innocent, but her beliefs and actions are downright destructive. I’ll bet those who voted for her wish they hadn’t.
Very true, Tracy. She “appears wholesome and innocent,” and her tears are for those children who die from suicide, alcohol, and the like. Noble sentiments. But I think of the term “pretty poison”: Miss C-Y, and the (at best) misguided board members and teachers who lined up with her, resort to the lies and distortions presented in the textbook (“unsafe at ANY age”) to salve their broken hearts.
Sometimes the most effective medicine in the long run is the one most bitter to swallow right now.
All of the Nation’s churches and religious groups– especially the Catholic Church!– need to strongly teach and deeply inculcate: MORALITY!! That is where it must start! Our Nation has become too morally ignorant, and so-called “leaders” have NO IDEA as to what they are doing! Especially in fields like so-called “education!” Sexual sins are total filth, deadly MORTAL SINS!! — and this ignorant Nation has been turned tragically and needlessly into a PIG-STYE, since the filthy, immoral 1960’s! A country’s children need to be nurtured and taught MORALITY, and SELF-CONTROL– as a foundation for life!! By the time they graduate from high school, or college— they need to be ready for adult responsibilities of work, marriage, parenthood, and church and civic activities!! They must NOT be preparing for a life of anti-society rebellion, juvenile delinquency, “social misfit activism,” and crime!!
YES! Are you ready to take on the task of educating the youth? WE, The Church, have to work the harvest. Harvest is great, too few workers. Too many “talk” but do not put it into action! I’ve been a catechist, have served various ministries, and it is necessary for us to do this “work”, not the ungodly. When we relegate it to the public schools, then anything goes, as you can tell.
Satan wins again. Take something that appears to be logical — educate kids about their sexuality, drugs, and all that — and you get garbage, certain to excite and encourage kids to try what they are reading. Education, like religion, is a favorite playpen for the Devil and his pals. Get to the mind, to emotions (bonus points for hitting they young, who have lots of hormones and unresolved feelings). Simply put, there is no reason for teen kids to learn anything about female orgasms (the knowledge of which does nothing to assist them to avoid sex, or STDs, or anything), and how to have sex. Teens have a pretty good idea that sex is a positive thing; they will want to experience it all the more by reading this trash. Instead, the school district should be teaching about the need to accompany sexual relations with emotional commitment, and, even better, with a defined sense of overall morality. It has been everywhere reported that public education’s retreat from anything of Faith (due to wrongly understood “Church-State separation” concepts) has lead to, well, nothing; and, power abhors a vacuum (as does the Devil). So, even if it does not teach a particular religion, a public school can well teach that people work better in relationships when they have a sense of morality at the outset and throughout their lives. Kids now are encouraged to find their spirituality in music, drugs, early sex, sexual experimentation — nice!! Angelic intelligence wins, particularly the malevolent power of Satan and his dark angels: he wins with the “little steps” approach, seemingly logical, even kind, approaches, that always end in disaster, because more is needed, much more if you are Catholic.
Excellent post St. Christopher! Your words reminded me of the Servant of God, Father John Hardon SJ words when he told us that there was a malevolent power sweeping over the entire world to influence the minds of people. Father Hardon SJ, then asked the group what method of distribution was being used in order to sell this disorienting corruption of the mind as a tempting and enticing good. One person rose their hand and answered. “Through an unhealthy corruption of the mind regarding sex ” and Father Hardon responded, “Yes.”
Our Lady of Fatima lovingly warned the world, “More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason. ” “Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much. ”
Our Lady of Fatima words also ring very true in this example of Fremont Unified School District health teachers who are attempting to sell the unhealthy corrupting of minds by means of selling distortions and evils as a good. The Freemont Unified School Districts health teachers are even claiming to be fashionable with the times in corrupting the minds of students. Make no mistake, behind that smiling and seemingly charming face is someone who is spearheading another vicious assault on the minds and most importantly the souls of our youth. Our Lady of Fatima pray for us! ..”O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
OK! We should not teach this stuff to our kids in school. If they need to know it, parents can teach it to them. That is the role of the parents. Then we have to consider who the parents are, and how they were educated. Nearly 40% of all children in the U.S. are born to single mothers, and most of them are teenagers. What can they teach their kids? Over 50% of marriages end in divorce. Which parent, if they can be found, will teach the kids? If teaching morality is not done in the school or in the home, how about in the parish? Are the volunteer teachers in the Catechism classes ready to teach about sex to the seventh and eight graders? According to surveys, as many 20% of them have had sex already. How do you teach abstinence to kids who think they are ready, because they don’t know any better? Fulminating from the church or family pulpit hasn’t been very effective. Just Say No hasn’t worked to well either. Any suggestions for how to teach sex better?
“Bob One” — your post is the typical red herring of saying, “well, they are doing it anyway, so someone needs to teach them the better way”. By doing this, you are teaching them damnation, not any kind of salvation. But, many posts already say this, and, to you and others who think like you, it is to no avail. How can anyone in good faith take your ending question, “any suggestions for how to teach sex better,” as anything but complete capitulation to evil. Children learn far too much about sex, point one. Point two is, no sex education of any kind without a moral component, and the sense of responsibility that must accompany each act. Young men today, for example, are completely absent on the moral scale. As women have become more and more coarse, and acting against their very natures regarding sex, men demonstrate no strength, no moral power to channel young women toward marriage and their duty of raising substantial and faithful Catholic families (or, if not Catholic, then substantial and morally-conforming families, whether Jewish, or Christian). No, there is no room in this equation for homosexuals, who should never, ever, have “parental” roles and must abstain from sex relations throughout their lives.
St. Christopher,
Thank you for another excellent and thorough response!
If little shepherd boy Bob One would have been present along with Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco at the Cova da Iria when Our Lady of Fatima showed them all a vision of hell and warned them that “More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason” …….Then it sure sounds like Bob One would have even then responded…. “Any suggestions for how to teach sex better?”
No wonder Our Lord sent his Mother to appear and give important messages to humble uneducated little shepherd children.
Both the churches and parents have the responsibility of teaching kids the “facts of life.” Boys and girls must be separated, and given simple, and moral, age-appropriate facts. Sex belongs only in the sacred union of marriage, between one man and one woman, and children are born of this sacred union! And no birth control, self-control! Gay sex pervert acts are a MORTAL SIN!! Boys and girls have a big responsibility, to protect their virginity, and the virginity of their date. A parent can tell a boy or girl, how to avoid potential dangers of sin, and give specific rules to go by. Cultivation of devotion to Our Lady will help. A parent must also set the age when dating may begin, and set basic rules, and the curfew. A parent must meet a date, and give approval, to protect their teen-ager. Boys and girls must not be alone together, until they are older. Traditionally, in some countries, parties and group dates are allowed, for kids — but dating alone is not allowed, until about the age of eighteen. At that age, a teen-ager is considered mature enough for dating alone, with eventual selection of a good marriage partner.
All parents have to answer to God for not raising their children up in the ways of the Lord. This material presented to them is of devious nature and goes against everything that our Lord commands of parents.
Funny – Not,. but the ‘East Bay’ media (mostly the ‘Digital First Media – successor to Dean Singleton’s Propaganda Empire – including MediaNews, A.P., the Contra Costa Times & Mercury News…) usually Censors anything in the least bit controversial – and adheres to the Strict Gaystapo Party Line.
For instance – the Trying Times recently endorsed Gov. Lt. Gravid Nuisance for another term so as to provide him with a “Bully Pulpit” – and they Do Not Allow comments on the story that don’t endorse their teflon adulterer
(*How many politicos could have an affair with a subordinate employee with a “Substance Abuse” problem [perhaps shared] – who is Also Married – To their own Campaign Manager… And Still have the whole thing censored by a bought and paid for free press because of Nuisances attack on Marriage in general?)
SEE https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/AIDE-QUITS-AS-NEWSOM-S-AFFAIR-WITH-HIS-WIFE-IS-2652745.php
Haven’t reviewed the book, but whaddya bet it pushes all the Homo-Anal Coprophile points up the public wazoo, along with the MIsandry (Hatred of Men & Boys, Masculinity & Normal Heterosexuality) of the Twysted Systerhood.
School Starts Soon – this is worth the read:
“Catholic Schools, Firing Policies and Teacher Misconduct,” –
See more at: https://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CatholicEducationDaily/DetailsPage/tabid/102/ArticleID/3434/Theologian-Responds-to-Catholic-Teacher-Firings-with-Ethical-Advice.aspx?
It’s shocking that the book is published by a major and once respectable publisher, McGraw-Hill, which is now owned by the anti-life Hearst company. Just shows the real motto for many US companies is “Anything for a buck.”
The school district board decided to suspend use of the text for one year so that they can review other texts and make a decision about future.
Bob One, “The school district board decided to suspend use of the text for one year so that they can review other texts and make a decision about future”? Your statement suggest that you are quite content with this solution. It sounds as if you have confidence that surely one of the “other texts” they will be reviewing for the next year WILL be suitable. We are told that “the Fremont Unified School District’s health teachers unanimously chose the textbook from among a half dozen that were (already) evaluated and reviewed.” Bob One, you may want to consider that this bunch of “health teachers” and school board members are immoral individuals who would likely reject any text, (if one even existed) that taught students “health” information in a morally responsible manner. (In other words, unless THEY become moral individuals, you can give them two weeks, one year, or ten years to conduct their reviews and they will surely choose wrong again.)
Calvert-York’s hyphenated name is a dead give away as to where she’s coming from. The school district, like most public schools, is probably loaded with others just like her.
John, sadly, what you say is true. The real teachers in these settings need our prayers. They are surrounded by highly educated fools and forced to teach from texts written by highly educated fools. God help the children who are the real victims of all of this madness.
John Feeney,
Excellent insight! Good call! You are absolutely right about Calvert-York’s dead giveaway use of the hyphenated name. Although I do not agree with Dennis Prager on all topics regarding religion or abortion, I do think that this video regarding the educational war on boys is true.
You tube ‘The War on Boys’ – Prager University
https://youtu.be/OFpYj0E-yb4
Catherine, thank you for the link to the Prager University 5-minute course. It is the first time I have seen that one. If our school boards and teachers took this to heart, at least they would be moving in the right direction.
I noticed that in reformatting their videos, some of the ones I thought were particularly good are currently unavailable. I liked the one called, “Were the middle ages dark?” It was presented by a Catholic Professor. I do hope they bring that one back.
By the way, I always was under the impression that Denis Prager was opposed to abortion. What did you mean by disagreeing about his stance on abortion? (I do know that he is o.k. with contraception, which is an area where I pray he one day sees it for the evil that it is)
Calvert-York is a dead giveaway for what? Please tell us! Might you be suggesting that her parents, Calvert and York, gave her their name? Of are you suggesting that any woman who hyphenated her name must be a modern married woman? Or are you suggesting that a hyphenated name meas she didn’t give up her name when she got married? Or did she and her husband decided to share their family names? Or what, pray tell, were you trying to say? Enlighten us, please.
Bob One, seeing a hyphenated name gives us a clue that the person possessing that name is progressive minded person. Even if the name was given to her by her parents, it would most likely indicate that she was raised in a progressive household. It’s a game of statistics.
…and a game of ‘status’.
You know, Tracy, many customs use both parental names for their kids. Single or paternal surnames is not an indicator of much of anything. Unless you prefer to see evil all around you instead of God’s loving grace.
Just because you make an additional observation as to the source of single/paternal surnames, YFC, does not equate to Tracy preferring to see evil all around. Making that assertion with regards to another seems rather evil in itself if not entirely presumptuous.
YFC, I do understand their are individuals who come from “customs” where they use both of their surnames. Mexicans have this custom, although they do not hyphenate their surnames.
YFC, let me put this in the clearest of terms. I racially profiled Calvert-York! I deduced that since she appears to be Caucasian and since both of her surnames appear to be of European, (not Hispanic) in origin, that a person coming from this particular “group” who hyphenates his/her name , is most likely one who holds progressive view points.
Political Leftist have trained me well to understand if, let’s say 90% of those who have been placed in an “assigned group” (by Leftist) happen to hold a particular custom, belief, or viewpoint, then those customs, beliefs and viewpoints are required, by those of us who happen to be outside of the “assigned group”, to be given the upmost respect and consideration . Furthermore Political Leftist have trained me well to understand that I am to dismiss those from an “assigned group” who hold the minority viewpoint, (in this case the 10%). Not only should I dismiss these individuals, but in most cases I should furthermore consider them malcontents, misguided or worse yet “evil”. (one perfect example would be how I am told I “ought to see” the minority of “African Americans” who choose to identify as “Black” and/or hold a conservative viewpoint)
Of course, I must also admit that Political Leftists have also trained me well to understand that since I am on the Political Right I do not have the “right” to make group assignments nor should my doing so EVER BE TOLERATED! Let’s just say, by putting Calvert-York into a group, I violated this Leftist mandate, which you appear to have called me to task for. :(
Since the 1970’s, I have known a great many families, especially devout Catholic families– who either moved away and found good jobs in better, more morally-stable, rural communities, with strong ties to their churches– or else moved away to these rural communities— and homeschooled their kids, with only orthodox Catholic priests in nearby churches, for the Sacraments. All of these families kept a close watch on their kids, and developed close, happy family relationships! They were careful as to the social life of their kids, seeking out only other like-minded families, for success!! When it came to dating, in the teen years– these families likewise all kept a close eye on the kids, and their social activities. (Not for petty reasons– but for the love and welfare of their kids!) These kids all grew up, went to good, carefully-picked colleges, got married, and were a great success, in all of their pursuits! Some also became priests and nuns. And then, as married adults, these people began raising their children likewise, in very orthodox– or Traditional Latin Mass– parishes!!! This is a very wonderful hope for the future of America, and for our Church!
This is exactly what it takes…..get out of the “world” and into the Life of Christ.! People you can save yourselves and your children by protecting them from evil.
Over the past few decades even as Catholics on an individual basis many of us have replaced sound spiritual advice with more wordly secular psychiatry. Instead of going to a priest for healthy spiritual direction we run to a therapist or to our television sets to watch Oprah or Dr. Phil. Not everyone. But certainly many. It’s become the norm of society to seek advice from those who have studied the habits of humans (just as the devil does) rather than turning to those who understand man’s relationship with God. This situation is an example of our education systems following the same path. it’s an unfortunate sign of the times. As mentioned earlier, Our Lady of Fatima warned of the sins that offended God the most. May we begin to listen and heed Her call more and more.. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us…
Amen.
How about it is not any of their business! Sex Education should NOT be any school. Since the beginning of time people figures out how to have sex without the government sticking their nose where it DOES NOT belong. Parents need to take back their control of their children! Stop being so lazy!
Nature abhors a vacuum. And, so, when you remove God from the classroom, sodomites and abortionists rush in to fill that void with gifts from Satan for the kiddies. Keep electing Democrats, California.
“….Calvert-York tearfully noted that there have been too many teen deaths – caused by alcohol, suicide or other issues addressed in the textbook.” Oh, the pathos! Sob! Sob! Highschool students have been bombarded by sexual education since first grade and this woman (I’m pretty sure she is a she, but then these days, who knows?) thinks a textbook is going to help? It”s a wonder young people want to have sex at all when you think these self-absorbed, incredibly booooooring liberals have had a hand in opening their eyes to the deadly grind of earnest sex education. Talk about inept and tedious…not to mention utterly pointless, amoral sex by number classes. Do young people have any real fun anymore? Remember the forbidden thrill of learning the mystery of sex from your friends at slumber parties or behind grandma’s barn? Remember being able to use your own imaginations? If I had to have attended a class on sex I would have skipped school along with about half my class! Do they give tests on sex positions and the correct procedure for proper coupling? Are there multiple choice questions on getting high, what amount of alcohol induces primitive behavior, etc? Don’t these people have anything better to do? If you want students to stop drinking and driving, for example, just show movies and statistics of car accidents that teens are involved in…invite students in who have contracted STD and how their futures have been affected…invite pastors and policemen to talk to young people about first hand experiences.
Thanks for your post Dana.
Thank you, Sandra! :0) I confess this topic is near and dear to my heart…I’ve often thought too little attention is given to the importance of giving children guidance but letting them make decisions earlier and stop treating them like Bimbos. If children are able to police themselves they won’t require policing by adults and begin to understand the consequences of their actions sooner when the results are of less magnitude. I’m NOT saying we give them carte blanche but most assuredly allow them enough latitude that they gain confidence in themselves and a better understanding of how life works.
PS (my summation was cut off :0( ) My facetious post was meant to point out that what students need are parents or a parent at home that listens to and loves them. All the text books in the world cannot possibly fill this void. EWTN has a wonderful show for young people featuring teenagers in the Bronx led by a Franciscan priest who share personal experiences and fears in an intimate and non-judgmental setting (outdoors, in a circle) and if only schools would make this small change…taking these so-called ‘health’ classes out of the classroom and away from tedious textbooks where students could express their concerns and be heard for a change. We need to do more LISTENING…especially to our children. The priest leading the group then sums up with subtle but helpful philosophical and spiritual insights. Our young people are literally starved for true spiritual and intellectual food and what do people like Mz C-Y choose? Why, throw more shallow, insipid text books and sterile classrooms at them, of course…full of emptiness and pointless persiflage. Is it any wonder so many teenagers are full of cynacism and despair? It’s still “Blackboard Jungle” in educationland and the same bumbling do-gooders are still using the same play book…with more sexual and drug opportunities, naturally.
Dana, I want to make sure that you know that they are not going to use this textbook and that they are in talks with the publisher to make a new text that does not include the explicit material.
Thank you, but my point was no textbook can take the place of parental guidance and that many of the issues discussed would be better served in a different format. Schools, and many teachers in particular, overrate their ability to carry on the demands of teaching the subjects to which they are required to provide as well as overstepping their skills, qualifications or rights in designating themselves arbitrators of morality and culture. If they would demand more of parents and stop playing at being thought police, students might stand a better chance at what schools are supposed to give them…the ability to read, write and master math and science skills , civics and history, etc. and be functioning, thinking American citizens !
PARENTS the OBLIGATION is yours to teach the children entrusted to you by God,
and you will be held accountable on your own judgment day.
There are not only sins of commission but omission as well.
See the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” for the responsibility/obligation of parents.
There are 60 paragraphs in the CCC regarding “Parents”.
“What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
CCC: ” 1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.
In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.”
While the information in the book, might be “true”, even “factual” therefore (to the Left) harmless, it is information OUT OF THE PROPER CONTEXT and creates CONFUSION and MISINTERPRETATION. Public schools today have lost their mission to FORM human beings into socially responsible adults and citizens. Until we regain again our mission to FORM the entire person, we will FAIL our kids and out country, yes, we will be “informed”; but, as well-rounded human beings, we will fall well short of what is needed, in essence, we will be MAL-FORMED.