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April 17, 2002
Students Demeaned During Health Class Activity
By Steve Jordahl, correspondent
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/A0020365.html
High school students in Arcata, Calif., were singled out and humiliated during a Planned Parenthood-led sex education class. Now, some parents are taking the school district to court.
Parents in Arcata, Calif., are upset over a recent school-endorsed activity for a freshman health class at Arcata High School. The school had invited guest speakers from Planned Parenthood, and during the class, students were asked to stand in a circle and answer certain questions about their beliefs. Debbie Hartridge, of Planned Parenthood, explained what happened next.
"When asked the question, 'Do you have a religious belief about homosexuality that considers it a sin and wrong?' the children who answered 'yes' had to stay in the circle," Hartridge said. "This caused them to feel very demeaned, put down."
She added: "That activity, we wouldn't do it that way again."
Brad Dacus, president of the Pacific Justice Institute, believes this type of curriculum is becoming a trend in public education.
"This presentation is not just in this one high school," Dacus said. "It is something that Planned Parenthood has used and intends to use in other high schools across California and probably across the country."
Ed Szymkowiak, of Stop Planned Parenthood (STOPP) International, said the goal of the education is to get students more comfortable with topics like homosexuality.
"Planned Parenthood does make an effort to get into the schools and break down inhibitions that the kids have, and in this case, it seems like they were focusing on any religious inhibition that the kids had towards homosexuality," Szymkowiak said.
Dacus said it is a clear violation of both state and federal law to harass and demean students who happen to be of the Christian faith.
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