{"id":1151315,"date":"2023-02-14T20:10:23","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T01:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/hyper-sexualization-of-students-parents-rein-in-rogue-sex-education-in-michigan-schools\/1151315\/"},"modified":"2023-02-14T20:10:23","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T01:10:23","slug":"hyper-sexualization-of-students-parents-rein-in-rogue-sex-education-in-michigan-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/hyper-sexualization-of-students-parents-rein-in-rogue-sex-education-in-michigan-schools\/1151315\/","title":{"rendered":"“Hyper-Sexualization Of Students”: Parents Rein In ‘Rogue’ Sex Education In Michigan Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

“Hyper-Sexualization Of Students”: Parents Rein In ‘Rogue’ Sex Education In Michigan Schools<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Authored by Steven Kovac via The Epoch Times<\/a> (emphasis ours),<\/em><\/p>\n

Long-standing Michigan laws have become a new weapon for a group of aspiring education reformers seeking to guard school children in the state against what they call \u201cillegal hyper-sexualization\u201d and other \u201cwoke\u201d teachings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Activists concerned about what they were seeing in the state\u2019s public schools recently formed a non-profit, non-partisan organization they call the Great Schools Initiative (GSI). They\u00a0aim to help parents keep children from being exposed to teachings about gender change, sexual practices, and other concepts that they believe are harmful.<\/p>\n

Co-founder Monica Yatooma, who has no children in a public school, became alarmed when she heard friends speak of things happening at their children\u2019s public schools<\/strong>. Shocking news updates also caught her attention. It sounded like an effort to indoctrinate children in her community\u2019s public schools about sexuality.<\/p>\n

Yatooma began researching the websites of school districts in her state, where she saw evidence of programs espousing the teachings of critical race theory (CRT) and \u201cthe hyper-sexualization of students through exposure to gender ideology<\/strong>,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s where GSI came from.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0Michigan parental rights activist Monica Yatooma. (Courtesy of Monica Yatooma)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Now, she and others are using the group\u2019s efforts to help parents statewide.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to bring back orthodox education and to improve our schools<\/strong>,\u201d the group\u2019s co-founder Nathan Pawl told The Epoch Times. \u201cOur immediate mission is to protect the safety and privacy of every student and to restore parental control over what their child is being taught in school.\u201d<\/p>\n

Human sexuality is \u201ca highly sensitive\u201d subject, Pawl said.\u00a0\u201cIt often implicates family structure, religion, and the maturity levels, both physically and spiritually, of school children.<\/p>\n

\u201cUninvolved parents have let their schools run unchecked for years in the realm of sex education,<\/strong>\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Digging for Solutions<\/h2>\n

As GSI activists began investigating, they uncovered significant problems in numerous districts.<\/p>\n

Group members began attending school board meetings more regularly, hearing stories from other parents, and researching state laws looking for solutions, Pawl said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe discovered that Michigan has very strong and wise statutes on the books dealing with sex education and parental rights dating back to the mid-1970s<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

GSI researchers found that Michigan law does not mandate that schools teach sex education, with the exception of lessons on HIV and AIDS. If sex-ed is taught, it cannot be a requirement for graduation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese laws do not prohibit the existence of LGBTQ students, nor do they prohibit a school from teaching about a wide range of sex education topics<\/strong>,\u201d Pawl said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRather, these laws wisely restrict sex education to specific courses and class sections, with an approved curriculum, to be taught by an instructor qualified to teach sex education,\u201d GSI wrote in a blog posted on its website.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
An illustration encouraging children to think of gender as a spectrum was distributed by Gorham High School in Maine. (Courtesy of a student who asked to be identified as HB)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

GSI members realized that under existing Michigan law, parents must be notified before a sex-ed course is presented to their children. They have a right to preview lesson content and materials and to observe the instruction at reasonable, agreed-upon times.<\/p>\n

The laws also say that parents have the right to opt out of the class without penalty or negative ramifications to the student, such as loss of credit. An opt-out can be accomplished by filing a written notice with the school.<\/p>\n

But most parents are unaware of these provisions in the law, GSI members said.<\/p>\n

Michigan law \u201csolidifies the role of the family, especially parents, and allows them to decide what pace to set for their children with regard to learning about human sexuality,\u201d Yatooma said. The statutes \u201cassert the necessary parental control that parents have. A parent always knows the child best.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important, she said, to \u201cprotect the innocence of all of our children for as long as possible\u201d and \u201cset common-sense standards and boundaries to protect their safety and privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

In their digging, GSI members also realized that the Michigan statutes mandate that any school district desiring to create or change a sex-education program must form a sex education advisory board tasked with reviewing proposed plans,<\/strong> setting goals and objectives, and providing community input to the school board. And at least once every two years, the board must report to parents on the status of the program\u2019s goals and objectives.<\/p>\n

Boards are to be comprised of pupils, parents, educators, local clergy, and community health professionals. At least half of the members must have children enrolled in a school in the district. Without such a board, a school district may not teach sex education, Michigan law says.<\/p>\n

GSI now is encouraging parents and others to see if their local school districts have a sex education advisory board in place, verify its makeup, and check to be sure it\u2019s doing what the law requires.<\/p>\n

Parents Unaware of Their Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many Michigan parents are not aware of the power they already have under existing state law to withdraw their children from lessons, activities, discussions, books, videos, and other materials they find inappropriate, Pawl said.<\/p>\n

GSI aims to inform and educate parents, but also take \u201cimpactful actions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The group has teamed up with the Thomas More Society to draft the Michigan Parental Education Opt-Out Form. The Thomas More Society is a non-profit, national, public-interest law firm providing pro bono legal services to individuals or groups fighting to restore \u201crespect in law for life, family, and religious liberty\u201d and to preserve democracy through election integrity efforts.<\/p>\n

The four-page opt-out form they\u2019ve created, which is free online, leaves school administrators with little wiggle room to dismiss parental opt-out requests on technicalities\u2014something some school districts have already attempted to do, Pawl said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have provided a comprehensive list of dozens of examples of situations, topics, and items that parents may reasonably find objectionable<\/strong>,\u201d Pawl said.<\/p>\n

The list includes distribution of birth control and providing references to abortion clinics; gender ideology and gender modification surgery information; sexual attraction; teachings or discussions on sensual topics; non-grammatical use of pronouns inconsistent with biology; display and distribution of LGBT materials, books, and flags; and the furnishing of clothing for cross-dressing.<\/p>\n

\u2018Rogue Sex Education\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The GSI form addresses both the approved sex-education class and the informal instruction involving sexuality that goes on throughout the school day during the time allotted for other subjects, Pawl said.<\/p>\n

GSI considers such informal instruction \u201crogue,\u201d because it hasn\u2019t been reviewed and recommended by a sex education advisory board and approved by the local school board.<\/p>\n

Also considered \u201crogue sex ed\u201d are class chats about sexuality with teachers not certified to teach sex education and the injection of gender identity and sexual orientation into lessons and activities outside the confines and structure of an approved sex education class.<\/p>\n

\u201cSchools have allowed and encouraged sex education to be permeated into much more than the few classes listed on the school\u2019s opt-out form<\/strong>,\u201d reads a statement on GSI\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the new form created by GSI activists with the help of Thomas More Society lawyers is so needed, members told The Epoch Times.<\/p>\n

In just a few days more than 200 parents used the GSI opt-out form, and about 10 school districts have accepted it, Yatooma said.<\/p>\n

State Education Officials Respond<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) issued a memo<\/a> on<\/u><\/span>\u00a0Feb. 2 to provide guidance to local school superintendents on how to handle the flurry of parents opting their children out of sex education.<\/p>\n

The MDE position is that the statutory parental opt-out option applies only to board-approved sex education classes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese requirements are specific to sex education classes within a health course or unit \u2026 and should not be construed to apply to classes or course content outside that scope.<\/p>\n

\u201cPolicies and procedures for excusing a student from participating in courses and content areas other than the sex education classes within a health education program, such as an English or Social Studies course, are not provided for in \u2026 state law,\u201d the memo reads, in part.<\/p>\n

Such policies are to be determined at the local district level, subject to any relevant state and federal conditions, the MDE memo says.<\/p>\n

In rebuttal, Pawl cited former Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley\u2019s Opinion 5881 issued on April 21, 1981, which he believes supports GSI\u2019s position.<\/p>\n

Kelley opined that Michigan law \u201cprohibits a board of education of a school district from including any sex education instruction in any class or course that students are required to take.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also, in support of GSI\u2019s position, Pawl referred to the portion of the MDE memo, which states, \u201cBy law, sex education classes must be taught by a person qualified to teach health education.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is clear,\u201d Pawl said, \u201cthat a teacher that is not certified in sex education has no business infusing a math or social studies class with information pertaining to gender or sexual orientation. It is illegal.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

A statement on GSI\u2019s website characterizes these situations as violations \u201cof privacy and a safety issue when teachers, counselors, or administrators have conversations or solicit private information through polls, quizzes, and other communications about human sexuality \u2026 This would include promotion of any and all sexual ideologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pawl contends that state law requires that this type of activity be confined to sex education advisory board-reviewed and school board-approved sex education classes only.<\/p>\n

In contrast, the MDE memo advises school administrators that activities and materials outside of the approved sex-education instructional program, such as \u201ccommunications, library holdings, surveys, after-school programs, and student-led non-curricular clubs \u2026 would not be subject to the sex education excusal provisions specified in statute.\u201d<\/p>\n

\nLaws Being Ignored or Ci<\/strong>rcumvented<\/strong>
\n<\/h2>\n

GSI alleges that, for a number of reasons\u2014including ignorance\u2014state laws on sex education are being ignored by some schools, and intentionally skirted by others.<\/p>\n

As evidence, Pawl cites an MDE informational video about a suburban Detroit 5th- and 6th-grade language arts and social studies teacher.<\/p>\n

The instructor announces in the video that every year on the first day of school he reads aloud to his class the book \u201cI Am Jazz: The Real-Life Experience of a Transgender Child\u201d by LGBT activist Jazz Jennings.<\/p>\n

A book bin in the classroom overflows with other LGBT titles.<\/p>\n

The teacher\u2014also chairperson of his school\u2019s Diversity Committee and a former Michigan Teacher of the Year\u2014says he uses the reading to show his students that they can be comfortable talking about LGBT issues with him \u201cwhenever and wherever\u201d they need to.<\/p>\n

The video shows his classroom door covered with LGBT pride signs, stickers, and emblems. The teacher points out the rainbow-hued gay pride flag and transgender flag on display as tools that he says he uses to stimulate discussion and help create a \u201csafe and inclusive space\u201d for all students.<\/p>\n

GSI members object to that.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody can display a Playboy flag in the classroom and claim it is a benign symbol and conversation starter,<\/strong>\u201d Pawl said. \u201cFlags are a tool that represents something and that begs questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another Michigan Department of Education video shows a consultant advising teachers not to risk \u201couting\u201d students by organizing LGBT club meetings for after school, when parents will be picking up their children.<\/p>\n

Instead, the consultant suggests, teachers should hold such club meetings at lunch hour.<\/p>\n

Teachers are told to avoid club names that suggest an obvious LGBT theme, in favor of more innocuous names, such as \u201cDiversity Club\u201d or \u201cSpectrum\u201d or \u201cSocial Support Club,\u201d according to the video.<\/p>\n

In another MDE instructional video, psychologist Amorie Robinson, known locally as Dr. Kofi Adoma, instructs teachers on how to handle things like gender identity, name changes, and personal pronouns.<\/p>\n

\u201cGender fluidity\u201d is a normal process, Robinson says, and should be addressed with children aged 3\u20135 through something she calls \u201cpsycho-ed.\u201d She advises teachers to employ a \u201cpsycho-ed\u201d approach at school-wide events, such as Coming Out Day and Gay History Month.<\/p>\n

Forcing \u2018Their Agenda on Students\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cA reasonable person cannot help but conclude that the LGBT agenda in our schools is being driven on purpose by the Michigan Department of Education with help from well-funded national non-profit organizations,\u201d Pawl said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is evident that teachers and administrators are being taught how to cloak their activities, and, in some cases, actively circumvent the law in order to force their agenda on students. This comes at a time when so many parents tell us of the atrocious academic proficiency of their schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Erick G. Kaardal, special counsel for the Thomas More Society. (Courtesy of Erick G. Kaardal)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

GSI wants to cooperate with school boards, administrators, and teachers\u00a0to \u201cimprove policies to provide the safety, privacy, and parental control which Michigan families deserve,\u201d Erick G. Kaardal, special counsel for the Thomas More Society, told The Epoch Times.<\/p>\n

\u201cGSI hopes that most of the issues can be resolved through the parental complaint administrative process without litigation,\u201d he said, but added that \u201clitigation remains an option for GSI, if that doesn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Michigan Parent Alliance for Safe Schools, an LGBT rights advocacy group, did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

GSI also will help families file complaints, the group\u2019s members told The Epoch Times.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose children are not the state\u2019s property<\/strong>,\u201d Yatooma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe system is trying to form the thoughts and mindset of the next generation. They are forcing a subset of ideologies about sex and race on these vulnerable young minds that most of their parents do not agree with.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tyler Durden<\/a><\/span>
\nTue, 02\/14\/2023 – 22:45<\/span><\/p>\n

From:Zerohedge<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Hyper-Sexualization Of Students”: Parents Rein In ‘Rogue’ Sex Education In Michigan Schools Authored by Steven Kovac via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Long-standing Michigan laws…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1151315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1151315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151315\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1151315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1151315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1151315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}