They Get Creepier and Creepier
Here's something somebody found ...
Then there's some contact information for the principals, in case they have questions or something else happens. The memo is approved by Frieda K. Lacey, Deputy Superintendent of Schools.
The groups who are trying to sabotage public education in Montgomery County don't seem to have any concept of "over the line." They will say anything, do anything, to disrupt the process and stop these classes from being taught.
The sad thing is, if they were really concerned about the classes' effect on their kids, the few who actually have kids in the public schools could simply not-sign the permission slip. There's nothing to it.
Sometimes you really don't know where they'll stop, or if.
Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs
MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Rockville, Maryland
November 19, 2007
MEMORANDUM
To: High School Principals
From: Erick J. Lang, Associate Superintendent
Subject: IMPORTANT: Health Education Alert
The purpose of this memorandum is to bring to your attention recent incidents within our high schools related to implementation of the health education curriculum. It appears that individuals in the community are attempting to heighten anxiety among parents regarding the health curriculum and others are attempting to entrap high school staff members.
In at least one high school, students report receiving mailed postcards addressed to parents of Grade 10 students and signed by "Concerned Parents." The postcards warn that the "Montgomery County Board of Education does not want you to know ...
- "The details of the curriculum for 10th Grade health, family life, and human development class.
- "That you must choose to 'opt-in' your child or the school must provide an alternative program.
- "The details of the alternative curriculum."
The postcard gives the date of the school's scheduled parent information meeting on health education and encourages parents to attend or to contact the school and ask to see all the choices available.
In a second incident, a health teacher reports receiving an e-mail message from an individual claiming to be a student in the teacher's class. The message requests specific information about birth control and sex education. A search of school records revealed that a student by the name given is not enrolled in the teacher's class and does not attend the school.
High school resource teachers who supervise health education have been advised to inform their teachers that it is very important not to dispense advice or answer explicit questions regarding curricular content via e-mail on these topics. They were reminded that parents have the opportunity to come to a parent meeting to review materials and ask questions. Additionally, students have the opportunity to ask questions during class where the identity of the student can be confirmed, parent permission is on file, and the answers can be provided within the approved Montgomery County Public Schools curriculum...
Then there's some contact information for the principals, in case they have questions or something else happens. The memo is approved by Frieda K. Lacey, Deputy Superintendent of Schools.
The groups who are trying to sabotage public education in Montgomery County don't seem to have any concept of "over the line." They will say anything, do anything, to disrupt the process and stop these classes from being taught.
The sad thing is, if they were really concerned about the classes' effect on their kids, the few who actually have kids in the public schools could simply not-sign the permission slip. There's nothing to it.
Sometimes you really don't know where they'll stop, or if.
posted by JimK at 11:28 AM
28 Comments:
Andrea- not anon
Well, we know it is okay if CRC and their ilk lie for their purposes. We don't need these sickos to "protect" our children and we know most of them don't even have kids in MCPS.
The attempt to institute a "reign of terror" by intimidating teachers, administrators,and students is a tactic in their agenda of misinformation and fear. Without a climate of fear these CRC creeps will not be able to scare parents, students, and teachers into conformity with their objectives. Vile, disgraceful, and definitely unethical behavior from a group of adults who are behaving worse then pre-school children. Shameful!
The tactics of losers:
individuals in the community are attempting to heighten anxiety among parents regarding the health curriculum and others are attempting to entrap high school staff members.
"Sometimes you really don't know where they'll stop"
Oh yes, will they stop at nothing? Next thing you know, they'll be asking kids to share their notes from the class with them. Before you know it, parents will know what's actually being said to these kids as opposed to the misinformation provided by MCPS.
If you ask me, the memo sounded like it was written by someone with something to hide. If MCPS has been on the level, how would what these concerned parents have done cause any problems? Could you explain that?
Jim's glaring hypocrisy is once again in Macy's front window, just in time for Thanksgiving. While complaining about someone else's attempt to find out what's going on with these classes, how does he explain how TTF came into possession of an internal MCPS memo? No sense finding the name of the school employee who leaked it. They'd probably get an award from the school for helping the world's only organization that fights for the politicians and against the parents.
"The attempt to institute a "reign of terror" by intimidating teachers, administrators,and students is a tactic in their agenda of misinformation and fear. Without a climate of fear these CRC creeps will not be able to scare parents, students, and teachers into conformity with their objectives. Vile, disgraceful, and definitely unethical behavior from a group of adults who are behaving worse then pre-school children. Shameful!"
And what is this "terror" that is being "instituted" in teachers, administrators and students?
Sounds like you're really on to something here. How are they trying to scare teachers? By letting them know they will held accountable for doing their job correctly?
"MEMORANDUM
To: High School Principals"
What? Did they CC Jim on this or did a school employee steal it from a principal's in-box or did the principal pass around a memo from his superior?
Remind me not to send any memos to principals in MC. They apparently can't be trusted to be discreet. Unless, of course, it's details about a project they'd much like to control public opinion about:
"High school resource teachers who supervise health education have been advised to inform their teachers that it is very important not to dispense advice or answer explicit questions regarding curricular content via e-mail on these topics."
Wow! Now, teachers aren't allowed to answer parent e-mails on the subject of the sex ed curriculum. Never mind that this is the main mode of communication between parents and teachers. We can't have teachers' words on record when we are trying to pull the scratchy wool over everyone's eyes!
What a shameful day for MCPS!
Anon said, "What a shameful day for MCPS!"
What a shameful day for you and your fellow freaks, anon. If you would read the memo a bit more carefully, the idea of not answering questions via email was regarding STUDENT questions.
The curriculum is a public document that all parents, teachers, community members and, my gosh, even freaks like you can see.
As a teacher who works in MCPS, I have been dealing with you freaks for months... and now the truth comes to light showing just how freaky you are.
Leave our fair-minded, good-spirited children alone... we prefer to release well-rounded citizens into the global community and you, my non-friend, are just a great example of who and what we, parents and teachers, do not want our children/students to become.
It's a good thing we live in a well-educated county so that people can think for themselves. Education wins.
"The curriculum is a public document that all parents, teachers, community members and, my gosh, even freaks like you can see."
The relevant question is how this curriculum will be taught. What do the teachers understand about it? It's obvious they aren't going to just read it straight out.
"As a teacher who works in MCPS, I have been dealing with you freaks for months... and now the truth comes to light showing just how freaky you are."
Really? That's interesting because TTF says opposition to the curriculum is virtually non-existent. Can you tell us more?
"It's a good thing we live in a well-educated county so that people can think for themselves. Education wins."
Sorry, but the new MCPS curriculum contains misleading ommissions of fact and some outright lies. It is political advocacy.
The relevant question is how this curriculum will be taught.
The curriculum is scripted. What you see is what will be taught. The suers are trying to pretend to be students asking health teachers for "specific information about birth control and sex education" beyond the script in an effort to entrap teachers.
"I have been dealing with you freaks for months"
Really?...tell us more?
-The suers are trying to pretend to be students asking health teachers for "specific information about birth control and sex education" beyond the script in an effort to entrap teachers
-The freaks hired some Michigan lawyers to file appeals of MCBOE's and MSBOE's majority decisions to approve curricular revisions that will help to reduce bullying and harassment in our schools
-The suers filed another lawsuit intended to keep our students ignorant and at risk for STDs and unplanned pregnancy, hoping to take more money out of MCPS's operating budget
-The freaks loved Rockville Pregnancy Crisis Center employees risking the health of our teens by encouraging them to expose themselves to others' germs.
-The suers distributed backpack fliers encouraging MCPS parents to force gay MCPS teens into potentially harmful and unproven "therapy"
MCPS is one of the most highly respected and successful public school systems. Most parents, students, teachers, and staff are disturbed by the suers' acts of sabotage against MCPS.
It is political advocacy.
Not according to sane and rational people like those who serve on the Montgomery County and Maryland State Boards of Education. Majorities of both Boards found the curriculum to be helpful to reduce bullying and harassment, Anon's two favorite sports which are well documented right here on TTF's Vigilance blog.
"The relevant question is how this curriculum will be taught.
The curriculum is scripted. What you see is what will be taught."
Or so MCPS would like everyone to think. Sounds like they've gotten pretty defensive over some parents checking up on it though.
I wonder why.
"The suers are trying to pretend to be students asking health teachers for "specific information about birth control and sex education" beyond the script in an effort to entrap teachers."
Well, if the teachers are complying with what MCPS claims they are doing, they shouldn't have anything to hide, right?
Parents really have a right to know what kind of things wacko teachers are telling kids.
""I have been dealing with you freaks for months"
Really?...tell us more?"
Sounds like you've really been inconvenienced, let's see how:
"-The suers are trying to pretend to be students asking health teachers for "specific information about birth control and sex education" beyond the script in an effort to entrap teachers"
You already said that. Have they sent any e-mails to you? Let us know how YOU have been DEALING WITH THESE FREAKS. If so, that must have been something to deal with. Is there some types of responses you generally give out that you don't want anyone to know about? Why?
"-The freaks hired some Michigan lawyers to file appeals of MCBOE's and MSBOE's majority decisions to approve curricular revisions that will help to reduce bullying and harassment in our schools"
Really? How did YOU have to DEAL with this? Did the Superintendent ask you to do some legal research or something?
Actually, teachers telling kids not to bully and harass usually doesn't have any effect. The kids who do that type of thing are usually the types that don't pay attention in class. The best thing to do would be to encourage kids not to come out as gays while they are in their teens and stuck in public schools where anti-social types are mixed in with normal kids. With the public school system forcing the lowest common denominator juvenile delinquents in with other kids, discretion and wariness are probably the best ways to avoid conflicts.
"-The suers filed another lawsuit intended to keep our students ignorant and at risk for STDs and unplanned pregnancy, hoping to take more money out of MCPS's operating budget"
What a multi-tasker! You are handling two lawsuits and a teaching job. How ever do YOU DEAL with this?
"-The freaks loved Rockville Pregnancy Crisis Center employees risking the health of our teens by encouraging them to expose themselves to others' germs."
How long did YOU have to DEAL with this? It went on for years and no students became ill as a result. I assume if you had any knowldge of this, the inconvenience to you must have been that you kept silent.
"-The suers distributed backpack fliers encouraging MCPS parents to force gay MCPS teens into potentially harmful and unproven "therapy""
Really? How do YOU DEAL with this? Please tell us you didn't break the law by refusing to hand the flyers out!
Think reparative therapy is "potentially harmful and unproven"? The new MCPS sex-ed curriculum is definitely both of those things. And encouraging kids to engage in a gay lifestyle is proven harmful.
"MCPS is one of the most highly respected and successful public school systems."
It's overrated and declining. It certainly has dropped the ball in this area since the new curriculum contains falsehoods and misleading ommissions, endangering kids who take it seriously.
"Most parents, students, teachers, and staff are disturbed by the suers' acts of sabotage against MCPS."
Parents and students could care less. Teachers are, understandably, disturbed that they may be held accountable and have to let parents know what is being said in class. That's sabotage?
"It is political advocacy.
Not according to sane and rational people like those who serve on the Montgomery County and Maryland State Boards of Education. Majorities of both Boards found the curriculum to be helpful to reduce bullying and harassment, Anon's two favorite sports which are well documented right here on TTF's Vigilance blog."
The opposition to TTF is usually outnumbered on this blog. Hard to see how our comments could be considered bullying unless you mean we are taking unfair advantage of our superior intellect.
The curriculum is clearly political advocacy, pushing unproven assertions on students to promote a gay agenda and mislead students about the safety of promiscuity and sexual variations.
I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving :-).
Mr./Ms/Mrs "Anonymous" says: "The curriculum is clearly political advocacy, pushing unproven assertions on students to promote a gay agenda and mislead students about the safety of promiscuity and sexual variations."
What a pile of horse pucky!!
Your obsessions with sex, how other people lead their lives, holier-than-thou platitudes, and outright lies expose you for what you truly are: FOOLS! The tide of informed majority thinking is about to drown you; perhaps you would find life easier living in another jurisdiction where you could share your uneducated thinking with others of your ilk?
Oh, yes...have a Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks that you live in a society that tolerates fools like you.
R.T.
OK, RT.
I'm going with teacherman and declaring a Turkey Truce.
Until next week.
I experience on a fairly frequent basis incidents which illustrate why teachers need the support of administrators in ending anti-lgbt harassment, andunderscoring why the efforts of CRC, PFOX, FLN, Regina, Theresa, et al. make schools (public and private) less safe for people who are different, or not in some sort of power position.
In class, a student made an anti-gay comment, and I took a few moments (perhaps a fraction of a minute; most of our time is spent on Latin) to remind the students that such comments are necessarily injurious to gay students, and to reinforce the fact rule that in class we can't make pejorative statements based on gender, race, religion, ability or sexual orientation (but in my classes students are allowed to make as many baldness jokes as they please). As often happens, someone muttered "he's a fag". This is why teachers don't oppose anti-lgbt harassment or prejudice; it exposes them to grave insults or "outing"; students usually ask the teacher if they are gay themselves, or something less polite. Because of groups such as CRC, FLN, and PFOX, youth still consider gay people fair game for prejudice and insult.
In this insult several students stood up and pointed out the student who made the comment; they were displeased. I came to his defense, and said that he probably didn't mean it, that it was an automatic reaction, and that I'd heard stuff like this all my life, so it didn't particularly bother me. We took a few more minutes to discuss the effects that insulting words have on people, how it makes both the recipient and the perpetrator feel, and what saying things like that does to our reputation. I also talked (as I always do) on how disruptive behavior impedes my ability to teach and theirs to learn. Then we went back to our story on the fall of Troy. I spoke to the young man later; as I said, he didn't really mean to be rude to me, it was just the sort of thing kids say.
Things like this happen all the time in the classroom. School policies that don't allow teachers to discuss these issues, or CRC tactics which terrorize teachers about having their comments broadcast on CRC's or PFOX's website, do real harm. They coursen our classrooms and expose innocent students to the action of bullies (and lead those students to the character-corrupting bullying).
happy turkey
rrjr
Hey, Anon.
While you are enjoying that turkey with your family I want you to think of all those family members that have been disowned by their parents becuase they are GLBT.
But, I am not sure that "empathy" is in your vocabulary.
"While you are enjoying that turkey with your family I want you to think of all those family members that have been disowned by their parents becuase they are GLBT."
Thanks for the reminder, teacher man, of the suffering caused by irresponsible teachers who encourage these underage kids to "come out." As a teacher, you should be advising your students not to burn bridges and make hasty decisions based on a bunch of psychobabble tossed out by reckless liberals. Their relationship with their families is vital at that age.
It is sad when you hear about these kids who need Jesus. You can't reach them all but Christians should never cease to do everything possible to make sure that high school kids all get a chance to hear the gospel. The schools sure try to prevent that.
Gobble, gobble, guys!
Oh, Anon, Anon, Hateful Anon...
I am glad I am there for my students when THEY make the decision to come out and live open, genuine lives (just as I do, and I am damn proud of it!)
I am also glad (and THANKFUL) that we don't let religious lying freaks like you into our public schools to brainwash our fair-minded student populations.
Anonymous said "The best thing to do would be to encourage kids not to come out as gays while they are in their teens and stuck in public schools where anti-social types are mixed in with normal kids.".
No, that's the worst thing to do. It is extremely stressful to be constantly guarding your mannerisms, speech and behavior to hide your orientation. We don't ask straight kids to do this and we shouldn't ask gay kids to do it. Fact is if hallways are supervised between classes the mere presence of an authority figure prevents bullying and that is what needs to be done. The last thing we should do is reward bullies by failing to punish their behavior. They need to be set straight immediately to prevent them from becoming bigoted dangerous adults.
Anonyomous said "encouraging kids to engage in a gay lifestyle is proven harmful.".
That's a lie. A monogamous gay relationship is no more harmful than a monogamous heterosexual relationship.
Anonymous said "It is sad when you hear about these kids who need Jesus. You can't reach them all but Christians should never cease to do everything possible to make sure that high school kids all get a chance to hear the gospel. The schools sure try to prevent that.".
Its destructive to encourage kids to have imaginary friends. Far too many children are tormented by the insane Christian idea that they'll be eternally tortured for crossing ambiguous and contradictory boundaries. Christianity is child abuse. The idea that a loving monogamous gay couple deserves to be eternally tortured is the hallmark of intolerance that is fundamentalist Christianity.
"religious lying freaks"
What lies? We're not the one telling them that homosexuality is innate, that anal sex can be safe, that they will get a special joy if they tell everyone they are gay, that gay partners are just like any other family, et al.
The gospel is that peace with God is worth more than any lustful temptation- and they are not hopeless.
"It is extremely stressful to be constantly guarding your mannerisms, speech and behavior to hide your orientation."
There are no mannerisms, speech or behavior that means one is gay. This is a myth pushed by the gay advocacy cult movement to manipulate kids. Kids can be themselves and not worry about what pigeonhole the gay advocacy cult movement wants them in.
"Fact is if hallways are supervised between classes the mere presence of an authority figure prevents bullying and that is what needs to be done. The last thing we should do is reward bullies by failing to punish their behavior. They need to be set straight immediately to prevent them from becoming bigoted dangerous adults."
Well, bullying weaker kids should be punished but, again, this has nothing to do with sexual preference. Assuming weak kids are gay is actually bigoted and, offensively so.
"Anonyomous said "encouraging kids to engage in a gay lifestyle is proven harmful.".
That's a lie. A monogamous gay relationship is no more harmful than a monogamous heterosexual relationship."
Omigosh, what planet do you live on? Homosexuality is a sado-masochistic relationship where sexual activities involve pain for one partner and the enjoyment of another's pain for the other partner. There is no mutually beneficial relationship. It's obviously a mockery of heterosexuality among those who feel they can't succeed at being heterosexuals. Take the guy who enjoys inflicting pain on another. If he is actually attracted to other males, why does he seek out the most effemninate male he can find and think seek to further feminize this individual. The whole thing is sick and nothing that we should encourage young kids to be involved in. You can't reasonably say this destructive relationship is mentally healthy.
Anon, if those two comments are the same, I can delete one of them if you want.
JimK
andrea- not anon
N. Anon- do us a real favor and go away- forever. You are pathetic and bigoted. Hate is not something we appreciate the way you and CRC does. Thanksgiving is a time for families and I feel very sorry for the families of people like Regina Griggs and all the CRCers who claim to love but actually hate their GBLT family members.
Gay couples can be as stable as straights, evidence suggests
Bush quote makes longevity an issue
Rona Marech, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, February 27, 2004
When President Bush stated Tuesday that "marriage cannot be severed from its cultural, religious and natural roots" without weakening society, some advocates viewed his choice of words as an embrace of an old stereotype: That gay couples would undermine the institution because they value sex over lasting, emotional bonds and they don't understand lifelong commitment.
But how to square that with the widespread image of thousands of gay newlyweds, many of whom have been together for years and even decades?
The equation doesn't add up, advocates for gay rights say, and a growing body of research supports their claims that gay couples can and do stick together -- and legalizing same-sex marriage will only contribute to the creation of more stable relationships.
"There are studies that find that the majority of gay men and lesbians want enduring relationships," said Esther Rothblum, a psychology professor at University of Vermont who is conducting her own study on couples united in civil unions in Vermont in 2000-2001, the first year after the legislation was enacted there. Moreover, while very few longitudinal studies on gay legal unions exist, "my guess is that, again, what you're going to find is that lesbians and gay men who get married are going to stay in relationships longer than the ones who don't," she said.
On average, the 400 couples in Rothblum's civil union study had been together for 11 to 12 years by the time they made it official, she said. Their relationships were comparatively shorter than those of their straight, married siblings, but for good reason, Rothblum said.
"Heterosexuals get more socialization to marry. They are much more likely to have children and it's easier to break up relationships if you don't want children," she said. "Heterosexuals also have legal marriage and up to that point gays and lesbians did not."
But Bill Maier, vice president of the conservative evangelical organization Focus on the Family, said "the research seems to indicate that (long-term relationships) are very rare and that promiscuity is still very common. ... Men tend to be less into commitment."
Not so fast, said Darren Spedale, a law and business student at Stanford University, who studied divorce rates in Denmark in 1996-97, seven years after same-sex registered partnerships were legalized. He found that 17 percent of gay partnerships ended in divorce compared with 46 percent of the straight relationships.
"Same-sex couples who enter into marriage-type relationships have obviously given it much more thought. ... A lot of them, in general, have had longer relationships previous to tying the knot," which decreases the likelihood of divorce, said Spedale, who is completing a book on the subject.
Gay couples don't have to contend with family pressure or unexpected pregnancy, said Ted Guggenheim, 35, who married his partner of 17 years last week. "It's truly about love."
Dale Bullock founded Bonds Limited, an organization devoted to bringing together gay couples seeking lifelong, monogamous relationships. Over the past decade, he's made 228 matches. One hundred sixty of his couples are male; all but seven are still together.
San Francisco is full of gay couples who "believe they're capable of manifesting a happy marriage," he said. "These are the lines of people we see at City Hall."
Caitlin Ryan, a researcher at San Francisco State University, said that most of the lesbian, gay and bisexual youth in a study she's conducting, said they would like to have families, long-term relationships and children...
"Anon, if those two comments are the same, I can delete one of them if you want."
Yeah, sorry, I hit enter twice by mistake. As always, it's your blog so you delete anything you want anyway.
Anon, though I reserve the right, I very rarely delete anything at all; but there were two of the same post, so I deleted one of them.
JimK
"Its destructive to encourage kids to have imaginary friends. Far too many children are tormented by the insane Christian idea that they'll be eternally tortured for crossing ambiguous and contradictory boundaries. Christianity is child abuse."
I'll have to go to Dylan again, Randi:
"don't criticize what you can't understand"
Christianity is about mercy not punishment. The "ambiguous boundaries" involve a relationship with God and man, not a bunch of legalistic rules. If properly understood and accepted, it wouldn't torment anyone. Granted, there are many false teachers, but their existence is taught by scripture, hardly a refutation of it.
As for the imaginary assertion, you have to admit imaginary ideas aren't usually so powerful; clearly something else is at work here.
Now, my apologies everybody, but I'm going to take Andrea's advice for once, and go away.
Have a good holiday!
Anonymous said "There are no mannerisms, speech or behavior that means one is gay.".
Not every gay is effeminate but many are and that is readily apparent to most people. Many gays are easily identifiable and it is an extreme stressor to guard your behavior and mannerisms to pretend to be butch when you are not. I know, I've done it. A recent study showed that the majority of people can identify a gay person just by the way they walk.
Anonymous said " bullying weaker kids should be punished but, again, this has nothing to do with sexual preference. Assuming weak kids are gay is actually bigoted and, offensively so.".
Being gay isn't a preference, its an inborn orientation, just like being straight is. I never said weak kids are gay.
Anonymous said "Homosexuality is a sado-masochistic relationship...You can't reasonably say this destructive relationship is mentally healthy.".
LOL, and what study did you get that from?! Stop pulling BS out of your rear. Starting with Evelyn Hooker in the 1950's studies have consistently shown that gay people are mentally indistinguishable from straight people. Gays are no more likely to be into S&M than straights. Your insane attacks on gays merely expose you for the bigot you are. All the major mental and physical health associations agree that it is in gays best interests to be in a relationship and that those relationships benefit both partners and are healthy and productive.
Anonymous said "don't criticize what you can't understand"
Oh I understand Christianity perfectly well, I was raised as a Christian by Christians, I've read your buy-bull and studied all manner of Christians.
Anonymous said "Christianity is about mercy not punishment.".
LOL, Christianity is about infinite punishment for finite crimes and infinite punishment for non-existant crimes such as mere thoughts. It most certainly isn't about mercy. According to Christianity the vast majority of people that every lived are being eternally tortured merely for behaving exactly as your god knew they would when he created them. Calling that mercy is a joke.
Anonymous said "you have to admit imaginary ideas aren't usually so powerful; clearly something else is at work here.".
You obviously are willfully blind on this topic. By your own admission all religions other than your own are imaginary and all them are just as powerful as your religion. Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists believe just as fervently and powerfully as you do. The ancient egyptions believed just as fervently and powerfully in the sun god as you believe in your imaginary god. In fact according to your logic Islam must be true because its adherents were willing to kill themselves to fly planes into the World Trade centres - obviously their belief is more powerful than yours.
Fact is fervent and powerful beliefs about imaginary things abound and have existed throughout history and its clear that religious beliefs are consistently strong and imaginary - that's the rule, not the exception.
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