Sex Education

Comments

Situation
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that parents have the right to “direct the moral upbringing of their children.”  That right extends to the rights of parents to have their children “opt-out” of explicit sex education programs that contradict and undermine the family’s sincere religious and moral beliefs.

Context
ADF has been involved in defending the right of parents to “opt-out” their children from explicit sex education programs.  In many cases, ADF has been successful in assisting parents to exercise their right to direct the moral upbringing of their children.

Opposition
ACLU – “By excluding information about safe sex practices and teaching about sex only in the context of marriage, abstinence-only programs stigmatize gay and lesbian teens and undermine efforts to educate them about HIV and STD prevention.” (http://www.aclu.org/ReproductiveRights/ReproductiveRights.cfm?ID=10781&c=147)

 “Freedom of religion does not extend so far that parents may withdraw children from classes which they feel conflict with their religious principles, even when they cannot practically avail themselves of the right to send their children to private schools." (ACLU Policy Guide, 1992)

Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) - “Because child development involves sexuality, all pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade teachers should receive at least one course in human sexuality.” (http://www.siecus.org/about/abou0001.html)

Liberal Sex Education Groups – “While [liberal sex-education groups] make a public show of their desire to see parental involvement in children’s sex education, behind the scenes they aggressively oppose laws on parental rights, notification and approval. For example, in 1998, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains joined with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in a law suit aimed at preventing the enforcement of Colorado’s Parental Notification Act (Amendment 12).”
(http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/abstinence/facts/a0028451.cfm)

Allies
Focus on the Family – “Numerous studies have shown that parental involvement in the lives of their children helps those children to avoid many risky behaviors, including premarital sex.” (http://www.family.org/cforum/fosi/abstinence/facts/a0028451.cfm)

Family Research Council – “Parents play a major role in whether or not their teen will have sex. Parents affect teens' sexual decision-making by their marital status, attitudes, supervision and involvement in their children's lives.” (http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=IS03B1) 

See more ADF Allies.