How to Support SB 521: Put Sexual Education Back into Parents’ Hands

UPDATE

After reading an article about new senate bill 521, the Texas Parental Control Accountability Act proposed by State Representative Jeff Leach and supported by Texas Alliance for Life aimed at empowering families when it comes to human sexuality instruction in schools, I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. But I also couldn’t help but sigh in exasperation, too. While I am thrilled that such a bill has been proposed, part of me is disturbed that it has come to this.

What is it?

It is the proposal of essentially returning what belongs exclusively to families to begin with. Empowerment. Schools have veered so very far away from the basics – reading, writing, arithmetic – that they have been swimming in dangerously unchartered waters for a while now, trying desperately to dictate and define morality on behalf of parents and families. What was perceived to be a noble act by many – educating the children whose parents truly did not care to take their parenting responsibility seriously – has escalated into a violation of boundaries of those parents who do care about the welfare of their children. The actions of few irresponsible parents have prompted schools to make sweeping actions against an entire community, many of whom are parents who actually do want to teach their own children about morality, right down to sex education.

This isn’t even an issue of religion, necessarily. I can easily remove the Catholic component and ask, who do you think teaches your children best? Who knows your children best? Who loves your children and hugs and kisses them each day? The answer should be a resounding “I am!”

This bill represents more than just fighting against third parties trying to educate our children on {a complete and utter lack of} sexual morality, under the guise of being responsible, with financial motives. It represents a battle between parents and everyone else. At the end of the day, parents are responsible for the well being and shaping of their children, from shelter, food, love, to holding ourselves accountable to what we expose them to. Surely even abortion providers can agree that parents are the best advocates for what’s best for their children…right?

How you as a parent can get involved

• Write a brief, three-minute testimony to be presented either in person OR via e-mail to be presented on your behalf
• The focus of testimony should be along these lines:
• FOR EXAMPLE:  As a parent, I don’t want Planned Parenthood involved in any way in public schools, whether making sex education presentations, doing teacher training, or students be referred to Planned Parenthood.
• Share any experience you have had personally with Planned Parenthood.
• Share any Planned Parenthood materials you have that shows PP’s philosophy, especially if you know these materials are given to kids or have been used in schools.
• Should you have any questions or hesitations in crafting your testimony, please do NOT hesitate to contact Anne Newman, Director of Education for Women’s Wellness Coalition of Texas at anne@wwctx.com. She will be happy to help review and make suggestions.
• Deadline for testimonies: Monday, March 3 at NOON for the Senate hearing – if for some reason, you miss the deadline, please DO write a testimony anyway and send it along to Anne so that it may be considered for the House hearing.
• Want to read your testimony in person? The Senate hearing will be at 9 a.m. in the Capitol building, room TBD – e-mail Anne for information as it becomes available.

How you, as a concerned citizen, can get involved

• Lastly, show your support of SB 521 by contacting your state senator to express your opinion about SB 521 and how you feel about Planned Parenthood teaching sex education and distributing their materials in public schools.
  
• Sign in at the hearing to register support for the bill.
• If you cannot attend the hearing, you can email the committee members.
  Go to www.capitol.state.tx.us
  Click on Senate. Click on committees. Click on Education. There you’ll find the committee members. Emails are [first name][lastname@senate.state.tx.us]
• Example
  john.smith@senate.state.tx.us

For more information, contact Anne Newman – anne@wwctx.com