Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 06:09:00 -0700 (PDT) From: jessea@uclink4.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: "Parental Rights" Movement || please THANK Glendale CA Board this from Christian Coalition Watch: "In February, a group called Of The People, led by Betsy DeVos, wife of Amway founder and well-known Christian right funder Richard DeVos, announced its goal to introduce so-called parents' rights amendments in 50 states. Such amendments could be used to limit school curricula and, in some cases, limit the ability of public schools to identify kids being abused at home, or to offer them counseling."] ----below from Data Center's Culturewatch courtesy of Maggie Heineman---- In the lead article of the premier issue of a new publication from the Pennsylvania Family Institute, Rohrer boasts that HB 2105, the 'Pennsylvania Educational Restoration Act,' is the first of its kind and focuses strictly on the issue of control." Anyone out there aware of "Parental Rights" legislation in your state? This article provides background. ----------------------------------------------------------------- DATACENTER'S CULTUREWATCH, MARCH 1996, ISSUE #30 ------------------------------------------------------------------ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE "PARENTAL RIGHTS" MOVEMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------ Whether the Buchananball Express will continue to barrel its way across the political landscape, advancing "praise the lord and close the borders" bombast, has been the focus of the mainstream media which continues to highlight the conflict for the "heart and soul" of the Republican Party (see Politics and Culture section #1025). Primary campaign folderol notwithstanding, a significant--albeit less publicized--crusade is being carried out by the religious right. "Parental Rights" has become the latest battlecry in the religious right's arsenal of "family values" rhetoric. Advocates claim that the "parental rights" movement is the hottest grass-roots political issue since term limits. And as is often the case, a simple sounding slogan belies the complexity of the issue and its consequences. Gary Bauer, president of the Family Research Council, frames the "parental rights" debate by accusing the Federal government of having "radical plans that can only separate children from their parents." These plans include: 1) "'Children's Rights' to choose their own medical treatment, education, and entertainment, even without parental consent"; 2) "Abortion-on-demand for minors through taxpayer-funded health care"; and 3) "explicit sex education materials for all elementary school children." For Bauer much of the blame can be laid at the feet of liberals like Hillary Rodham Clinton. In his monthly newsletter Bauer writes that Clinton's take on "family values," as outlined in her bestselling book "It Takes a Village and Other Lessons That Children Teach," is "the mush that's left over after the time-honored traditions of men and women of faith have been driven from the public square" Family Research Council letter). Bauer's FRC also took out full-page advertisements in several conservative publications including The American Spectatorand the Washington Times to publicize his new book on "family values", "Our Hopes, Our Dreams: A Vision for America" while assailing Hillary's (see Politics and Culture section). Fighting federal government "intrusion" has been the primary focus of the Arlington, Va.-based Of the People (CW, 9/94, #592). Founded by longtime conservative activist Jeffrey Bell, Of the People has spearheaded the "parental rights movement" and recently brought Betsy DeVos aboard as co-chairman--DeVos is the wife of Amway Corp. President Dick DeVos who has a long history of funding right-wing causes. According to Cheryl Wetzstein Washington Times), Of the People's goal is to get 50 states to adopt a constitutional amendment declaring "the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children shall not be infringed" (see Politics and Culture section). On the national level, Rep. Steve Largent, R-Okla., recently named vice chairman of Of the People, and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, are sponsoring legislation, the Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act (HR1496) which "affirms the legal rights of parents in rearing their children, especially in the areas of education, medical treatment, discipline, and religious training" Christian American, March/April 1996). Over the past decade the right's agenda has required intensive grass-roots organizing campaigns as their issues have been raised and fought out in local school boards, communities and state legislatures. Advocates hope that amendments to state constitutions will provide the legal cover for a wholesale assault on everything from school textbooks to corporal punishment. Conservative author David Brooks writes that the Parental Rights Amendment is a coalition-building device with language "devised to take power away from such social engineers as school administrators and give it back to parents....[which] would strengthen the hand of religious groups who sue school districts to prevent, say, the distribution of condoms" (see Politics and Culture section, #1025). Barry Lynn, executive director for Americans United for Church and State, commented on one of the serious consequences of "parental rights: "What this is about is an effort to disrupt education by giving parents a kind of constitutional trump card every time they don't like what's going on in public schools." San Francisco Examiner, February 12, 1996). Bill Berkowitz, Editor CultureWatch =========== posted with permission =========== Nicole Hayward writes "feel free to post wherever you like." >From: culturewatch@igc.apc.org (Nicole Hayward) >Subject: CultureWatch Parental Rights Article =============================================== ============================================== please THANK Glendale CA Board for its decision as described below (board contact info follows news story). PASADENA STAR NEWS 525 E. Colorado Blvd.,Pasadena,CA,91109 FAX 818-578-6460 Thursday, May 9, 1996 GAY STUDENTS CONVINCE BOARD TO DROP PLAN Glendale- Gay and lesbian students and their supporters convinced the Glendale Board of Education to drop a controversial plan to require parental permission for high scool students to join on-campus clubs. Instead, the school board on Tuesday adopted a compromise plan in which parents will be sent a list of clubs students can join so they can discuss the alternatives, but no permission will be required. Board member Lina Harper said she beleives the vast majority of Glendale residents think clubs for gay and lesbian students are inappropriate. But, under law, the board cannot restrict membership in such clubs. Glendale Unified School Board President Jeanne Bentley FAX 818 548 9041. The snail (or fedex!) address is School Board President Jeanne Bentley Glendale Unified School District 223 N. Jackson Glendale CA 91206 and the telephone is 818 241 3111. You can also futher influence public opinion on this by writing to: Glendale News Press,Box 991,Glendale,CA,91206 -(Fax 818-241-1975, print run 7,500) Los Angeles Daily News,21221 Oxnard Street,Los Angeles,CA,91367 -(Fax 818-713-0057, print run 202,604) Los Angeles Times,Times Mirror Square,Los Angeles,CA,90053 -(Fax 213-237-7679, print run 1,344,200) (E-MAIL: letters@news.latimes.com) The Pasadena Star News, as shown above ============================================== ============================================== below is a personal account from an out gay male Glendale math teacher, who is advisor to the LGBT club: * From olafman@earthlink.net (Carl Halverson) - Victory in Glendale - At a standing room only meeting full of empassioned testimony, the Glendale School Board agreed not to vote on the permission slip policy and instead approved a "notification" policy. Last Friday, Option B was released to the public which requires schools to produce a description of all clubs and have the parents sign the list saying they have been notified what clubs there are. This option is exactly what we have wanted from the beginning. It informs parents what there is but does not require the school to play policeman for the parent. If a parent does not want their son/daughter to attend a club, it is up to the parent to talk to their child and share their beliefs. The school will not prevent anyone from attending a club. The best news is that only about 10 people in favor of the policy showed up. The remaining 260 people were against the permission slip policy. I spoke fourth after Kim Adams of People for the American Way, Jenny Pizer of Lambda Legal Defense, and some Christian Right Wing representative. The best testimony came from my students. Everyone was deeply touched hearing the story of Alex whose parents have kicked her out of the house since she spoke at the Board meeting in April. On the lighter side, just after I finished speaking, a parent of one of my students came up to me, put her hand on my chest and said "Just don't talk talk about this in my son's math class." Aren't we scared? Thanks to everyone for all your support with this issue. It is a modern example of how to make positive change in our communities. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ OK TO RE-POST. Jessea Greenman The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project (Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally) CHECK THIS OUT FOR TONS OF INFO - - http://www.youth.org/loco/PERSONProject/ Please cc us (for our files) on correspondence you send or receive re our action alerts.