Date: Sat, 13 Jan 1996 07:53:01 -0800 From: jessea@uclink2.berkeley.edu (Jessea NR Greenman) Subject: more on AIDS education in TEXAS schools [The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project background/refresher: Dec. 9, 1995 we reported that Texas education commissioner Mike Moses rejected $1.85 million in CDC grants earmarked for AIDS prevention seminars and the state's health curriculum because he doesn't want mandates on how local schools teach sex education and this money came with too many strings attached. UPDATE Jan. 2, '96: Moses is now saying that he "might" take the money IF Texas can still teach "abstinence-only" sex education. "Abstinence-only" sex education is a morally and pragmatically bankrupt program promoted by fundamentalists. "Abstinence-only" programs take a head-in-the-sand approach to modern youth sexuality.] Jan. 4th: The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project got the following key information from a local activist and insider in Texas...] "Mike Moses is not going to reconsider anything. He is just saying that to get all of us off his back. He is full of you-know-what. "The State Board of Education will be meeting for the first time since this story broke next week. [Jan. 11 & 12, 1996] The Board convenes for committee meetings on the second Thursday of every month (except December and August) and meets in full session on Friday afternoon. All business transacted in committees is taken up and reviewed at that time. "They are likely at that time to discuss this in their open meeting. The Board is dominated by conservatives, almost dominated by right-wing radicals, but there are some members who are very vocal who are on our side. "THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BATTLES OF THE YEAR FOR US, anywhere in the country. Please pass this information on to folks on your list. Yours in the struggle," ---- and, on January 11, from another Texas activist: Here is a late but important update on the State Board of Education issue on Moses's return of CDC funds for AIDS education. The SBE is meeting today and tomorrow for their monthly meeting. They apparently did not meet last month. This issue is not officially on the agenda of the full board or of any committees. However, several people have signed up to speak at the portion for public testimony including several good folks in our corner. Public testimony occurs at 1:00 Friday. Regular sign ups for testimony are taken the Fri and Mon before meetings. So at this point if you want to testify you have two options: 1. Call (512) 463-9007 and ask about the possibility of late sign up (doubtful) OR 2. Submit written testimony as follows: Deliver 25 copies to the Travis State Building, Rm 2-185, 1701 N. Congress no later than 9 am Friday morning. All meetings scheduled for today and tomorrow are open to the public. You can get a copy of the agenda and schedule by going to Rm 1-104 of the same building (1st floor). You can also contact the SBE office at 512-463-9007 and ask who is signed up to speak. That is public information. It's curious why the SBE is not putting this issue on the agenda. I've been told by the SBE office that negotiations have been started to reconsider the funding, but are currently held up by the govt furlough and subsequent shutdown of the CDC. --- finally, the upshot of it all, Friday Jan. 12, 1996: "the hot news is that Moses now accepts the CDC funds in full. Of course he made a face saving gesture to say that his only intention was to preserve Texas schools' control over the funds. The way I understand it though is that the CDC never had any intentions to limit the funds' use as Moses claimed (i.e. preventing abstinence only programs). I think that for now the battle is over but the war now is to see that only effective and comprehensive programs get funded." ------ The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project urges you to write and call Texas education officials to demand that only proper (i.e. following CDC guidelines), effective and comprehensive programs (i.e. NOT abstinence-only; programs may include info on abstinence but need to go much beyond that to be accurate, comprehensive, and effective). Remind them that HIV disease is on the increase in young people: Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Moses 1701 N. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78701-1494 office phone 512-463-8985 (answered by his secretary) fax number for the Commissioner's office is 512-463-9008 Shirley A Crooks, Exec. Assistant to the State Bd. of Ed. 1701 N. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78701-1494 ASK that your letter be distributed to ALL members of the State Board of Education Dr. Ann Smisko, Coordinator for Curriculum and Textbooks 1701 N. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78701-1494 Robert H. Leos, Curriculum Development and Textbooks (512-463-9603 or -9734) TEA, 1701 N. Congress Ave., Austin TX 78701-1494 cc your letters to: Austin American-Statesman,Box 670,Austin,TX,78767 -(Fax 512-445-3679, email = , print run 177,040) ~-(does not run letters from folks outside Texas) Dallas Morning News,Box 655237,Dallas,TX,75265 (print run 393,511) PHONE= +1 214 977 8222 Editorial page (977-8205) Rena Pederson, VP, Editorial Page Editor (977-8259) Carolyn Barta, Viewpoints (977-8494) Jim Frisinger, Letters to the Editor (977-8263) Henry Tatum, Associate Editorial Page Editor (977-8258) Houston Chronicle,801 Texas Avenue,Houston,TX,77002 (print run 449,755) Houston Post,4747 Southwest Freeway,Houston,TX,77027 (print run 318,218) *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ YOU MAY RE-POST. Jessea Greenman The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project*; ph/fax: 510-601-8883, 586 62nd St. Oakland, CA 94609-1245 Gopher to "gopher.outright.com" Web sites: http://206.148.240.69/loco/PERSONProject/ http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/person.html/ http://www.pride.net/pridenet/person The P.E.R.S.O.N. Project is *always* looking for volunteer organizers. Please cc us (for our files) on correspondence you send or receive re our action alerts. *Public Education Regarding Sexual Orientation Nationally.