The school board responsible for parents’ mistrust

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By TO Acorn Staff | July 08, 2021

The Conejo Valley School Board has shown a surprising lack of self-awareness in responding to parents’ concerns about Teen Talk, the sex education program it approved on June 1.

First, we have not received any explanation as to why it did not select HEART, the only program the California Parent Alliance has approved because it complies with state law while being much more suitable for minors.

Second, the administrators have not responded respectfully to parents’ concerns, instead blaming us for believing the misinformation and lecturing us about our shortcomings by not following their opaque process of getting feedback.

Also, the only way to get an overview of the program is to do it in person at the school board offices. The reason we have been given is the issue of copyright, which feeds suspicion and mistrust.

Maybe CVUSD just doesn’t want parents to know the real content. I could see why. I visited the school offices on June 28 to review the program and it is appalling that adults in positions of authority approve of the distribution of such material to minors.

The program sexualizes children, promotes high-risk behavior, and includes content that minors are ill-equipped to deal with, intellectually or emotionally.

It also violates the rights of parents. Worse yet, objectionable content is included along with topics that most parents would consider appropriate, such as anatomy and adolescent development. This reinforces suspicions that the CVUSD is pushing an ideological agenda that it is trying to cover up.

While the current content is not final, educators will finalize it without parental input and parents will be notified when it is final. In other words, a done deal.

If board members fear that parents may be swayed by propaganda and misinformation, they have only themselves to blame. Dodging and defending create mistrust, and it is time for them to realize this fact.

David ShechterNewbury Park

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