I'm an educator in Montgomery County, MD, and this appeal isn't going to happen.

There simply isn't an argument - religious beliefs regarding education are practiced at home. You don't teach a comparative religion course, and omit other religions because you're afraid your child will convert, will you? If you are, then you aren't doing your job as a parent instilling your own PERSONAL family values.

Again, there is no argument. It isn't religious discrimination. Public school is a secular arena, no matter the population of christians, homosexuals, etc. Private schools cater to communities with specific orientation.

I'm not going to simply throw my opinion without offering a compromise, either. I'm an atheist, and I work for a middle school in Montgomery County - this is a concern for me on both fronts. I believe that it is mandatory to teach the health aspects of sexuality - if you don't want your children to know about STD's, then when they get home, feel free to tell them what you want - but certain facts need to be acknowledged for the sake of society. You can't omit information that protects children. You can have it presented to them in a neutral curriculum, and then if you want to teach discrimination at home, that's your choice. I can only hope that you teach tolerance, peace, and understanding, and not to persecute. Didn't we learn anything from the civil rights movement? Should we start having students drink from different drinking fountains?

There are those who teach evolution, but also acknowledge creationism. The decision of belief is as far from the hands of the educator as possible. Kids, especially in secondary education, decided for themselves what they truly believe, as they get older. When they reach college, despite where they go, they are going to learn about sexuality. If they are ill-prepared for what HEALTH (not lifestyle or orientation) dangers exist, then the fault lies within the parent. Since we cannot trust parents to even know, much less decide what to tell their child about STD's, abstaining, or protection, it must be left to the professionals.

Again, this isn't an affront to christianity. If you're that concerned, than you really don't have any faith in your own ability to instill your values in your own children.

Lastly, please know that there are many community members who won't sit and let this appeal happen without letting their voices be heard. It isn't fair to abuse the public school system this way, when the process belongs at home.

Just as if a community of anti-woman, anti-semitic, anti-black, anti-homosexual or even anti-christian parent groups tried to interfere where they truly don't belong (in professional education), they will be met by a righteous society for equality and peace...that tells them that they are not welcome.

Um, I disagree. The students deserve to learn about sexuality, and ways they can avoid STDs and the like. Not all parents can be trusted to do this, and for the kids whose parents do tell them, it won't hurt to have it reiterated in school.

The point is the kids need to learn about this and we can't trust the parents to do it.

HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO!

Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum (CRC) believes parents have the ultimate authority to guide the moral direction of their children without interference by an increasingly activist public school system. We seek to achieve this through public debate, engagement with Montgomery Public Schools, and, when necessary, legal action.
Unfortunately, the Board’s revised sex ed curriculum, which it approved on January 7, 2007, is no better and in many ways more harmful to our children. Our current objective is to educate parents regarding the content of the curriculum and the Constitutional issues involved.
As a concerned citizen, here's what you can do.

1) Go online and sign the petition. Visit www.MCPSCurriculum.com for more information. http://www.petitiononline.com/CRCMCPS/petition.html

2) Send a letter to the Montgomery County BOE. Visit the website's petition area for a template.

3) Tell others.

4) Pray for our children and their educators. We can win this battle, on our knees.

I wholeheartedly agree with 24elders...I feel that we are simply eating the bitter fruit of our own wickedness as a nation. We have shoved our boney, puny fists up into the face of God and said, "Leave us alone and get out of our lives"...and because God generously gives us incredible freedoms, He only comes where He is wanted and invited. Is it any surprise what is going on in our society as a rule?! Kidnappings are a contintual crime, murder is a daily happening like the morning news paper, and shootings in our schools are on the uprise...but God forbid that there should be a copy of the Ten Commandments on the walls of our schools, and other public places! We are getting what we deserve...we are being throddled with our own licentiousness!

Why does this perversion shock the Christian community? Evil exists only when good men choose to do nothing. The homosexual agenda has been around since sodom and gomorrah. God destroyed this evil once. Why haven't we learned from this example? Because good christian people choose to do nothing. We fight an offensive fight people!! If GOD is for us, who can be against us? The battle has been ours since Christ said on the cross: It is finished.. Let's take that authority to the voting booths and inflict damage on the kingdom of our enemy. With God all things are possible..

What wouldn't I give to be a high schooler again?!? "I'm sorry, teacher, but you are wrong. You may force me to sit in this class, but you cannot force me to believe your despicable lies. I offer the other students in this class a truthful alternative to your curriculum of sin and sodomy."

Sure, I can't say this now, because I'm not in high school. But your kids could, if you have taken such an interest in their lives and beliefs that they have gleaned a sense of what is right and important.

Does anyone know how we can get involved with voicing our concerns over such things. I live in Atlanta and I don't know of any such curriculum here but if it can happen in 1 state...it can happen in any of them. These type stories are very distressing to me.

this is kind of like nazis teaching thou shalt not murder

Wow. That's a concern. Personally, I believe that all sex-ed should be at home, taught by parents with love and care. I don't like the idea that my children will be taught "mandatory" sex-ed at school without my input. I didn't learn anything in my "health" class at school that I didn't already know.

Why is it the job of schools and states to teach our kids about sex? Isn't that what MTV is for? Okay, just joking about that last bit. Really, though - why should they teach our children about this very special part of life? We teach our children about sex in our own home. We answer all their questions honestly. I know that not all parents do this, but to make a school course mandatory for the children of the parents who DO is a bit over the top. It's just plain rude.

Also, I agree with robinhooud - we do need to teach our children God's Word.

Teaching Christian children the Word of God will be more helpful than changing laws or schools. Even if a family prefers home-schooling or a Christian school, there is need of teaching the Word of God. Hope they don't fight legal battles while losing their children anyway.