Editor:

At its October 21, 2008 meeting the Board of Trustees of the Paradise Unified School District approved a resolution warning parents about the potential impact on our local schools' curriculum if Proposition 8 is defeated. (Members present were: Tim Titus, Mike Greer, Gary Manwill, and Donna Nichols.)

The Board of Directors of the Paradise Center for Tolerance and Nonviolence (PCTN) disagrees with the Board of Trustees. But our public support of a NO vote on Prop 8 is not the reason for disagreeing with them.

First, we believe that as an elected body, it is the Board's responsibility to represent the entire district, not solely people promoting their religious beliefs. Second, we opposed the resolution because it supports a proposition that is religion-based, not education-based, and is related to a political issue outside of the purview of the Board.

The Trustees' argument is that this issue directly affects the education of our children because Prop 8 puts our children at risk of being taught about homosexuality. As such, they concluded that the resolution and their decision to support it are appropriate. Their argument is specious at best.

The final section of the approved resolution urges every voter in the Paradise Unified School District to become highly educated on the impact that the failure of Proposition 8 will have on the curriculum and instruction affecting the PUSD children, so that they can cast an educated vote on this important issue.

PCTN challenges the School Board members who approved this resolution to follow their own advice. Unfortunately, it appears that they did not do thorough research before taking their misguided action. Only Donna Nichols mentioned any research into the Educational Code, although the section she cited was taken out of context. In addition, none of the school board members apparently took the trouble to find out what their local schools teach regarding marriage and family and whether they include this at all in their curriculums.

So PCTN did the research for them. The California Educational Code, in Sections 51890 - 51915 addresses Comprehensive Health Education Programs. Section 51890 (1)(d) describes the subject of "family health…including the legal and financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood." This section was cited by Donna Nichols and is included in the resolution. What was not stated at the School Board meeting is that local school districts create their own comprehensive health education programs. And "no plan shall be approved by the State Board of Education unless it determines that the plan was developed with the active cooperation of parents, community, and teachers, in all stages of planning, approval, and implementation of the plan." (Section 51914)

Education Code Section 51933 addresses Comprehensive Sexual Health Education. Section 51933(b)(7) cites the teaching of "respect for marriage and committed relationships." This is only one element of the suggested sexual health education program. However, local school districts are not required to provide comprehensive sexual health education.

In summary, the subjects of family, parenthood, and marriage are elements of either a program that is created by local districts with parent, community and teacher input, or a program that is not required to be taught at all.

Allowing same sex marriages is about equal rights and non-discriminating on the basis of gender or sexual orientation. California law already requires schools to provide a safe learning environment for all students and to prohibit discrimination. The School Board's action condones discrimination.

How will this message of our School Board reverberate in our schools? No matter how much the voting members protest that this is not about intolerance for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) individuals, many students will very likely construe it as an affirmation of the opinion that gays and lesbians have an inferior status in our community.

Under the guise of promoting respect for marriage, the School Board is sending a message of disrespect for the right of equal treatment under the law as well as for the law itself.

Susan Bordelon, Center Director
Gwen Nordgren, Board President
Paradise Center for Tolerance and Nonviolence.