When Massachusetts parents learned of Fitchburg School Committee surveying their pre-teens about their oral sex experiences in a quest for government grants, they filed a complaint with U.S. Dept. of Education. Now, the school has agreed that no such surveys will be administered without parental consent.
For background, read Oral Sex Quiz Given to Pre-teens
-- From "School Ceases 'Intrusive' Sex Surveys Without Parental Consent" by Nathan Black, Christian Post Reporter 8/27/11
John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and who represented a concerned mother, called the new policy a victory for parental rights.
The surveys that caused concern for Arlene Tessitore, mother of two middle school daughters, were the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the Youth Program Survey.
While the daughters tried to be excused from taking the surveys, they were told by their instructors that they had to take it.
In response, the school agreed to eliminate the "passive consent" system, in which it is presumed that the parents have given consent if they do not complete a form that students are sent home with. Only when parents give written consent will students receive surveys to complete.
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From "District backs off secret sex surveys for students" by Bob Unruh, World Net Daily 8/27/11
Rutherford [Institute] officials said the Fitchburg School Committee recently adopted a new policy that will allow students to be given intrusive surveys only after their parents have given their written consent. The change brings the school into compliance with the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment by eliminating the school's previous practice of assuming the parents consented if they didn't specifically object.
At issue were several surveys given to students. They included questions such as "I have had oral sex at some point in my life."
The letter to Ellen Campbell of the U.S. Department of Education's Family Policy Compliance Office from Rita Dunaway, representing the Rutherford Institute, said parents "send their children to public schools to receive an education; not to become subjects of governmental data mining."
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