Judge: Public Schools "Entitled To Teach Anything"

A federal judge recently ruled against parents in the Lexington case in which a school refused to obtain parental consent before teaching children -- as young as kindergarten age -- about homosexuality.

The judge appeared to rely in part on the infamous 9th Circuit decision that parents do not have a fundamental right to guide their children's education.

The judge wrote "The constitutional right of parents to raise their children does not include the right to restrict what a public school may teach their children." He also wrote "...public schools are entitled to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy... Diversity is a hallmark of our nation. It is increasingly evident that our diversity includes differences in sexual orientation."

Of course, diversity doesn't include having Christian beliefs that homosexual relationships are wrong, or beliefs that very young children should be sheltered from issues related to sexuality. "Diversity" only goes so far.

Isn't it interesting, too, that public schools are "entitled" to certain rights, but citizens are not?

The case will be appealed.

Jeff Jacoby notes that the ruling essentially means "parents have no authority to veto elements of a public-school curriculum they dislike. They have no right to be notified before those elements are presented in class. And the Constitution does not entitle them to opt their children out of such classes when the subject comes up."

American parents need to remember Germany. We seem to be on the downhill slope toward the state having total control over our children...the current Gardasil issue is yet another example.

In his column, Jeff Jacoby calls for the separation of school and state.

If only it could be so.