Image via chubbear426.
The post title sounds sensationalistic — which it would be if it were not true. Be prepared for the facepalm of the year, because it’s real. Basically, an evangelical district attorney in Wisconsin sent a letter to schools saying that anyone teaching the new sex ed program as mandated by state law might/would/could get arrested. Yup, he’s openly bullying them because the law does not reflect his ideology. What’s got DA Scott Southworth’s panties in a bunch? Snip:
A district attorney is telling Juneau County schools to abandon their sex education courses, saying a new curriculum law could lead to criminal charges against teachers for contributing to the delinquency of minors.
Starting in the fall, the new law requires schools that have sex education programs to tell students how to use condoms and other contraceptives. Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth said such education encourages sex among children, which is illegal, and could lead to charges against teachers. The new law “promotes the sexualization – and sexual assault – of our children,” Southworth wrote in a March 24 letter to officials in five school districts.
(…) The law requires schools that have sex education courses to teach students medically accurate, age-appropriate information, including how to use birth control and prevent sexually transmitted disease. It also requires the classes to include information about how to recognize signs of abuse and how alcohol can affect decision making.
(…) Southworth’s letter says the law undermines parental authority and requires schools to condone controversial sexual behavior because they have to teach students about gender stereotypes. That likely would require schools to teach students about homosexuality and transgender and transsexual people, he said.
He said the law prevents teachers from telling students “that sexual promiscuity is even wrong” and would conflict with most students’ and teachers’ religious beliefs. [Southworth’s letter said law would convert sex education classes “into a radical program that sexualizes our children as early as kindergarten. This, in turn, will lead to more child sexual assaults.” –AP]
He said the law also opened the door to having sex eduction taught by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, which provides contraception and abortions and lobbied for the changes.
Chris Taylor, public policy director for Planned Parenthood, said his group goes to schools only when invited. (…read more, jsonline.com, thanks BC)
I am thinking it may be time for a separation of sex ed and state. Why do we continue to submit the exercise of our inherent rights to a majority vote?
Living in Wisconsin, and spending time in Tomah(Juneau County) most of the people don’t follow this ridiculous mind set. We will not let this “Tea Bagger” mess with our rights and freedoms. Tomah elected Ed Thompson who ran on Jesse Ventura’s independent ticket is the Mayor and the locals won’t let this radical tell them how to raise their kids.
Let this Jackass know he Fucked up his career!!
This is, perhaps, what makes Southland think he’s got a case:
Wisconsin Statute 948.02(2) states that “whoever has sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a person who has not attained the age of 16 years is guilty of a Class C felony.” (Wisconsin State Legislature, http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ )
And that really does mean WHOEVER.
“In the State of Wisconsin, any time a person under the age of sixteen engages in an act that is more sexually intimate than a kiss, a serious felony is committed. Should both partners be underage, then by the same act each is simultaneously a victim and a perpetrator.” (Daryl J. Olszewski, “Statutory Rape In Wisconsin: History, Rationale, And The Need For Reform,” http://law.marquette.edu/lawreview/Spring%202006/Olszewski.pdf )
Despite the new sex ed law, Wisconsin law regarding the sexuality of teens is still in need of adjustment.
*stares dumbly at the screen*
I have to stop reading tiny nibbles in the morning…or one day I will go postal on the conservatives…and start chucking condoms and sex education pamphlets and erotica into high school windows.
“(…) Southworth’s letter says the law undermines parental authority…”
I find this amusing. Even if the law was changed to not undermine parental authority, teens still become curious. They’re still going to learn eventually, either the easy way or the hard way, with or without their parent’s permission.
Here’s the implied message I picture coming from this DA, Southworth: “Hey you’re breaking the law by following this other law! My God is bigger than urs. Lrn ur 10 cmd-ments bish.” (lulz)
‘Cause, you know, he’s REALLY going to have no problems making criminal charges stick to people who are abiding by the requirements of a state law. For a DA, he seems to be lacking in understanding of hierarchal jurisdiction. (And I’ll bet you dimes to dollars that his supporters complain incessantly about “bureaucrats in Washington wasting our tax dollars”, all while egging this idiot on with pointless court battles.)