HB363-banning sex education in Utah

Sex education

Sex education

If Gov Gary Herbert signs HB 363 into law Utah schools will not be able to teach or discuss the following issues. Human sexuality instruction or instructional programs may not include instruction in, or the advocacy of: the intricacies of intercourse, sexual stimulation, or erotic behavior; homosexuality; the use of contraceptive methods or devices; or sexual activity outside of marriage.

Although my experience is with the Los Angeles Unified School District, districts all over the country are laying off teachers, nurses, and other school site staff not because there are real budget cuts but because superintendents play footsie with for-profit schools in order to make money off of public education for themselves, which violates the very idea of public education. For-profit schools don't abide by the collective bargaining contracts that public school teachers and other school site staff enjoy, including medical benefits. Teachers, nurses, janitors provide the environment that educate American youth. No of us living would be able to live life without the education provided by teachers and the environments maintained by other school site staff. In California, AB 114 was passed to provide additional funding for all California public schools at the 2009-2010 Schoo Year levels, bringing additional funds to reinstate all staff that had been laid off last year but many districts, especially LAUSD, are withholding that money for rehiring laid off staff. This is unconscionable while many new for-profit charter schools are being created by public school districts paying teachers and other staff the minimum salaries possible.

Let us get over 20 million registered voter signatures to each and every U.S. House and U.S. Senate elected member and to their opposition candidate in the general election asking them to pledge to please turn back the repressive laws that no longer afford the handling of student loans like all other unsecured debt.

Englewood Public School District's Children are not being given the best after-school care. Instead of parents having their children in an Arts Enrichment Program to increase their appreciation, knowledge, culture and learning capacity. Parents are forced to accept a program that simply baby sits kids until they are picked up instead of teaching them music, dance and other artistic mediums to enhance both the left and right sides of the brain which increases their ability to learn.

Using public funds to incentivize parents to withdraw their children from public schools and place them in private, religious and home schools is not only unconstitutional but would reduce the much needed funding already lacking in our current system.

Using public funds to incentivize parents to withdraw their children from public schools and place them in private, religious and home schools is not only unconstitutional but would reduce the much needed funding already lacking in our current system.

Pink slime -- the ammonia-treated meat -- was recently rejected by fast food restaurants, e.g., McDonald's, Taco Bell & Burger King, but that is not stopping the USDA's plan on purchasing 7 million pounds for the nation's school lunch program! How can this possibly comply with your.own Let's Move! iniative?

The Tennessee State General Assembly is considering House Bill 0229 called the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The bill would make it harder for LGBT teens to approach their teachers, and it would make it harder for teachers to help their students out when it comes to the issue of bullying. Gov. Haslem is against the bill, and so is the Speaker of the House. Thus, the members of the House Education Committee has a chance to stop this bill, and thus kill this bill in committee.

Did you know that when teachers retire they are penalized for having worked elsewhere? Did you know that their social security check is docked because of their contributions to the teacher pension system? They call this double-dipping. I call it punishment. How can we expect to attract scientists, computer engineers, mathematicians when teachers -- in addition to earning a pitiful salary -- will lose part of the social security benefits they had previously earned?