in Featured World News Florida Aims to End Sexualization of Children
by Larry Sand
All the usual suspects are furious.
The stories are jaw dropping, infuriating, and plentiful. The school district in St. Paul, MN is partnering with an organization that offers LGBTQ-affirming curricula for students as young as three years old. In Idaho, an 11-year-old girl was coached by her Coeur d’Alene school into a sex change without notifying her parents. As reported by Abigail Shrier, the California Teachers Association held a conference in October 2021, where it advised teachers “on best practices for subverting parents, conservative communities and school principals on issues of gender identity and sexual orientation. Speakers went so far as to tout their surveillance of students’ Google searches, internet activity, and hallway conversations in order to target sixth graders for personal invitations to LGBTQ clubs, while actively concealing these clubs’ membership rolls from participants’ parents.”
Sadly, the above is just a drop in the perverse bucket. Stories abound nationwide of teachers and school administrators doing things to students that would be unheard of just a few years ago. In response, the state of Florida is fighting back. HB 1557, which awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature, lays out parameters for teachers. It stipulates, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” The bill mandates that schools inform parents “of each healthcare service offered at their student’s school and the option to withhold consent or decline any specific service” and ensures that parents have full access to all their children’s health and education records. In brief, the measure establishes “the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children.” (Worth noting is that a fact sheet produced by the Heritage Foundation explains that the bill “does not prohibit organic conversations between students and teachers, nor does it prohibit age-appropriate discussion of social issues including sexual orientation if it is in accordance with state standards.”