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Stop S288 and H597 — A Bill Mandating Radical Sexual Education in Every Public School District in MA

Planned Parenthood, the state’s largest abortion provider, and a coalition it has created, which involves numerous other groups that believe that teens should have the choice to engage in “consensual” premarital sex, use contraception, and get abortions, are clamoring to pass a dangerous bill on Beacon Hill. The “Health Education” Bill (Senate 288/House 597) is touted as a “health and safety” measure, giving kids the opportunity to learn about good nutrition, exercise and avoiding substance abuse, but hidden in the mandate is a command to teach about sexuality and “reproductive health” issues. The local school districts would have to follow a state curriculum guideline called the Massachusetts Health Curriculum Frameworks. While many parts of the guideline are commendable, many others raise serious moral concerns.

For example, if the “Health Education” Bill (Senate 288/House 597) is enacted, then all schools would have to cover such topics as choosing “consensual” premarital sex and how teens can get abortions without parental knowledge. No school system would be able to opt out. Kids from kindergarten to senior high would be exposed to sexuality teaching that opposes the values and principles of many concerned parents, especially those following the Catholic faith. More information about this whole issue will be provided through Catholic channels in the near future. This legislation has to be stopped, however, and it’s time to begin the push to defeat it.

The bill is currently in committee and must be brought up soon for a committee vote. Once it is acted upon in committee, then it would be ready to go to the Senate and House for floor debate. Members of the “Care for Youth” Coalition created by Planned Parenthood have begun to alert their followers to start reaching legislators. Legislators must hear from both sides!

What you can do to stop this legislation:

Contact your state representative as soon as you can and tell him/her you oppose H597. Contact your state senator as soon as you can and tell him/her you oppose S288. If your legislators serve on the Joint Committee on Education (see below) it’s especially critical that you call or email them right away.

What you can say:

Let them know you oppose attempts to take local control away from school administrators and teachers as this bill would do Tell your legislators that health education is best handled and guided not by “once-size-fits-all state mandates” but by teachers and school administrators who know their students and can tailor curriculum to meet their individual needs.

To find your legislators, click here…

http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

If your state rep. or senator is on the Joint Committee on Education, you can email them directly or call their office.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION Room 473G State House Boston, MA 02133 Telephone: (617) 722-2070

SENATORS

Antonioni of Worcester and Middlesex - Chair
Augustus of Second Worcester - Vice-Chair
Resor of Middlesex and Worcester
Spilka of Second Middlesex and Norfolk
Wilkerson of Second Suffolk
Haddad of Somerset
Brown (R) of Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

REPRESENTATIVES

Haddad of Somerset - Chair
Creedon of Brockton - Vice-Chair
Peterson of Marblehead LeDuc of Marlborough
Wolf of Cambridge
Peisch of Wellesely*
Walz of Boston
Rice of Gardner*
Sandlin of Agawam *
Perry (R) of Sandwich
Ross (R) of Wrentham

* New to Committee

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