| Going back to 1980 to write The Sex Ed | | | | became the presidential candidate of the |
| Chronicles required me to return to the 60's | | | | American Independent Party, attracting over a |
| and 70's to get the political setting just | | | | million votes. |
| right. Until I started my research, I did not | | | | |
| know that sex education had been considered | | | | Aside from linkages to Communism and liberal |
| part of a 'Communist plot.' | | | | ideology, opposing arguments against sex |
| | | | education were similar to today: classes are |
| In 1960, John Birch Society president Robert | | | | too explicit or specific; they are taught too |
| Welch urged parents to join their local | | | | early; or, abstinence should be stressed over |
| Parent-Teacher Associations and take them | | | | contraception. |
| over. According to a Time magazine reporter | | | | |
| in 1969, Welch had "decided that sex | | | | However, during the 60's, the organized |
| education was a 'Communist plot' akin to | | | | opposition was also linked to causes that had |
| community fluoridation plans." | | | | become, or were about to become unpopular. |
| | | | Parents could be opposed to sex education, |
| As part of my research, I read a National | | | | but also opposed to, as examples, |
| Education Association (NEA) manual, published | | | | anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism or the |
| in 1970, advising state and local teacher's | | | | Vietnam War. As a result, single-issue groups |
| unions on how to confront extremists opposed | | | | strictly opposed to sex education were more |
| to sex education in the public schools. The | | | | effective than broad coalitions. |
| manual referred to a documentary supported by | | | | |
| the Society called 'The Innocents Defiled' | | | | Today's opposition to sex education is more |
| which put sex education instructors in an | | | | sophisticated; conservative Republicans have |
| unflattering light, saying that they were | | | | done a much better job of being more |
| spreading "moral depravity" and that they | | | | inclusive and grass roots; they are |
| were "bent on the corruption of America's | | | | embarrassed when they are seen on the side of |
| youth, with the ultimate aim of overthrowing | | | | any organized group that preaches segregation |
| the United States." | | | | or discrimination, or shown as hypocrites |
| | | | when they take moral actions contrary to |
| The John Birch Society also formed a front | | | | their political views. |
| group called the Movement to Restore Decency | | | | |
| (MOTOREDE) to attract non-members to their | | | | Sex education advocates are also more |
| cause. The NEA manual mentioned an irony: the | | | | sophisticated; they are better focused on the |
| Society emulated the Communist party, their | | | | health and medical reasons for comprehensive |
| sworn enemy, by forming a front to hide their | | | | sex education, and less disposed to label |
| true motives. This movement did succeed in | | | | their opposition as fanatics. There were |
| attracting its own base: according to author | | | | quick dismissals along this tone during the |
| and sociologist Janice Irvine, 80 to 90 | | | | 60's; they kept their opposition alive-and |
| percent of MOTOREDE members were not John | | | | possibly legitimized them with voters. |
| Birchers. MOTOREDE was not the only | | | | |
| organization of its kind; others were | | | | A major problem history showed was that sex |
| parents' organizations with names such as | | | | educators had looked at their cause as a |
| Sanity of Sex (S.O.S.) and Parents against | | | | liberal one; that was a mistake in appealing |
| Universal Sex Education (PAUSE). | | | | to states with sizable conservative voting |
| | | | blocs and activist conservative legislators. |
| While opinion polls of the time showed | | | | Neither conservatives nor liberals want their |
| overwhelming (71 percent) support for sex | | | | opponent's views legislated on them, even |
| education, and sex education was endorsed by | | | | when they are in the minority. |
| not only the NEA, but also the National | | | | |
| Council of Churches, the American Medical | | | | Today, people of all views are more accepting |
| Association and the U.S. Catholic Conference, | | | | towards sex education. We do see legislatures |
| vocal conservative opposition led legislators | | | | with 'abstinence-only' and 'abstinence until |
| to reconsider sex education, or gave their | | | | marriage' positions as well as 'opt-in' |
| political kin ammunition to fight it. | | | | policies-but sex education is not going away. |
| Organizations opposed to sex education in | | | | Advocates need to do a better job of |
| public schools existed in 35 states in 1969. | | | | convincing voters that comprehensive sex |
| | | | education is not a liberal issue, but a |
| One politician, for example, the late | | | | health and medical one, as well as an |
| California State Senator John Schmitz, | | | | opportunity to deter predatory acts and child |
| introduced the Sex Education Act of 1969 in | | | | abuse. |
| the Golden State. While innocently named, | | | | |
| this legislation required an 'opt-in,' | | | | Today, we see a presidency that prefers to |
| meaning that any sex education program | | | | fund 'abstinence until marriage' programs, |
| required 100 percent parental approval before | | | | although some governors courageously refused |
| it could be taught in a public school. | | | | to pursue the money this time around, as the |
| Schmitz' legislation also called for | | | | requirements became too extreme-to educate |
| dismissal and revocation of teaching | | | | 'abstinence until marriage' through the age |
| credentials for any instructor who taught an | | | | of 29. However, the next presidency will |
| unapproved class. Three years later, elected | | | | promise a more moderate position-or leave the |
| as a Congressman from Orange County, Schmitz | | | | funding issues to the states. |