Urban fears school ban of abstinence programs
Richard Urban/Guest Columnist
Issue date: 12/2/07 Section: Politics
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5. Should the LSRT influence curricular and extra-curricular choices for a particular subject area at Stuart-Hobson Middle School, especially when most of its members do not represent Stuart-Hobson, and the composition of the LSRT is also not racially representative of the school? Is this an abuse of the purpose of the LSRT? Was any input gathered from the larger Stuart Hobson parent community on this issue?
As a case in point, on November 21, which was supposed to be the last day of the ULTRA Teen Choice (UTC) Program at Stuart-Hobson due to the above mentioned cancellation, the UTC Club meeting for 7th grade youth was suddenly cancelled.
Why? Apparently, one of the 8th grade UTC Club members who had heard in the 8th grade Club meeting that the program was cancelled must have asked one of the other students whose parent is opposing the program why her parent is doing that. This student must have then called their parent.
Within minutes, the principal had received a text message from this parent, and I was informed by telephone to not enter the building except for a scheduled meeting with the principal the following week. Should one parent have this kind of influence over activities that benefit many other youth?
It is ironic that those who promote more "choices" for youth are actually denying the choice of youth who want to remain sexually abstinent.
You can submit comments on these standards to Beverley Wheeler at Beverley.wheeler@dc.gov. A hearing will be held on November 28th at 441 4th St. NW in the Old Council Chambers beginning at 5:30 p.m. You can sign up to testify by calling Beverley Wheeler at 202-741-0884.
Richard Urban is the director of ULTRA Teen Choice. He can be reached at rurban@ultrateenchoice.org, and the website is www.ultrateenchoice.org.
As a case in point, on November 21, which was supposed to be the last day of the ULTRA Teen Choice (UTC) Program at Stuart-Hobson due to the above mentioned cancellation, the UTC Club meeting for 7th grade youth was suddenly cancelled.
Why? Apparently, one of the 8th grade UTC Club members who had heard in the 8th grade Club meeting that the program was cancelled must have asked one of the other students whose parent is opposing the program why her parent is doing that. This student must have then called their parent.
Within minutes, the principal had received a text message from this parent, and I was informed by telephone to not enter the building except for a scheduled meeting with the principal the following week. Should one parent have this kind of influence over activities that benefit many other youth?
It is ironic that those who promote more "choices" for youth are actually denying the choice of youth who want to remain sexually abstinent.
You can submit comments on these standards to Beverley Wheeler at Beverley.wheeler@dc.gov. A hearing will be held on November 28th at 441 4th St. NW in the Old Council Chambers beginning at 5:30 p.m. You can sign up to testify by calling Beverley Wheeler at 202-741-0884.
Richard Urban is the director of ULTRA Teen Choice. He can be reached at rurban@ultrateenchoice.org, and the website is www.ultrateenchoice.org.
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