Ashjian should keep personal beliefs private

FUSD's board president Brooke Ashjian's benighted understanding of sexuality (he apparently believes sexual orientation is communicable, like a disease) and religion (biased against LGBTs) has renewed discussion of sex education content in our schools.

Should it be taught in its entirety, from “A” (autoeroticism) to “Z” (zoophilia)? Restricted to anatomical changes in puberty, the mechanics of sexual acts, and the consequences of unprotected sex (pregnancy and disease)? Taught in the schools at all?

Telling adolescents not to have sex doesn’t work; with all the hormonal urges of puberty in tweens and teens, and no legal prohibition (except where it involves a much younger child or a legal adult), most kids will, at some point before adulthood, experiment sexually.

Parents should teach their children about sex and whatever restrictions they believe in. Unfortunately, due to ignorance, embarrassment or indifference, too many don't. Otherwise, there’d be no compelling reason for society to step in and require it to be taught in schools. Parents only have themselves to blame if it’s taught to their child in a manner they don’t approve of.

And school board members need to keep their personal beliefs private and outside the public forum once elected to meet the educational needs of every child.

This story was originally published October 16, 2017 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Ashjian should keep personal beliefs private."