Why Am I Surprised?

I have always felt that it is our duty as parents to teach our children the more sensitive subjects in life, such as sex education, religion, relationships, etc. That we should not allow outside influences to dictate when these topics would be taught or to take the initiative in teaching them. Now I realize that there are plenty of parents who do not feel this way, and there are even some that are relieved not to have to deal with the topics, but that still does not give the 9th Circuit Court of California the right to okay the teaching of sex education to elementary school age children! What brought this commentary about was this article from the AP.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Do parents have the right to tell their kids about the birds and the bees?

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that students could learn about sex from their teachers and that a California elementary school did not break any laws when it asked students about their sexual thoughts.

The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling against the parents. Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt said "no such specific right can be found in the deep roots of the nation's history and tradition or implied in the concept of ordered liberty."

Now, does anyone else see something really wrong with their thinking? "No such right can be found in the deep roots of the nation's history and tradition or implied in the concept of ordered liberty." Excuse me? What about a parent's right and duty to protect their child? How about the fact that a minor cannot marry without a parent's written permission, cannot enter the armed forces without written permission, among many other things. This idiotic court thinks that it is okay for an elementary school to give or ask for sexual information from a child when they are not mentally or emotionally equipped to handle it! Am I over-reacting here or should the 9th "Circus" Court gain some decency?

I had/have similar, though less intense, feelings regarding the "Girls, Inc." link to American Girl. My daughters had American Girl dolls, but if they had that bracelet then, I would never have bought them. Girls, Inc. has no more right to teach my daughters about "their sexual rights" than the schools do!

UPDATE: Bookworm has done an amazing job of getting all the details of this hideous ruling by the 9th Circuit Court. Her post is a must read!