Family panel says it's not taken seriously
Aug. 2, 2002 Eric Kelderman Staff Writer
ROCKVILLE The Montgomery County school board's Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development often labors in relative quiet, giving a required annual review of curriculum materials covering health, sexuality and family lifestyles.
However, the group has taken the lead over the years on a number of contentious issues such as abortion, evolution and promoting a nondiscrimination policy against homosexuals in the classroom. In March, the committee's recommendations to demonstrate condoms in high schools and to allow teachers more freedom discussing sexual "variations" such as homosexuality was tabled by the school board.
Now a second delay in considering those proposals has committee members defensive that the group and its responsibilities are not being taken seriously.
The group could be effective "if the board ever considers our recommendations," said psychologist Kimberly Campbell, who was recently appointed to her second two year term on the committee.
The school board and administration both recommended delaying action on the March recommendations over questions of the group's liberal bent and the administration's failure to respond "substantively" to the proposals. Discussion and action on the committee's recommendations were removed from the July 25 school board meeting and have been postponed until after the November elections.
The most recent delay was intended to give several new committee members a chance to weigh in on the recommendations, said board President Reginald M. Felton (Dist. 3) of Silver Spring. But Felton does not expect any substantive changes in the recommendations by November.
Delaying approval of the panel's annual report was nothing more than political cover for a controversial subject and
thwarts the purpose of the group, said Lawrence Jacobs, the committee's chairman.
The delay in approving the committee's annual report means that materials proposed to be used this fall will be delayed for another year, Jacobs said.
Unlike various ad hoc committees formed by the school board, the committee is one of three mandated by state law. The group's biggest responsibility is to review all materials the school system proposes to use for the family life and human development curriculum, Jacobs said. The committee can reject the materials or ask publishers to modify them. The group tries to make sure that the school system is using the most uptodate information on issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention, he said.
County Councilman Blair G. Ewing (DAt large) of Silver Spring, a former school board member, said the committee could always be relied on for accurate information on the controversial issues.
"They looked at the scientific evidence and the work of experts in the field," Ewing said.
Committee members are also upset over the administration's position that the group's membership does not reflect a variety of views.
About 18 members are appointed to the group by the school board, and there is a committed core of between 10 and 15 who attend monthly meetings during the school year, Jacobs said.
The school board's policy is to appoint a mix of members balanced by geographic area, race, gender and range of viewpoints.
Members include representatives from the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, The People's Community BaptistChurch in Silver Spring, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and a Unitarian Universalist Church. There are also members who do not represent any groups.
But a new member representing Parents and Friends of ExGays, which believes that homosexuality can be cured, has raised concern among some committee members.
"We know that GOD does not approve of this behavior in any way," states a sample letter the organization urges people to send to their pastors. "With the rapid spread of this lifestyle throughout the schools, we as leaders and parents must take a stand."
The PFOX member, Jacqueline Rice, said she wanted to join the committee because another point of view was needed.
"There is a lot that could be taught in schools that could do more harm than good," Rice said. "There's not enough information out there and [liberals] only know what's happening from one side.
"We don't hate [homosexuals]," she said of PFOX. "We just want them to know there are people out there who care."
School board members defended Rice's appointment as providing balance to the committee, although several admitted being unaware of the group's views.
Jacobs called Rice's appointment as a "slap in the face." "It is a point of view," said board member Walter N. Lange (Dist. 2) of Potomac.
"We need a good mix, and that may include views from opposite ends of the spectrum," said Sharon W. Cox (At large) of Germantown.
Another new committee member, David Fishback, father of two adult gay children, agreed. "When people of good will sit down together with an open mind," he said, "a lot more can be accomplished than some people might think."
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