Comprehensive School Base Health Clinics and Parental Rights

By Charles A. Beaty, Sr.

The Federal and State Government are undaunted in their efforts to control our public education system - even to the detriment of parental rights

Abuse of parental rights can take many forms: the simplest comments in a classroom conflicting with family views; curriculum which is intended to promote an alternative lifestyle; material of a sensitive nature presented without positive parental notification and permission; legislation allowing a student to make decisions about and receive medical treatment without parental involvement.

The Governor of the State of California vetoed a bill last week, which would have had a negative impact on parental rights, more so, than any other piece of legislation brought forth to date. Assembly Bill 1363, Comprehensive School Based Health Clinics, would have drastically expanded the formation of medical clinics on our school campuses. Should we allow our public schools to be used to further promote the socialization of medicine?

Legislative watch dogs should not get too excited by the Governor's veto. The Governor undoubtedly felt considerable pressure over his pending signing of AB1363 because of anti-AB1363 protests at the Capitol steps, as well as, other areas of the state. Belief that the Governor is responsive to demonstrations, humming fax machines, or calls to Sacramento would be misplaced at best. Although he vetoed AB1363, the Governor endorsed school based health clinics, saying that they have a legitimate role in providing health care to children.

The intrusive movement by government to centralize and control our public education system goes back nearly 40 years. However, within the last 10 years we have seen a tremendous move to socialize public education and turn our public schools into "Government Schools." Goals 2000 Legislation has largely been responsible for this effort with its stated goal of "One Stop Shopping for Parents and Students." Our district has adopted the same "One Stop" verbiage.

Goals 2000, along with the generally accepted "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child" thinking, brings us to the point where we are now facing the prospect of providing medical services on our campuses. Many think that this would remain the rather benign services now provided, such as, auditory and dental health screening. The content of AB1363 indicates otherwise.

The onerous philosophy which brings forth such legislation provides for reproductive counseling ranging from the dispensing of contraceptives to abortion referrals.

This legislation even permits students to waive parental notification for services. Such abuse and disregard for parental authority materialized at J.T. Lambert School in Pennsylvania in March,1996, as cited in World Magazine, August 1996. Fifty seven 6th grade girls were forced to succumb to genital exams without parental notification or permission. When alarmed parents inquired about the exams, they were told that the doctor was looking for genital warts--genital warts in 6th graders?

Unfortunately, we have entered a period of time when many legislators and bureaucrats feel that they know what is best for a child. Quite to the contrary, the parent knows what is best for the child.

We spend an extraordinary amount of time embracing social programs in our public schools. By their very nature, many of these programs are a threat to parental rights. Parental notification and parental permission should be the norm rather than the exception.

If government programs that threaten parental rights succeed, it is because we as parents fail to keep ourselves informed, and often unwittingly, allow our rights to be undermined. We must recognize our rights and accompanying responsibilities as parents. Because if we do not, our rights will be taken away.