More Bad Ideas from America's Worst Legislature

We are indeed blessed, in a certain sense of the word, to live in Indiana. There is no shortage of stupidity going on in our state legislature to mock!

Here is the latest:

Conservative groups urged Indiana lawmakers Thursday to pass a bill that would require parents to “opt in” in order for their children to take sex education classes in public schools.

The proposal, which was debated during a House committee hearing, would require parents to be notified — and give them the opportunity to review — any curriculum dealing with sexual activity, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill would also prohibit public schools from providing that education without a parent’s written permission.

House Speaker Brian Bosma said it’s appropriate for parents to make these decisions and “not local teachers or school administrators.”

Well, I think that the "conservative groups" referenced in the story are the same conservative groups that gave us RFRA and refuse to allow a Hate Crimes bill to be passed in Indiana (at least one that actually protects marginalized groups).

As always, Speaker Brian Bosma sounds reasonable here. The only problem is that this is already a decision that is made by parents. The only difference is that Indiana presently has an "opt-out" system, whereby the little precious snowflakes (and I mean the "conservative" parents) can opt out of their children learning about those awful liberal things (you know, like the biology of your own body).

The bill sponsored by GOP Sen. Dennis Kruse of Auburn is slated for a committee vote next week. It was previously approved by the full Senate.

Kruse praised the idea of requiring parent to “opt in” rather than merely giving them the opportunity to opt their kids out of sex ed. 

Now, former educator TableTopJoe has some experience with Dennis Kruse (he of the "creation curriculum" in science class). I tend to think that if Dennis Kruse had his way, his religion would trump science.

Sex education is not required under Indiana law, so schools handle it differently. Many use an opt-out manner where schools send notification to parents about sex education classes and parents must send the form back if they want their child excused from class.

Democrats on the committee said opt-out is working just fine. However, some people are critical of that approach, noting that silence from a parent doesn’t mean consent.

As a simple aside, I wonder how many of the "people [who] are critical" of the opt-out approach and note "that silence" "doesn't mean consent" adopt that position with respect to the "yes means yes" initiatives on some college campuses.

That aside, my real critique of this is that it imposes additional hurdles on teachers and schools (who are already drowning in obligations imposed on them by "conservative" "small government" lawmakers who want to shield their snowflake constituents from modernity).

If a parent is passionate that his/her child not learn about human sexuality, that parent has the right (and I would argue the obligation) to affirmatively opt the child out. There are so many parents that are busy and don't have the time to specifically "opt in" to curriculum, and imposing such a requirement is, for educational purposes not to mention societal ones, a terrible idea.

Perhaps the thing that would get through to Kruse and Company is a threat of what would happen if the screw turns: Sen. Kruse, should I be able to opt my own children out of subjects in school, including any and all positive mention of Ronald Reagan, movement conservatism, George W. Bush, Rush Limbaugh, or supply-side economics? How about any and all positive mention of capitalism, Sen. Kruse? Should I be able to opt my children out of that? Is that wise policy or is it simply counter-productive micro management?