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By Beth Ann Rosica
As a parent of a second grader, would you be ok if your child was asked at school to rate this statement as true or false?
"Someone you know, even a relative, might want to touch your private parts in a way that feels confusing.”
Without context, this is a concerning question. Even with context, for some parents, the statement may be disturbing.
According to a Right to Know request, the Downingtown Area School District in the 2022-2023 school year provided a program to all second grade students in the district, entitled Safe Touches. The program is taught by the Crime Victims Center of Chester County. The district described the program to parents in an email communication.
Why It Matters. A federal statute requires that parents of minor children give written permission for their child to participate in a survey that “reveals information concerning … mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family; sex behavior or attitudes; or critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships.”
The Downingtown Area School District’s policy references the Protection of Pupil Rights statute and contains this language:
"For a student to participate in a survey, personal analysis, evaluation or research study not conducted by the district, the parent/guardian or eligible student must complete and submit a written consent form to the building principal.”
Based on this statement, it appears that Downingtown did not follow their policy. The survey was administered by an outside agency and parents had the ability to opt-out, but they did not have to grant affirmative permission in advance of the program or survey.
Quotable. “It is unconscionable that a parent should have to go to the lengths I’ve gone just to get transparency and accountability from public officials. After my experience, I seriously wonder if politicians in Harrisburg will ever pay attention to parental rights and hold public officials accountable for abusing their authority and violating the law. What more do parents have to do to protect our rights?” – Chad Williams, father of a Unionville Chadds Ford School District student.
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