Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle - The Voice of the West, 901 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94119
Ray Delgado
After listening to impassioned pleas from AIDS activists at its meeting Tuesday night, the board passed a resolution pledging to continue current policy on AIDS education, giving parents the option of withdrawing their children if they desire.
"I do want to support efforts to make it easier for parents to prevent the materials if they choose . . . but I am in favor of this resolution," board member Jill Wynns said.
Current law requires school districts to notify parents about courses on AIDS prevention and offer them the chance to withdraw their children if they object.
Kopp's bill would require parental consent for students to take courses on AIDS and sex education. It was recently amended to kill a requirement in current law that says AIDS education must be taught with compassion for people with HIV, but Kopp said Tuesday that the amendment would be removed.
Kopp, I-San Francisco, sponsored the bill with Republican Assemblyman Steve Baldwin of El Cajon.
In approving the resolution, the school board vowed to challenge the bill if it becomes law.
"That's preposterous," Kopp said. "If the bill is enacted, what legal basis is there to challenge it?"
Kopp said he believed the bill would restore parents' ability to control what their children are taught in public schools.
"The fundamental issue is who controls the kids' education, the parents or the state?" Kopp said. "I don't think the government is a surrogate for parenthood."
ACT-UP San Francisco member David Pasquarelli applauded the board's vote and condemned Kopp for sponsoring the measure.
"I think the decision was a little overdue," Pasquarelli said. "This bill's been around a long time. San Francisco needs to take a strong stance against bigotry, and Quentin Kopp should be ashamed."
Several people spoke in favor of the bill at the school board meeting, including Bruce Budnick, the father of an 11-year-old girl at Everett Middle School.
"It enables parents to actually find out what's going on in the classroom," Budnick said to loud jeers and hissing. "The way we're changing this will enhance education."
Many in the auditorium came to the meeting to oppose the reconstitution of three San Francisco schools and Superintendent Bill Rojas' refusal to rehire three top administrators at Mission High School.
The board was unable to take any action on those matters because they were not on the agenda, said board member Dan Kelly.
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