In 1978, the Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), otherwise known as the Hatch Amendment was passed after parents were shocked and outraged to learn that trusted teachers were using the classroom for therapy instead of education. Teachers pried into the private lives of students and their family by asking sensitive information about political, religious and personal beliefs. Little did parents realize that teachers would overstep their bounds once again by asking questions of a sexual nature in the decades to follow. Because of these violations, parents were forced to sue the teachers with the backing of the PPRA.

The PPRA states, “All instructional material, including teachers manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary instructional material which will be used in connection with any research or experimentation program or project shall be available for inspection by the parents or guardians of the children engaged in such program or project. For the purpose of this section ‘research or experimentation program or project’ means any program or project in any applicable program designed to explore or develop new or unproven teaching methods or techniques.’”

This is about freedom and denial of constitutional rights.

In regards to psychiatric or psychological examinations, testing or treatment, the PPRA clarifies that “No student shall be required, as part of any applicable program, to submit to psychiatric examination, testing, or treatment, or psychological examination, testing, or treatment, in which the primary purpose is to reveal Information concerning: political affiliations; mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student or his family; sex behavior and attitudes; illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior; critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships; legally recognized privileged and analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers ; or income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program), without the prior consent of the student (if the student is an adult or emancipated minor), or in the case of unemancipated minor without the prior written consent of the parent.”

The purpose of teachers is to educate, not indoctrinate.

In fact, often teachers are forced against their will to do something that the National Education Association forces upon them in violation of their conscience. But thanks to this amendment, they also have a legal standing to say “no.”

It is inappropriate to sexualize children under the guise of “English language arts” or “history.”

There have been way too many cases in Alaska where students are bullied into accepting something they don’t agree with. Many have already left the public school system for homeschool or private school options.

Liberty Counsel  is one organization that might be able to help you if you encounter such situations.

So, what is this about?

This is about freedom and denial of constitutional rights.

This is about favoritism.

This is about parental rights.

This is about child protection.

This is about resisting totalitarianism.

This is about decency.

Would you let your child read porn or filthy language?

It is inappropriate to sexualize children under the guise of “English language arts” or “history” or anything else as is being attempted in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District and beyond. I read some of the proposed material Fairbanks wants to introduce. Somehow, the curriculum committee thought that it was okay for your child to read detailed descriptions of sex, and prayers to Satan. Would you let your child read porn or filthy language? One book had the f-bomb six times in the first 600 words.

Thanks to the PPRA, all parents and students have legal options. Additionally, Governor Dunleavy’s was the driving force behind passing House Bill 156 in 2016 when he was a state senator. This bill codifies parental rights by “requiring local school boards to adopt policies allowing parents to withdraw their children from any activity, class, or program, or standards-based assessment to which the parent objects.” It also requires that parents receive at least two weeks’ notice before their child is presented with instruction on human reproduction or sexual matters.

The writer is the former District 4 Chair of the Republican Party and head of Citizens for Property Rights in Fairbanks.