Letters to the editor for April 2

The truth about sex ed

Given the seeming hysteria over the just recently passed comprehensive sex-education bill, it’s hard to believe its 2020 and not 1920, or 1820.

We need to look at the facts. This bill is aimed at reducing sexual assault, sexually transmitted diseases, and unplanned pregnancy, while also teaching about self-acceptance, inclusion, and consent. By now, one would hope folks realize the ‘abstinence-only’ program has proven to be quite a bit less effective than age-appropriate, medically accurate instruction provided a handful of times throughout the 12 years of schooling.

Despite the loud cries that this bill is awful and damaging, to be forced onto our children, we need to set the record straight once and for all because those arguments are false and totally misleading!

First, schools must notify parents when a curriculum will be taught with at least one month’s notice and make all materials available. Second, and more importantly, parents will have the choice to opt their children out of any or all of the instruction. Finally, the bill does not mandate any statewide curriculum. It gives local school districts the same flexibility they have already to select or design the curriculum that fits the needs of their communities.

Let’s not go backward, let’s be honest. We have the tools to teach science and safety to protect our children while also respecting those that choose not to have their children receive this information.

Arts organizations need your help

Coronavirus has laid many disappointments and concerns on us all. Cancellations of cultural events is one disappointment, but worse than our disappointment is the serious loss of revenue to arts organizations that barely hang on in the best of times.

To help in a small way, my husband and I will make contributions to these organizations in lieu of the tickets we would otherwise have purchased. We can’t purchase tickets to the Olympia Symphony Orchestra concerts or the Emerald City Music concerts, so we will send those organizations contributions equal (at least) to what we would have spent on tickets.

If you already purchased tickets to a canceled arts event, please don’t ask for a refund. Consider the price of your ticket as a contribution to the arts. That is what we are doing with our tickets for Harlequin Productions.

Please remember all the local arts organizations: Olympia Family Theater, Olympia Little Theater, Masterworks Choral Ensemble, Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia, and many more. Remember them financially, whether or not there are imminent performances to attend.