“Just don’t tell them what actually happens medically…”
A Sutter Middle School science teacher was abiding by a relatively new state law when she raised the issue of abortion in her sex education class this month.
It was the format of her presentation that may have run afoul of guidelines – upsetting some parents and prompting the Sacramento City Unified School District to launch an investigation.
The law, enacted in 2016, requires school districts to ensure that all students in grades seven through twelve receive “comprehensive sexual health education,” including information about abortion. Information presented in class must be “medically accurate and objective,” according to the law. Parents must be notified of the curriculum in advance, and have the option of excusing their children from all or part of the classes.
The teacher under fire aired graphic videos this month that depicted how abortions are performed during various stages of pregnancy. The videos are narrated by physician and anti-abortion activist Anthony Levatino, who describes in detail how the procedures destroy fetuses and urges viewers to “protect the unborn.”
Here’s what a new California law says about teaching abortion in class
A Sutter Middle School science teacher is in hot water for showing graphic videos about abortion to her students. It was against district policy, but did it also violate state law?