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Press Release - May 2, 2005
Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Fisher
301 661-5511
John Garza, attorney
301 340-8200
PARENT GROUPS FILE SUIT OVER SEX ED PROGRAM
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD – Two parent groups opposed to a new sex ed curriculum filed suit in Federal court Tuesday, May 3, to prevent the Montgomery County Public School Board from implementing the controversial program in 6 test schools. The groups, Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays, asked the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, MD, to issue a temporary restraining order until the case can be heard. The School Board was set to begin testing the curriculum May 5.
The groups claim that parent and student rights would be violated under the equal protection, free speech and due process guarantees of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
Michelle Turner, president of CRC, stated that her “many attempts to meet with the Board and Superintendent Jerry Weast have been fruitless. We had no choice but to proceed with this action.” She said CRC has submitted to the Board over 4,000 signatures on petitions opposing the curriculum.
At the heart of the suit is the question of how far a school board can go in imposing an ideological viewpoint on students, especially one that violates their deeply held religious and moral convictions and ignores important health issues.
The suit claims that a school district does not have unlimited authority in pushing a highly controversial and dangerous social agenda, especially by misrepresenting facts, suppressing opposing viewpoints, infringing on the constitutional rights of students and parents, and violating its own rules concerning the implementation of the curriculum.
CRC claims that the information students will receive is flawed to the core and is seeking injunctive relief. The pilot program was to have started May 5 in three high schools: Bethesda Chevy Chase, Seneca Valley and Springbrook, and three middle schools: Martin Luther King, Tilden, and White Oak.
Documents
MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER (pdf)
VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT, PRELIMINARY AND PERMANENT INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND DAMAGES (pdf)
MEMORANDUM (pdf)
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