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We have read the Conference on World Affairs' statement regarding the panel at Boulder High. It is unfortunate that the CWA is trying to defend what is indefensible. The CWA's claim that the panelists spoke "sensibly" to their captive high school audience "providing valuable and cautionary information about alcohol consumption, drugs, sexual issues and teens" is an insult to any rational and responsible adult who has heard the audio of the panel. The panelists irresponsibly advised Boulder High students to have sex and use drugs. Teenage abstinence was dismissed as an unwise choice and indicative of religious hang-ups. The fact that Boulder High students devoted significant time and resources to "produce" the panel and that it took place during the instructional day is also very troubling. In Daphne's case, she attended the panel with her entire geometry class. The only way to understand what took place in the Boulder auditorium on May 10, is to hear the panelists as students heard them. We strongly encourage Boulder High parents and other interested parties, including members of the state legislature and Governor Ritter, to listen to the audio of this panel discussion and then draw their own conclusions regarding the panel. Perhaps the CWA and the Boulder Valley School District will help by putting the audio up on their website for that purpose. It may be true that the Conference on World Affairs generally "fosters awareness of local, national and global citizenship and celebrates intellectual discussion and excellence." It did not in this case. As Daphne suggested at the May 8 school board meeting, Boulder High School, the school district and the CWA should host an assembly at Boulder High for the student body. Hopefully the principal, the deputy superintendent, the board president and the director of the CWA would use the opportunity to offer Boulder High students some sound advice that is more consistent with what teens should hear from adults. They need to do it quickly, graduation is June 2. Priscilla, Fleet lll, Daphne and Fleet White
I listened to 10 segments of the audio prior to it being removed from BVSD watch's website. I would have to agree with the Whites. There was irresponsible encouragement to experiment with sex and drugs, period. Please repost this tape. It's in the communities interest to understand how this mess occurred. I completely agree with the Whites. The panel explicity recommended experimenting with sex and drugs and portrayed religion conviction only as a repressive influence. These may be their views but they had no business presenting them to a captive audience delivered by the school, with no other views presented if not for Daphne's bravery. As a citizen of Boulder County and a mother of three small children, I am outraged that the CWA panel actually "encouraged" high school students to have sex and experiment with drugs in a "safe" mannor! Why are we sending a message to our children that encourages them to engage in such dangerous acts and break the law. Believe it or not, there are many high school students who can manage to abstain and stay drug free. I am truly afraid to send my children through the Boulder Public School system if this is the message that is being sent! I agree with the White family 100% and am ashamed that more members of the Boulder Community have not spoken out against this! You people are nuts to think that kids don't takes drugs and have sex and that by omitting conversation about sex/drugs the problem will go away. Just like the problem went away with Eric Harris and Dylan Kliebold... I am a 66 year old who has lived through many sexual and drug experiences, and I survived my teen years.
I know I was influenced greatly by my peers and those slightly senior to me. So the CWA panel probably had the effect of sanctioning casual sex and drugs to many students of Boulder High. It is a hypnotic thought to teenage boys and girls whose hormones are running ramped to rationalize casual sex, Shame on the BVHS staff.
I spent my adolescence in Colorado and Kansas. I know that anyone with some worldly advice, especially if it is fun, will illicit more behavior change than parents. So your district should take serious action to ensure this never happens again. (Fire somebody!)
Bob Berschauer |
