BSVDWatch.org

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