Dear Board of Directors,
My name is Caryl Ayala, and I am a former AISD prekindergarten teacher and a resident of the community. On January 22, I spoke to the AISD Board during public comments to make you all aware of the information being disseminated to middle schoolers by Planned Parenthood sex educators. This included a link to YouTube videos of adults engaged in sexual conduct, as part of Planned Parenthood’s video series “Consent 101.” I distributed copies of the handout given by Planned Parenthood to Covington Middle School students in the spring of 2017 – a handout which I received from an upset guardian who had not given authorization for her 12-year-old grandson to receive such information. I am attaching the handout again for your information.
Surprisingly, my district rep, Yasmin Wagner, made a subsequent comment during the meeting that she thought my information was “contrived” because she had searched the Planned Parenthood website and could not find this content. The handout clearly sends the students to a YouTube link and not the Planned Parenthood website, which would be the reason she did not find what she was looking for. However, I am also attaching screen shots taken from the Planned Parenthood website that clearly include adult content and promotion of sexual activity directed toward youth.
While I am fully in agreement with Ms. Wagner’s admission that the content in those YouTube videos was adult in nature and not appropriate for middle schoolers, her assertion that Planned Parenthood would never distribute such information to children is not only patently false (we were given the handout by the child’s guardian), but it is extremely misinformed to make a judgement without first fully researching the situation. Is it standard behavior for Board members to accuse a private citizen of lying before getting all the facts? I had already brought this information to the attention of Michele Rusnak, and not only was she respectful, but she took my concerns seriously. I only wish that Ms. Wagner had the same attitude.
Furthermore, it begs the question as to whether there are connections between Planned Parenthood and Ms. Wagner, since she immediately defended a billion-dollar corporation, whose handout was directly marketing its services to students (see bottom of handout), while pushing aside the concerns of a community member for the safety of children. For this reason, I am asking for a public apology from this Board member, not only for accusing me of lying, but also for failing to show any care to protect children from inappropriate information being disseminated to them as part of sex ed, being instead more concerned about defending Planned Parenthood.
Ms. Wagner directly admitted that this information was inappropriate for children. I have proof that this information was distributed to children. Therefore, it is clear that what Planned Parenthood considers “age-appropriate” is grossly out of line with the expectations and standards of the community – and even the standards of those, like Ms. Wagner, who support Planned Parenthood. Furthermore, is it appropriate for outside organizations to solicit business from students? Is it possible that Planned Parenthood has a financial interest in being in the schools? Once they have taught young children to consent to sex, they now have customers for their contraception, STD treatment, and abortion services – and they even encourage the children to make an appointment at the clinic! This is a huge conflict of interest and shows extreme impropriety on the part of the Board and Austin ISD for allowing this organization into schools.
I would also like to remind the Board that the Texas age of consent for sexual activity is 17 years old, pursuant to Texas Penal Code Sections 22.011 and 21.11. To be teaching children how to consent to sex directly contravenes this law. Planned Parenthood is thus blatantly disregarding the law in what they are teaching children. Who is taking responsibility for making sure the law is upheld? Who is responsible for making sure that community standards are being followed and parent concerns are being addressed? Who is making sure that Planned Parenthood is not benefitting financially from promoting sexual activity and consent to children?
Based on the above information, the Board must take immediate action to protect students by preventing Planned Parenthood sex educators from having further access to the children. Regardless of what curriculum they teach, Planned Parenthood sex educators consider sexual activity to be appropriate for children to engage in, as long as its consensual, and for that reason they should not be given access to the children under any circumstances. Please act to protect the children in your care now.
Sincerely,
Caryl Ayala
My name is Caryl Ayala, and I am a former AISD prekindergarten teacher and a resident of the community. On January 22, I spoke to the AISD Board during public comments to make you all aware of the information being disseminated to middle schoolers by Planned Parenthood sex educators. This included a link to YouTube videos of adults engaged in sexual conduct, as part of Planned Parenthood’s video series “Consent 101.” I distributed copies of the handout given by Planned Parenthood to Covington Middle School students in the spring of 2017 – a handout which I received from an upset guardian who had not given authorization for her 12-year-old grandson to receive such information. I am attaching the handout again for your information.
Surprisingly, my district rep, Yasmin Wagner, made a subsequent comment during the meeting that she thought my information was “contrived” because she had searched the Planned Parenthood website and could not find this content. The handout clearly sends the students to a YouTube link and not the Planned Parenthood website, which would be the reason she did not find what she was looking for. However, I am also attaching screen shots taken from the Planned Parenthood website that clearly include adult content and promotion of sexual activity directed toward youth.
While I am fully in agreement with Ms. Wagner’s admission that the content in those YouTube videos was adult in nature and not appropriate for middle schoolers, her assertion that Planned Parenthood would never distribute such information to children is not only patently false (we were given the handout by the child’s guardian), but it is extremely misinformed to make a judgement without first fully researching the situation. Is it standard behavior for Board members to accuse a private citizen of lying before getting all the facts? I had already brought this information to the attention of Michele Rusnak, and not only was she respectful, but she took my concerns seriously. I only wish that Ms. Wagner had the same attitude.
Furthermore, it begs the question as to whether there are connections between Planned Parenthood and Ms. Wagner, since she immediately defended a billion-dollar corporation, whose handout was directly marketing its services to students (see bottom of handout), while pushing aside the concerns of a community member for the safety of children. For this reason, I am asking for a public apology from this Board member, not only for accusing me of lying, but also for failing to show any care to protect children from inappropriate information being disseminated to them as part of sex ed, being instead more concerned about defending Planned Parenthood.
Ms. Wagner directly admitted that this information was inappropriate for children. I have proof that this information was distributed to children. Therefore, it is clear that what Planned Parenthood considers “age-appropriate” is grossly out of line with the expectations and standards of the community – and even the standards of those, like Ms. Wagner, who support Planned Parenthood. Furthermore, is it appropriate for outside organizations to solicit business from students? Is it possible that Planned Parenthood has a financial interest in being in the schools? Once they have taught young children to consent to sex, they now have customers for their contraception, STD treatment, and abortion services – and they even encourage the children to make an appointment at the clinic! This is a huge conflict of interest and shows extreme impropriety on the part of the Board and Austin ISD for allowing this organization into schools.
I would also like to remind the Board that the Texas age of consent for sexual activity is 17 years old, pursuant to Texas Penal Code Sections 22.011 and 21.11. To be teaching children how to consent to sex directly contravenes this law. Planned Parenthood is thus blatantly disregarding the law in what they are teaching children. Who is taking responsibility for making sure the law is upheld? Who is responsible for making sure that community standards are being followed and parent concerns are being addressed? Who is making sure that Planned Parenthood is not benefitting financially from promoting sexual activity and consent to children?
Based on the above information, the Board must take immediate action to protect students by preventing Planned Parenthood sex educators from having further access to the children. Regardless of what curriculum they teach, Planned Parenthood sex educators consider sexual activity to be appropriate for children to engage in, as long as its consensual, and for that reason they should not be given access to the children under any circumstances. Please act to protect the children in your care now.
Sincerely,
Caryl Ayala