During coverage of recent Oil City Area School District board meetings, certain terms have been used that have led to confusion, misinformation and misdirection when describing how the "We Care Elementary" and "Sexual Abuse Free Environment for Teens (SAFE-T)" has been implemented in the schools. Here is a breakdown of terms that seem to be at the heart of the conversation, including definitions and explanations of how they apply to this situation.
Controversial
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate.
Other than a handful of parents, we haven't found how either program is "controversial". In talking with Devin Aaron, one of the group of "concerned parents and taxpayers" of the Oil City School District, the controversy in this situation may come from an affiliation of the PPC Network with Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape group. The PCAR website states on its homepage "Abortion is a human right." We haven't really found how the two curricula resources have been deemed controversial in any large scale protests or initiatives. Both are Pennsylvania Department of Education approved.
Curriculum
Curriculum is the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.
Superintendent Lynda Weller and Tracy Delmonaco, the district's Title IX coordinator admit the confusion. "Basically we overuse the word curriculum," Delmonaco said.
"When we talk about curriculum we talk about things we must provide under chapter four of the school code. PA academic standards are tied to these. So when we talk about our official curriculum, that’s what the board needs to approve. This other stuff which we may use the term curriculum really is a resource or material to help meet the standards under the core curriculum. So it gets confusing," Weller added.
Delmonaco further explained that teachers often find resources to help them address the specific needs of a given class. The teachers are trained to understand their class and know every student learns differently.
Weller admits it has been confusing and that in discussions that end up in board minutes and agendas the use of the term curriculum needs to be more precise moving forward.
Sex Ed
Sex education or sex ed is the provision of information about bodily development, sex, sexuality, and relationships.
These programs facilitated by PPC have been referred to as sex ed on more than one occasion. "Absolutely not," Weller said when asked if the healthy relationships program is sex ed. She said the lessons are part of a Sexual Abuse Prevention Program and that they are different from sex education taught in health class.
Controversial
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate.
Other than a handful of parents, we haven't found how either program is "controversial". In talking with Devin Aaron, one of the group of "concerned parents and taxpayers" of the Oil City School District, the controversy in this situation may come from an affiliation of the PPC Network with Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape group. The PCAR website states on its homepage "Abortion is a human right." We haven't really found how the two curricula resources have been deemed controversial in any large scale protests or initiatives. Both are Pennsylvania Department of Education approved.
Curriculum
Curriculum is the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.
Superintendent Lynda Weller and Tracy Delmonaco, the district's Title IX coordinator admit the confusion. "Basically we overuse the word curriculum," Delmonaco said.
"When we talk about curriculum we talk about things we must provide under chapter four of the school code. PA academic standards are tied to these. So when we talk about our official curriculum, that’s what the board needs to approve. This other stuff which we may use the term curriculum really is a resource or material to help meet the standards under the core curriculum. So it gets confusing," Weller added.
Delmonaco further explained that teachers often find resources to help them address the specific needs of a given class. The teachers are trained to understand their class and know every student learns differently.
Weller admits it has been confusing and that in discussions that end up in board minutes and agendas the use of the term curriculum needs to be more precise moving forward.
Sex Ed
Sex education or sex ed is the provision of information about bodily development, sex, sexuality, and relationships.
These programs facilitated by PPC have been referred to as sex ed on more than one occasion. "Absolutely not," Weller said when asked if the healthy relationships program is sex ed. She said the lessons are part of a Sexual Abuse Prevention Program and that they are different from sex education taught in health class.
Sexuality
Sexuality is a person's identity in relation to the gender or genders to which they are typically attracted; sexual orientation.
From a script read by the facilitators of the SAFE-T program, “The term sexuality is an umbrella term. This means it is a word that we use to describe a number of different things. Your biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual feelings and sexual expression. The sheet was give so that students can think about the definition of each and match terms with appropriate definition. As you can see sexuality is a very complex thing that is unique to all of us. Misinformation about sexuality can sometimes lead to hurtful or unhealthy behaviors.
These things were discussed prior to handing out a worksheet that made its way onto social media without the context of the lesson.
Sexuality is a person's identity in relation to the gender or genders to which they are typically attracted; sexual orientation.
From a script read by the facilitators of the SAFE-T program, “The term sexuality is an umbrella term. This means it is a word that we use to describe a number of different things. Your biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual feelings and sexual expression. The sheet was give so that students can think about the definition of each and match terms with appropriate definition. As you can see sexuality is a very complex thing that is unique to all of us. Misinformation about sexuality can sometimes lead to hurtful or unhealthy behaviors.
These things were discussed prior to handing out a worksheet that made its way onto social media without the context of the lesson.
Technology
Technology is machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge.
One of the issues facing today’s kids that perhaps their parents or grandparents did not face when they were growing up is the ever changing use of technology. These school curriculums and resources are designed to address this head on.
“This (the PPC facilitated programs) is not meant to replace those tough conversations that parents should be having in the home, it is supposed to only be a tool to get there.” Tracy Delmonaco said.
“I think parents are naive about what their children are accessing. ‘My child wouldn’t be doing that…’ well do a little digging and you might be disappointed.” Weller said about what kids are doing on their devices. “It’s right there at their fingertips.” Weller said there has been an increase in use of devices for bullying and innappropriate behavior.
Transparency
Transparency is the quality of being open to public scrutiny.
The “Concerned Parents and Taxpayers of OCASD” claim a lack of transparency from the administration. Tracy Delmonaco, with a two-inch thick folder of information relating to correspondences and resources she said she has shared with the parents, said she has tried to answer every question in a timely manner. She admitted a period of eight days when she took vacation time to work on her dissertation where things weren’t answered in a timely manner. She also admitted a couple other incidences when she needed to get information from others where it may have appeared she was avoiding answering questions, but said that was never her intention.
Weller concurred and added the administrators are dealing with a multitude of issues and priorities and that things sometimes take time. Weller added that the office has tried to supply information ahead of time and when asked, they invited PPC to set up an information table at an open house and sent letters home. Realizing that perhaps, not every letter sent home is delivered, they will now implement robo-calls to parents and guardians when they send important information home.
Weller also admitted that when the threat of lawsuit was mentioned, that changed how the district is allowed to respond.
According to Devin Aaron they do not wish to bring suit against the district.
Technology is machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge.
One of the issues facing today’s kids that perhaps their parents or grandparents did not face when they were growing up is the ever changing use of technology. These school curriculums and resources are designed to address this head on.
“This (the PPC facilitated programs) is not meant to replace those tough conversations that parents should be having in the home, it is supposed to only be a tool to get there.” Tracy Delmonaco said.
“I think parents are naive about what their children are accessing. ‘My child wouldn’t be doing that…’ well do a little digging and you might be disappointed.” Weller said about what kids are doing on their devices. “It’s right there at their fingertips.” Weller said there has been an increase in use of devices for bullying and innappropriate behavior.
Transparency
Transparency is the quality of being open to public scrutiny.
The “Concerned Parents and Taxpayers of OCASD” claim a lack of transparency from the administration. Tracy Delmonaco, with a two-inch thick folder of information relating to correspondences and resources she said she has shared with the parents, said she has tried to answer every question in a timely manner. She admitted a period of eight days when she took vacation time to work on her dissertation where things weren’t answered in a timely manner. She also admitted a couple other incidences when she needed to get information from others where it may have appeared she was avoiding answering questions, but said that was never her intention.
Weller concurred and added the administrators are dealing with a multitude of issues and priorities and that things sometimes take time. Weller added that the office has tried to supply information ahead of time and when asked, they invited PPC to set up an information table at an open house and sent letters home. Realizing that perhaps, not every letter sent home is delivered, they will now implement robo-calls to parents and guardians when they send important information home.
Weller also admitted that when the threat of lawsuit was mentioned, that changed how the district is allowed to respond.
According to Devin Aaron they do not wish to bring suit against the district.
Unilaterally
Unilaterally is used to indicate that something is done by only one person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of others.
The term "unilaterally" has been used to describe Dr. Lynda Weller deciding to use these programs. Weller, worked with the district's Title IX coordinator to chose the programs. She also told the board about the program before implementing it.
Unilaterally is used to indicate that something is done by only one person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of others.
The term "unilaterally" has been used to describe Dr. Lynda Weller deciding to use these programs. Weller, worked with the district's Title IX coordinator to chose the programs. She also told the board about the program before implementing it.