Career Prep Course

Write Senator Nofs and Representative Bizon. I have been in contact with both offices and both have listed some concerns about this class.

I have always parented my children on the foundations of the Bible and God's word. I do not feel it is any public schools responsibility to instill their agenda on them. They are caring and tolerant individuals who have many diverse friends. I also strongly oppose the inclusion of the subject matter to the 9th grade health class.

The is indoctrination not education. I believe you have no business in this arena at all. Also, are our children being so well educated, and scoring so highly, in the core competencies that we can waste time on this? Last I checked we (the US) are among the highest costing and lowest producing educational systems in the industrialized world. I would argue, this kind of foolishness is exactly the reason.

Thank you for listening to others opinions. This topic shouldn't be taught in school, but in a home environment and can be an offensive topic. Teaching this is not letting everyone have a voice, wether you agree or not. No one should have an opinion forced upon them in a classroom. That is just like saying one religion is right and one religion is wrong. The school shouldn't be telling the kids what the believe. The parents should take care of this matter. Thank you.

The schools don't teach the facts of History. So they shouldn't be teaching a class on a small percentage of people who have a choice to be who they are. Not push it on people who want nothing to do with it. If its a choice to choose to change your gender, then its a choice NOT to hear about it.

11 years ago Featured

most juniors already have a job and know about relationships we learned this stuff a while ago and if this becomes required that is ridiculous..

Adding this as mandatory would just be another terrible move for LSD

This class is not a good use of time for the majority of people, and should not be required for a diploma.

Alright. Well, at least I tried. All I can say is that I'm glad I don't have to deal with this stuff anymore.

This class is incredibly controversial and I believe as a parent I should have a say in what my child is being taught.

This class should not be mandatory.

I'd like to address the students supporting the class in this petition. First of all, if the LGBT information has been discussed in 9th grade health class, it seems to be redundant to require juniors to take the class again. Secondly, it seems redundant to offer an additional class on resume writing when students can choose to learn that in Lakeview's business classes or, yes, on Google. Third, a six period trimester was offered to students last year to make available more opportunities to experience more of what Lakeview has to offer. Many college bound juniors already have their schedules arranged in such a way that provides them with the classes they need and want to have a well rounded high school career. Yes, adding a one trimester required class interferes with the students' personal choices for classes. As for my family, we have read the class description and are very aware of the impact this class would have on our daughters' education.

I was considering the district for my child, but if this course is mandatory, I will choose another school.

I understand that half of this class will be teaching the kids how to write resumes and applying for jobs (which is taught in the 7th grade at the middle school, so basically repeating what they've already learned), and the other half is teaching "healthy relationships", contraceptives (again, already been there) and the many different types of gender identity that's out there. I feel that this should be an elective class. I would rather my child be taught math, science, English...academics that should be taught in a school. I would like him to learn Physics and Calculus, study the classics like "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Of Mice and Men". This class will take time away from this if it is mandatory. It is up to his parents to teach him the ways of the world, not someone that knows nothing about him. I, as a parent, have the responsibility to do that. No one else.

11 years ago Featured

I just moved into the Battle Creek area and choose to live in the Lakeview District, but if this class is mandatory I will not be enrolling my high schooler. This is a topic that should be taugh within the home.

This should be an optional class.

I just don't think some signing this petition really understand what they're signing for. It appears that most believe that they are signing against the teaching of LGBTQ information to their kids, when the Career Prep class has almost nothing to do with that. Half of the class deals with teaching kids how to write resumes and apply for jobs. I just graduated from LHS two months ago, and although I am very proud to have gone there, do you know how I learned to write a resume? Google. That's pathetic. The other half of the class is centered on healthy relationships of all kinds, primarily those that are straight as contraceptives are covered. I believe it's somewhat naive to think that what we alone are teaching to our children is enough to help them be successful. And, it being just a one trimester class, it really is not a huge burden on the new 6 period schedule.

I have to agree with Maddie here, after reading the article again, all of this fuss about the curriculum is misplaced. It clearly says that the terminology for these subjects will be included in the ninth-grade health class curriculum, not the curriculum for what is being labeled "career prep" for the eleventh-grade students. And in that article, they specifically state that they are not intending to promote or discourage LGBTQ beliefs, they are simply trying to make people more aware of it, because like it or not, it is becoming enormously present and relevant in our society today. Choosing to ignore these issues, and to shelter children from them, rather than openly discussing them in a public forum where they can get information instead of biased opinions will help them to make informed decisions going forward. The eleventh-grade class sounds like a perfectly legitimate course to require students to take, with information about resume-building, job applications, decision-making, as well as healthy relationships, dangers of substance abuse, the types of contraceptives available, and how to get out of abusive relationships. While the vocal individuals here wish to leave this to at home discussions, please understand that choosing not to talk about these issues, or choosing to only cover that which you deem fit about these issues, be it a result of personal bias or religious beliefs can be damaging to your children moving forward. Have some more faith in your children. Give them the tools to make smart decisions and trust that you have raised them right so that they will use the knowledge you have already given them to make informed decisions. I can't tell you how many of my friends and family members that I have seen be sheltered by their parents, because they didn't want to talk about the difficult issues. Then when it came time to be faced with these tough decisions, they had no idea what to do because their parents weren't there to make the call for them. So mos

This should not be a mandatory class.

I found the newspaper article introducing the new additions to Lakeview's 11th grade Career Prep course deeply disturbing. I ask that the school district communicate these changes directly with the parents first, rather than introducing it though the news media. I have not been able to locate a course description on the district website. As a Lakeview parent and an educator in another public school district, I would like to see the curriculum first hand, rather than learn of it from the Battle Creek Enquirer. In addition, I would ask that the district model tolerance and respect of diverse views in not mandating this class for all students, if it conflicts with families' religious and moral values that are taught at home. On the other hand, IF the class must be mandatory for all students, I ask that ALL views be presented, including the belief that marriage is between one man and one woman for life, and that many of us believe that sex outside of marriage is wrong, although it is a "choice". I would suggest that students know the dangers of online pornography and sex addictions. I would suggest that students know that scientific research does NOT support a genetic cause for homosexuality, but rather causes related to abuse and unfortunate life experiences. The banner of "choices" puts every view on equal ground, but our students need to know facts, not fads that follow a very small but vocal minority. Do the research, Lakeview parents! Although this course content is not online right now, the scientific research surrounding these topics is available online. Thank you for your consideration.