Parents Up in Arms Over Surveys

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Dec 18, 2000 | by John Elvin

Parents across the country are rebelling at teen-behavior surveys administered by schools without parental knowledge, according to a report in the Christian Science Monitor. The surveys are seen as intrusive, inappropriate and, in some cases, encouraging immoral behavior through suggestive questions. School-age children have been asked if they feel like killing themselves; if they are gay, lesbian or bisexual; and "When you have sex, how often do you use birth control?"

Across the country, lawsuits have prompted legislators and school administrators to take action. Some areas have set up parent-teacher review boards to screen surveys in advance. Some states are considering legislation similar to the federal Protection of Pupil Rights amendment, requiring parental consent before a survey can be administered if federal funds are involved in the project.

Proponents say they need the surveys to develop community profiles and that getting parental consent reduces the number of returns to the point where they aren't useful. In a closing anecdote, the story told of an 11-year-old student who had to ask a teacher the meaning of"bisexual." He was told it referred to liking both boys and girls. Subsequently, he "happily marked down that he was bisexual and proclaimed the same to his mother."