 |
Life
Issues /
Family
Ethics
Political
Action
Committee
of
Southwest Washington
|
|
|
|
| Survey
Response:
AN ETHIC OF LIFE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION
1. Does a school district have a responsibility to define and
teach students a consistent ethic regarding respect for all human
life?
The only responsibility that a school district has with regards to
teaching is that what is taught is based on factual information that
is not slanted or skewed in any way by the opinions and/or thoughts
of a particular person, group, movement or organization.
What is taught needs to be based on fact and the latest
science that is available, as well on what is the most current legal
statement in the situation.
As to the specific topic of abortion, a school district does have
the responsibility to teach students that abortion is an option that
is available to them should an unwanted pregnancy occur.
Abortion is legal in this country and is an option that is
available to students and therefore needs to be presented to them as
an option. This is not
to say that it should be presented as the only option, but as part
of a comprehensive list of the choices that are available to
everyone.
2. Will you as a board member promote an emphasis on building
abstinence and relationship skills in any sex ed program used, and
oppose to the promotion of sexual experimentation?
The way this question is asked makes it impossible to answer.
As a board member, yes I will support the inclusion of
abstinence education as a critical part of any sex education program
used but I will not oppose the inclusion of teaching methods of
“safe sex” as well as the promotion of sexual experimentation.
The fact of life is that students are curious about their
sexuality and are exposed to sexual situations from an early age.
I believe that students need to be prepared with information
about all aspects of their sexuality and be offered factual
information on what their options are as to how to respond to sex
related situations.
3. Given this general agreement, should your district's
scientifically accurate sex education program teach students that
human life begins at conception and that abortion kills a human
being?
First, I must disagree with the statement of a “general agreement”
regarding when a human life begins.
There is no such “general agreement.”
I am not going to engage in a debate as to when life begins,
as that discussion is beyond the scope of what needs to be discussed
here.
That having been said, students should be taught that abortion is
one of many options that are available to them in the event of an
unplanned pregnancy.
Please note that I said one of many options – not the only option.
It is important to state that there are many other options
available and all of these options should be included as part of any
sex education program with no more or less weight being given to one
option over another.
4. Should school board policy allow the on-site dispensing of birth
control drugs or devices, give abortion counseling, or provide
referrals to off-site abortion clinics?
School Board policy should allow for the on-site dispensing of birth
control drugs and/or devices to students who ask for these services.
Those students should be advised once again that there are
other options to birth control, such as abstinence from sexual
activity. The policy
should not allow for abortion counseling as that would be expressly
saying that the board supports abortion-which is not a subject on
which the school board should have either a policy or an opinion.
The policy should, however, provide students that ask with a
listing of facilities within the community where pregnancy
counseling and abortions are available.
5. Do you believe that life begins at conception and that the
"right to life" of the fetus is "guaranteed specifically by the
[14th] Amendment"?
My answer to this question is simple and succinct:
No
Consent?
No, I do not. For the
same reasons as cited above, I do not believe that parental consent
should have to be given in order for a minor to obtain an abortion,
provided that all available options have been explained to the
minor-including options other than abortion.
If, after such discussions, the minor believes that abortion
is the option that is best for them, that option must be available
to them.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
8. Should your school district partner in any way with the nation's
biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood? This organization
received over
$350 million dollars in governmental grants and contracts
last year, and aborted over 305,000 babies. Should Planned
Parenthood be allowed to make presentations to students or provide
literature, birth control chemicals or devises, or abortion
services?
I believe that the school district should partner with Planned
Parenthood to present their full spectrum of services to students.
Planned Parenthood is not only an abortion provider.
They also provide health screenings, health care and
preventative screenings for their clients.
Planned Parenthood also has a comprehensive program to discus
options with their clients other than abortion.
Planned Parenthood should absolutely be allowed to make
presentations to our students and provide literature and birth
control chemicals or devices to our students.
They should be able to present all available options to our
students with regards to unplanned pregnancies.
9. What is your position regarding the use of school vouchers or
other school choice options in
I believe that if a parent feels the need for their student to be
educated in other than the public school system that they should
bear the cost of that decision.
I do not support the use of school vouchers or other school
choice options in
10. Please state your professional experience, community
involvement, education and other qualifications for a school board
position.
My professional background is in sales and sales management,
primarily in a retail environment.
I have been very successful in creating highly motivated,
happy and high performing teams of diverse individuals throughout my
career.
My community involvement is extensive.
I have been a member of the Portland Public Schools Citizens
Budget Advisory Committee for two years.
I have served on the State of
Please give your campaign web address if you have one:
Yes, LifePac may post my responses on the website.
Per your request, the following is my campaign contact
information:
Committee to Elect Bob Travis
(360) 597-4575
Originally published October 6, 2011 at 9:09 a.m., updated October 6, 2011 at 9:09 a.m.
A Vancouver school board candidate said his Facebook page that showed revealing, suggestive photographs of young women — some headlined “jailbait” — was a “stupid idea” and will be taken down. Candidate Bob Travis was being interviewed by the Columbian Editorial Board on Wednesday. He and incumbent Dale Rice were there with the board when the question of Travis’ Facebook photos came up. The interview took an abrupt shift from educational policy when Travis was asked about the Facebook page with a gallery of images. Some featured barely dressed young women, others displayed young people mimicking sexual positions. More at http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/06/vancouver-school-candidate-queried-on-racy-photos/
Monday, October 10, 2011 The Vancouver teachers’ union and the political action arm of a local industry association have pulled endorsements for a school board candidate. And, a spokeswoman for the Building Industry Association of Clark County said the group vows to do a much better job of scrutinizing candidates who seek its support in future races. More at: http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/10/vancouver-teachers-union-bia-pull-travis-endorseme/
|
