San Juan Capistrano : Protest Muted as Schools’ ‘Family’ Course Finalized

With none of the protests that had accompanied similar votes, the Capistrano Unified School District board unanimously approved a preface to the updated “Family Life” curriculum, which less than two months ago was the target of groups charging that the program was “socialist, statist and anti-family.”

Several public hearings were held before the board’s adoption May 20 of the controversial curriculum, which includes sex education and instruction in drug and alcohol abuse prevention. Opponents charged that it would lead to immorality and promiscuity among the young.

When the board approved the program last May, board member A. Edward Westberg proposed the preface, which listed nine traditional values that would receive “continuing emphasis” as part of the family life program.

The preface adopted Monday includes the “value of the family unit, the value of understanding the sanctity of marriage and the value of refraining from premarital sex.”

Although school board meetings had been the scenes of near-pandemonium before the board’s vote last May, when some opponents arrived dressed in Revolutionary War garb and carrying signs and placards, nobody was present Monday to protest.

District Supt. Jerome Thornsley said later that he was “a little surprised” at the turnout.

“It’s a little puzzling,” he said. “Here’s a case where the board is saying ‘here are the values we support’ and nobody says anything.”

Anita Burkett, founder of Citizens for Family Strength, which spearheaded the battle against the family life curriculum, called the preface “pretty words without any teeth.”

“It’s not going to have any real effect on the whole program,” she said. “It’s just wishful thinking.”

Although the program goes into effect this fall at several pilot schools in the district, Burkett said family life’s opponents haven’t given up. With three school board seats up for reelection this November, Burkett and her allies plan to vote for candidates who pledge to reverse the program.