Group Is Off Base

The controversy generated by American Assn. of University Women regarding Focus on the Family’s pamphlet promoting sexual abstinence is quite surprising. Historically, AAUW has been in the business of promoting cultural diversity through education. Now, it appears that AAUW is in the business of promoting cultural uniformity through censorship.

For many years, schools have commonly implemented a method of teaching called Values Clarification, a system of education intended to give children neutral messages regarding values, allowing them to develop their own views of morality. After many failures, it became evident that intentionally or unintentionally, every teacher transmits values. Thus, rather than asking ourselves if we should transmit values, we need to ask whose values we choose to transmit, those of secular society, or those which are Judeo-Christian.

The values promoted in this pamphlet are not strange to us, values that link sexual activity to adulthood, and to marriage. The information is straightforward, and not religious in nature. AAUW, however, objects to its list of additional resources, which includes some Christian books. Also, they express discomfort with the fact that the author of the pamphlet is a Christian whose thoughts are a reflection of his faith.

It appears that AAUW is yet another organization that cannot tolerate even the mere mention of Christian faith and values.

CATHY SCHNEIR

Thousand Oaks