Ojai School Board Protests County Sex-Education Edicts

The Board of Education of the Ojai Unified School District is not pleased with the new edicts on sex education coming from the County Board of Education.

The Ojai board was angered by Ventura County’s attempt to ban participation by Planned Parenthood and AIDS Care in an annual teacher workshop on sex education.

The panel voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday night to send a letter of opposition to the county.

“We wanted (the County Board of Education) to know how we feel,” said Ojai board member Rikki Horne. “These are teacher workshops and the teachers should get full information. We trust our faculty to have complete information.

“Abstinence shouldn’t be the only thing taught. As a parent, I want my kids to be educated completely.”

Horne said the Ojai district may consider joining with other disgruntled school districts to host their own teacher workshops on sex education.

Board member Tim Peddicord, who also is an Oxnard science teacher, said the county’s decision was “insulting to the integrity of teachers.”

“We’re not even talking about what the kids will be taught, we’re talking about what the teachers will be taught.

“What we wrote in the letter was mild. I’m sending a personal letter as well,” said Peddicord.