GOP D.A. Threatens Teachers for Following State Law

Juneau County (WI) District Attorney Scott Southworth sent out 24 letters to top officials in the county 5 school districts telling them to suspend sex education classes in their schools or face possible charges. At issue is the new state law, called the Healthy Youth Act, which took effect in March. It requires schools, starting this fall, to teach students medically accurate, age-appropriate information, in their sex-education course, including how to use birth control and prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

In his letter, Southworth told school district leaders that teachers who follow the law could be charged with misdemeanor or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, with maximum punishment ranging from nine months in jail to six years in prison.

Already part of previous law, parents will be permitted to remove their children from sex-education classes. Schools also will be allowed to decline to offer sex education, but must notify parents if they decide not to.

For those wondering: yes, Southworth is a Republican, as could be implied by his stance. As a DA, he's required to uphold the law, and state law would trump county law, as well.

"If a teacher instructs any student aged 16 or younger how to utilize contraceptives under circumstances where the teacher knows the child is engaging in sexual activity with another child - or even where the 'natural and probable consequences' of the teacher's instruction is to cause that child to engage in sexual intercourse with a child - that teacher can be charged under this statute" of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. [...]

"Forcing our schools to instruct children on how to utilize contraceptives encourages our children to engage in sexual behavior, whether as a victim or an offender. It is akin to teaching children about alcohol use, then instructing them on how to make mixed alcoholic drinks."

Unfortunately, if Southworth wants teens to never learn about sex, he's going to have to a) lock them in a room, b) not let them watch TV, read newspapers, magazines, books, and on and on.

Rep. Kelda Helen Roys (D-Madison), co-author of the legislation, said: "Using condoms isn't a crime for anyone. This guy is not a credible legal source on this matter, I'm sorry to say. His purpose is to intimidate and create enough panic in the minds of school administrators that they'll turn their backs on young people and their families."