Fayette County meeting for parents tonight to discuss sex education curriculum

FAYETTEVILLE — Tonight there will be a church meeting where parents are encouraged to keep children away.

Two Georgia Baptist pastors will join leaders from Fairburn, Flint River, and Southside Baptist associations at 6:30 p.m. at Harp’s Crossing Baptist Church to discuss a proposed sex ed curriculum for local schools.

Josh Saefkow, senior pastor of Flat Creek Baptist Church, and Dennis Watson, senior pastor of Harp’s Crossing, will join Noelle Kahaian of PROTECT STUDENT HEALTH GEORGIA in addressing materials the group deems obscene for comprehensive sex education as presented through textbooks and supplemental books as well as linked websites. A question-and-answer session will be included in the event expected to last about an hour.

“Fayette County Schools is in the process of adopting a new sex ed curriculum and this meeting will expose what is behind the motivation for it and lessons presented through it,” Saefkow told The Index today. “Three members of the current Fayette County Curriculum Committee will be available for questions. Specific steps will also be outlined as to how to protect children.”

Due to the nature of the presentations and ongoing discussion expected, the meeting will be for adults only with no nursery care being provided.

“This meeting is an opportunity to say what we’re for,” Saefkow added. “We’re for empowering parents. It’s their responsibility [to discuss sex with their children]. We want to encourage pastors to talk about biblical sexuality in their churches. For the community, we want them to see that the curriculum we’ve had for the last 20 years has led to low STD rates and low pregnancy rates as reported by the State of Georgia.”

Safekow, who has served on the committee since its inception last fall, said his concerns have brought an onslaught of criticism on social media. In a letter to The Fayette Citizen, Saefkow outlined his concerns. For one, he said, the 13-member committee was expected to read through an immense amount of material and come to a conclusion in an insufficient amount of time.

“So far,” he wrote, “I have learned of several disturbing and downright horrifying facts about the potential new textbooks;

• Several are supported by Planned Parenthood and Trojan Condom board members.
• Even greater concern was when I discovered to my horror that my elementary daughter would have to write a school paper on masturbation if this new curriculum passes.
• Controversial sexual orientations like transgenderism are introduced as young as 11 years old.

“Needless to say,” he said, “I believe the committee should freeze their process and review all the material thoroughly.”

At the meeting, Saefkow said the group will discuss sexual risk reduction and sexual risk avoidance. Attendees will receive graphs outlining the difference between the two. A Facebook page, Concerned Parents of Fayette County, has been established to provide more information.

The committee’s recommendation on the curriculum will be presented to the public in March for review, according to The Citizen. Adoption by the Fayette County Board of Education will take place in April or May.