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prying questions, such as "have you ever

needs of Spanish-speaking families and

given or received oral sex?" and "during

by generally failing to communicate

the past three months, with how many

effectively with parents. Others identi-

people did you have sexual intercourse?"

fied a racist streak in the district and

Many education and public health offi-

feared that Shepard-Cabrera was being

cials argued that administering these sur-

criticized simply because she spoke

veys was vital to collecting information

Spanish. As one self-described Latin-

on risky student behavior that needed to

American man said at the meeting, he

be addressed. Many parents, however,

sensed "an incredibly racist hostility in

saw them as unwarranted prying into

[the] room" and reported that he had

students' lives, and even potentially dan-

"heard that there's a rumor that Dr.

gerous. "With some kids, it might put an

Cabrera is being pushed out of school

because she speaks Spanish."129

idea in their heads of something to do,

·

something to try," said Robert Bennett, a

Sudbury--Whether Turkey committed

Lexington father of eight.131

genocide during World War I--a hotly

· Boston--State lawmakers took up a bill in

disputed question among Turks and

Armenians--initiated a bitter dispute in

October that would have bundled all sex

Massachusetts last October when a

education in public schools into an elec-

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School

tive course, and eliminated the current

student and two teachers joined a group

requirement that parents be notified

of Turkish Americans in suing the state

prior to scheduled discussions of sexuali-

department of education. Their com-

ty. Many parents noted that the current

plaint: That the state unfairly kept out

law rarely worked because schools often

of curriculum guides arguments that

failed to provide the required notification,

Turkey did not commit genocide when

and thought the proposed legislation

its forces killed more than a million

would give them more control over what

Armenians in World War I. Asked

their children learned in school because

teacher Bill Schechter, "If they are send-

the new course would be an elective. Some

ing out guides, they should be helpful,

also supported the bill because they

thorough, and balanced, where balance

thought it would help curb the agenda of

is required. Why is the state declaring

gay advocacy groups that they thought

there is no controversy when there is?"

were trying to control sex education.

Opponents of the suit, however, argued

Groups like Planned Parenthood, in con-

that there really is no debate. "`The his-

trast, argued that making sex education

torical fact is that genocide happened;

an elective would lead to students learn-

over a million Armenians were slaugh-

ing too little about sex. "If we don't teach

tered," said state senator Steven A.

kids how to protect themselves from

Tolman (D-Brighton). For Anthony

unwanted pregnancies and sexually trans-

Barsamian, chairman of the Armenian

mitted diseases, we will see higher num-

Assembly of America, the entire issue is

bers [of both]" said Planned Parenthood

very personal, and he called the suit "an

League of Massachusetts spokesman

Angus McQuilken.132

affront to all who have ancestors who

suffered and were victims of Armenian

genocide."130

Homosexuality

· Lexington--With the legalization of gay

marriage in 2003, many Massachusetts

Sex Education

· All over the state, including last year,

parents say their ability to insulate their

children from pro-gay material at school

school districts administered confiden-

has been greatly compromised. In May,

tial surveys of students asking some very

34