“Primum non nocere.”
That phrase originally translated from Greek, and then Latin, simply stated says, ‘first do no harm.’ You wouldn’t know this by the current demeanor of some in the medical community, but that was the central focus of all who took what is known as the original Hippocratic Oath. This was a caveat for individuals seeking a career in the medical profession reminding them to always put the patient’s welfare first.
Oddly enough, those in the teaching profession made a similar promise. While it has been altered over the years, the original such code of ethics established in 1929 was as follows: ‘Article 1, Relations with Pupils and to the Community~ Section 1. The schoolroom is not the proper theatre for religious, political, or personal propaganda. The teacher should exercise his full rights as a citizen, but he should avoid controversies which may tend to decrease his value as a teacher.’ This credo was designed as a warning to educators not to allow their personal views to interfere with their primary purpose: put the welfare of the students first.
Changing Roles
In recent years however, we have discovered to our dismay that our schools have become more of a “one stop-shop” for youth testing the turbulent waters of adolescence, rather than a place of training, education and guidance. In a recent article published by the Family Research Council, columnist Tony Perkins offers one of a parents’ worst fears come true: “Even in California, you have to be 18 to get a tattoo, 16 to drive a car, 21 to buy a gun, alcohol, or pot. But if you want to change your gender? Well, then, you just have to be 12. And your public school will be more than happy to help.”
Because of such policies in California, even sixth graders could be able to start hormone therapies without parental permission. He continues: “Need an abortion? Tell your teacher. Want to refill your birth control? Go to the school clinic. Thinking about starting hormone treatments? Your parents will never find out. At least, not under the policy the California Teachers Association (CTA) is pushing.”
These attacks are not done openly in front of parents, but rather in secret, and unfortunately, many bear witness to these assaults daily. But what happens if you as a faculty member are so overwhelmed and concerned by what you see happening to our children, that you can no longer be silent? As Sumanti Sen of meaww.com reports, a nurse at the Richard J Kinsella Magnet School in Connecticut discovered there is a price to be paid for speaking out.
🚨 A school nurse was suspended for revealing that the school was secretly giving kids puberty blockers and helping kids transition behind their parents’ backshttps://t.co/8yxXPvRRaz pic.twitter.com/OcwuZ9Awc3
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) April 1, 2022
Silence is Golden
On a local mom’s Facebook page, Kathleen Cataford expressed her concerns in a response referencing local school recommendations: “Investigate the school system curriculum…CT is a very socially liberal, gender confused state,’ the post read. …’As a public school nurse,” She further writes, “I have an 11yo female student on puberty blockers and a dozen identifying as non-binary, all but two keeping this as a secret from their parents with the help of teachers, SSW [social workers] and school administration.
Teachers and SSW are spending 37.5 hours a week influencing our children, not necessarily teaching our children what YOU think is being taught.” In response to her comments that the school considered “homophobic”, she was immediately suspended from her job.
Much like the medical field and other organizations, academia continues to pervert its original charter from its purpose at inception. As a result, we as parents and grandparents are finding ourselves forced out of the decision-making autonomy that is our God-given right as caregivers. As far-fetched as it may seem, there are few limitations in play with those that are given absolute power over that or those of which they have little to no culpability for.
Despite how far gone it may seem, all is not lost. Remember, the rights that they take are only those rights that we relinquish. It is for these reasons that we must speak up and speak out. Regardless of how we feel, we dare not stand idly by while our children’s future is stolen from them. They are counting on us.
