A seventh grade teacher in California is reportedly under investigation by the Sacramento City Unified School District for showing a pro-life video that medically describes abortion and a music video by rapper Nick Cannon, wherein he thanks his mother for refusing to abort him in the womb.
The pro-life video in question features a former abortionist turned pro-lifer named Dr. Anthony Levatino. Levatino, in collaboration with pro-life group Live Action, medically describes what an abortionist does during first and second trimester abortions in at least two different videos (both posted below), though it’s unclear which one was allegedly shown to the middle schoolers.
The former abortionist performed hundreds of abortions before his adopted daughter was tragically killed outside their home by car. “I looked at the remains of a pre-born child whose life I had ended, and all I could see was someone’s son or daughter,” Levatino explained of his conversion.
On Tuesday, school district spokesman Alex Barrios told The Sacramento Bee that the videos allegedly shown are “completely inappropriate for the classroom” and do not “meet the district’s approved family life and sexuality curriculum.” The district “will address this matter with the seriousness it demands,” added Barrios.
Parents complained to the teacher in question and school principal Cristin Tahara-Martin, reports the paper. “We all know that the subject of abortion is sensitive, complex and controversial, and I personally don’t think it belongs as a topic to go into in any depth in a seventh-grade class,” said one anonymous mother. Abortion “requires a thoughtful, nuanced discussion,” she added.
Live Action Founder and President Lila Rose responded by pointing out that teen girls in California can legally get an abortion in the state without so much as parental consent. Also, she explained, the videos in question are medically accurate.
“Tens of thousands of teen girls have abortions every year in America, and they deserve the information about fetal development, what happens during an abortion procedure, and its risks,” explained Rose. “How can students understand the biological, moral, and ethical aspects of abortion without knowing what the abortion procedure entails for both the developing child and mother?”
Rose continued: “These videos were designed to be teacher aids and are medically accurate, created in consultation with a group of doctors and experts, and have been viewed online nearly 100 million times. The abortion procedure series are medical animations, not graphic footage, and accurately depict the most prevalent abortion procedures in a format suitable for teens.”
According to The Sacramento Bee, the district’s policies concerning sex education states that such courses should “help students understand the biological, psychological, social, moral and ethical aspects of human sexuality and shall comply with the requirements of law and administrative regulation.”
“District policies do not directly address teaching about abortion, but do outline policies for discussion of ‘controversial issues’ in the classroom,” reports the paper.
WATCH (first-trimester abortions described):
WATCH (second-trimester abortions described):
WATCH (“Can I Live” music video by Nick Cannon):