Controversial Sex Ed Curriculum Prompts Calls For Transparency In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Parents called for more transparency in the Bernards Township School District's lesson plans after the state's Department of Education recently revised its sex education curriculum standards.

Cody Smith, who spoke during the April 11 Board of Education meeting, called the state's new 66-page sex education curriculum "troubling."

"I wouldn't stand up here and read you some of the things that were suggested we teach our children in public school," said Smith.

Smith asked for the board to release the detailed lesson plans to be proposed for the fall.

"We really need to understand what we are going to do in the fall under this mandatory training. Not just the high-level stuff but what are the detailed plans we are going to be giving the kids?" said Smith.

Jennifer Dorward who has a 10- and 11-year-old in the district, said parents need to have transparency about what will be taught to their children.

Dorward said she reached out to a teacher and principal over questions she had about health course topics including "Blood and HIV," "Growing Up," and "Those Crazy Mixed Up Emotions."

"Specifically, some of the things that are in the state curriculum are, as you know, 'What puts you at risk of contracting an STD and HIV?' 'What are the symptoms of pregnancy?'" said Dorward. "I think that there are a number of others that I don’t think that I want to state them. But I think for 10- and 11-year-olds parents they need to have transparency into what is going to be told to their children."

Dorward listed two reasons for wanting more transparency including making sure a student is emotionally or physically ready for that discussion. And also so that parents can be prepared to address it with their kids when they come home.

"I really think in general we could use a better level of transparency about the details and the lesson plans behind the high-level curriculum items on the website," said Dorward.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction Kristin Fox said the district is currently reviewing the state guidelines and is preparing to develop a curriculum over the summer.

"Once we do develop the curriculum that is in line with those standards … we would certainly make that public," said Fox. "Certainly with a topic like this, we will make greater efforts to present the changes to you so that it is clear what they are before anything is implemented in any classroom. I would just assure you that we wouldn't do anything that wouldn't be in line with community standards or community input."

Since the new guidelines were released by the state a great deal of controversy has erupted from parents across the state, including in Westfield where an excerpt from a sample lesson plan was distributed to parents in the Westfield school district.

Westfield has not adopted the lesson plan as its curriculum and is still in the process of designing the final plan, a member of the school board said.

Following outcry from parents over claims that the standards are exposing young children to inappropriate sexual content, Gov. Phil Murphy has directed the state Department of Education to take another look at its guidelines for the state's updated sex education curriculum. Read More: Murphy Orders Review Of Controversial Sex Education Standards

Murphy said the state's Comprehensive Health and Physical Student Learning Standards were formulated over five months of discussions in 2019-2020 by the Department of Education with input from parents, experts, and teachers, "to ensure that our students receive age-appropriate and inclusive health education, which is critical for their physical, mental, and emotional development and well-being."

"At a time when we must prioritize student mental health and academic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is paramount that our standards also promote inclusivity and respect for every child, including LGBTQ youth," Murphy said.

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