Sex, Health Ed Curriculum To Be Reviewed In Bernards Township Schools

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Tensions and emotions were high at the recent Bernards Township Board of Education(BOE) meeting where the majority of the almost four-hour meeting was consumed with discussion over sex and health education.

The Board approved a motion, with a 4 to 3 vote, to allow specific health curriculum standards to be referred by the school administration for "alternate methods of forms of delivery" and have the administration report back on their results.

Board President Keith Molinari listed 12 standards or topics he wished to be reviewed including:

Grades K-2

• 2.1.2.PGD.5: List medically accurate names for body parts, including the genitals.
• 2.1.2.PP.1: Define reproduction.
• 2.1.2.SSH.2: Discuss the range of ways people express their gender and how gender-role stereotypes may limit behavior.

Grades 3-5

• 2.1.5.PGD.4: Explain common human sexual development and the role of hormones (e.g., romantic and sexual feelings, masturbation, mood swings, timing of pubertal onset)
• 2.1.5.SSH.1: Describe gender role stereotypes and their potential impact on self and others.
• 2.1.5.SSH.2: Differentiate between sexual orientation and gender identity.

Grades 6-8

• 2.1.8.PP.1: Describe pregnancy, the signs of pregnancy and pregnancy options, including parenting, abortion and adoption.
• 2.1.8.SSH.1: Differentiate between gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
• 2.1.8.SSH.2: Develop a plan for the school to promote dignity and respect for all genders, gender identities, gender expressions and sexual orientations in the school community.
• 2.1.8.SSH.7: Identity factors that are important in deciding whether and when to engage in sexual behaviors.
• 2.1.8.SSH.9: Define vaginal, oral and anal sex.
• 2.1.8.CHSS.3: Identify the state and federal laws related to minors’ access to sexual healthcare services, including pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment.

The board members who voted in favor of the motion included Molinari, Nimish Amin, Csilla Csipak, and Lawrence Rascio. All of which were recently elected this past November.

Timothy Salmon, Robin McKeon, and Jennifer White voted against the motion.

"My personal opinion is that there is a fundamental flaw in this approach because whatever I deem objectional or whoever I perceive the public to deem objectional is irrelevant to this process because of the opt-out. It exists exactly to deal with that sort of situation," said Salmon at the meeting. "Regardless of what standard I feel is objectional or perceive to be objectional it doesn't really matter because any student can opt out of the health curriculum for that given topic if they have a moral or religious conflict with it."

White suggested that instead of passing the motion the Board should work on making the opt-out process easier for parents.

"Why are just a few peoples' concerns pushing the administration to do more work? I don't get that," said White.

Some of the alternative delivery methods previously discussed have included sending home certain subject matter as a homework packet for parents to go over with the student or having an opt-in option instead.

Salmon questioned Molinari to clarify if everything the Board had discussed including opt-in and homework packets were on the table as an alternative.

"Everything we discussed is on the table and any other ideas they come up with," said Molinari.

"Right everything we talked about like the opt-in?" asked Salmon.

"It's all on the table," said Molinari.

Prior to the vote 20 teachers, parents, and students spoke about the sex education curriculum review.

"Our students are entitled to and deserve a comprehensive health curriculum that incorporates the required state and federal standards," said 6th grade William Annin teacher Melanie Dupuis. "The notion that certain 'so-called' controversial topics should be relegated to an envelope in a backpack is extremely disappointing and disturbing retorque to hear from board members."

"The very idea that you are withholding valuable health education from roughly 4,800 students in this district for the benefit of 37 students who already opted out and will always have an opt-out is ludicrous. But now you are derelict in duty to the oath of office you swore under god and you are jeopardizing our highly rated district," said Pamela Haviland, a resident in town.

"Changing the curriculum to have certain portions taught by parents is effectively removing it because there is no way to ensure it's being taught at home," continued Haviland.

Two seniors at Ridge High School noted that if controversial topics were sent home most students would end up using the internet to find more information rather than deferring to their parents.

"Sending a packet home is a violation. I would never feel comfortable enough talking to my parents about this and would have gone to the internet," said one Ridge High School senior.

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