Berkeley Adopts Resolution Supporting Parents Bill Of Rights

BERKELEY, NJ — The Berkeley Township Council adopted a resolution to support a Parents Bill of Rights that would give parents a say over sensitive curriculum taught to young children in schools.

The resolution follows recent controversy about New Jersey comprehensive physical and health education standards. Read More: Murphy Orders Review Of Controversial Sex Education Standards

The resolution, supported by both Mayor Carmen Amato and the Council, references the "highly sensitive curricula for young children, particularly grades K-2, which is both disturbing and concerning to the parents and citizens of New Jersey."

After being contacted by residents regarding the issue, Amato and the Council call on Gov. Phil Murphy, the New Jersey Legislature and Department of Education "to return the decisions to local school boards regarding such highly sensitive curricula for young children," the resolution said. The resolution added a request to ban the guidelines as well.

The resolution also called on Berkeley's boards of education to work with parents, community leaders and professionals to develop a framework that can be used as a model for the school districts.

The resolution said, among other things, that this framework would alert parents of the curriculum being taught to their children and allow them to make decisions regarding their children's education and exposure to "highly sensitive curricula."

"The public should have an opportunity to be heard on such sensitive curricula and matters," the resolution said.

Copies of the resolution were sent to the governor, the 3rd, 9th and 10th Legislative Districts and both the Berkeley Township and Central Regional boards of education.