New Sex Education Curriculum Addressed By Howell Schools

HOWELL, NJ — The Howell Township Public School District issued a statement in response to the public's concerns about the controversial comprehensive health and physical education curriculum announced earlier this month.

According to Howell Township Board of Education officials, there has been some misinformation about the curriculum spread on social media.

Assistant Superintendent of Personnel and Curriculum Bruce Preston explained in the letter that, at the end of the day, the district is responsible for creating the curriculum and that the state documents are only models.

“The language in these standards is generic. It focuses on identifying gender roles and treating all children, regardless of gender, with respect. Please note that while we are required to include all standards outlined by the state, our district determines how to create the curriculum and how to teach the required standards,” Preston said.

Preston went on to say that any specific lessons seen on social media or in the news are not lessons created by Howell Township Public Schools. “Our teachers, guided by the HTPS Supervisors of Health and Physical Education and myself, determine the lessons that will be created and implemented with the age and grade level of the students in mind.”

The Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Student Learning Standards in New Jersey are mainly made up of suggestions for each school district. “Some standards are designated to be taught by the end of grade 12. Since we are only a K-8 district, we would not address those standards as they are not pertinent to our K-8 district. We also would not teach a standard for the grade 6-8 band to a second-grader,” Preston said.

In the letter, Preston advised all parents that they are allowed to opt their child out of specific lessons or portions of the health curriculum directly related to the Comprehensive Health and Physical Education standards.

Section 18A:35-4.7 of the New Jersey State Statute allows a parent or guardian to present a signed statement to the school principal requesting that their child be excused from specific portions of the health, family life education, or sex education curriculum if it is in conflict with his or her conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs.

“Given the amount of misinformation out there and questions that have been arising, we wanted to ensure the information you have is directly from the District. Should you have any questions, please contact my office,” Preston said.

The current Howell Township Public School Health curriculum, as well as the videos used in grades 5-8 for family life, are currently available here.

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