Health Curriculum Revised For Long Valley Elementary Schools

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Long Valley parents' concerns about the implementation of certain sex education curriculum standards in Washington Township schools for grades K-8 are being addressed by Superintendent Peter Turnamian and members of the school board.

In a recent board meeting, board officials approved revisions to the Comprehensive Health and Physical Education curriculum for grades 6–8, which included information on parental rights and the district's opt-out policy.

According to the agenda for tonight's board meeting, Aug. 10, the board intends to approve similar revisions for all Long Valley elementary schools.

The agenda specifies the health curriculum standards for students in grades K-5. According to the curriculum sheets, Kevin Churchill, Kathleen Erbe, and Patti Ressland revised the health section under the supervision of Deborah Russo, Director of Curriculum and Instruction.

The curriculum for each grade level is designed to build on one another as students progress through the grade levels.

Students in kindergarten through first grade will study topics such as personal safety, stress management, conflict resolution, and social and family dynamics as part of the revised curriculum.

In the listed health curriculum, students will be introduced to the topic of pregnancy and reproduction in a simple manner in second grade. Students will be taught the definition of reproduction as well as how reproduction and parenting differ between humans and animals, according to the curriculum standards.

The third-grade standards include the concept of "social and sexual health," which teaches students the value of communicating with adults and with themselves. This section also includes a lesson on bullying and the distinction between a healthy and unhealthy relationship.

The topic of puberty is introduced in the fourth and fifth grades, with a discussion of the biological reasons for puberty as well as the social and physical changes that occur as a result. Students will also learn about the differences between the genders and how gender stereotypes can affect both themselves and others. Students in fifth grade will learn about feeling welcome and included regardless of their gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

More in-depth lesson plan specifics for the revisions to the grades K-5 curriculum are posted on the Washington Township schools website.

"The mission and vision for comprehensive health and physical education reflects this perspective: Mission: Knowledge of health and physical education concepts and skills empowers students to assume lifelong responsibility to develop physical, social and emotional wellness," said Russo.

In response to state sex education standards, the Morris County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution this month requesting that the state ban the curricula and create a parent's bill of rights.

The resolution calls on Gov. Murphy, the state legislature, and the Department of Education to return such curricula to the control of local school boards and to repeal and abandon the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

Turnamian has previously stated that any changes to the health curriculum will be thoroughly explained to parents, and that transparency will be provided to all community members as the district makes decisions.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 10, with public sessions beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Long Valley Middle School – Performing Arts Center.